Hey cozy villagers! It’s been a while, but we’re still here, working every day to bring the best experience possible. This post covers some of the latest updates, what we’ve been building over the past few months, and a look at what’s coming next. Over this time, we’ve made some significant changes to better align the game with what we truly want it to be: a cozy exploration experience, focused on discovery, interaction, and relaxing gameplay moments.
🧭 Design Shift
One of the biggest changes is moving away from the “being stuck in puzzle spaces” design. The puzzle elements aren’t gone completely, but they’ve been reworked into something more natural. Using levers and simple environmental interactions rather than relying only on shifting the maze.
Being stuck in puzzles often got in the way of a smooth, cozy exploration experience, and we want players to feel free to explore and enjoy the world at their own pace. We’ve also updated our camera approach. Instead of a full 360° orbit camera, we’re now using a more static, carefully framed view. This helps create a more comfortable and focused experience, especially for players who found the previous camera movement disorienting. It also allows us to better present the world as it’s intended to be seen.
The environments are now designed around a single perspective, with only small margins for rotation where needed. You'll already notice this change in the videos included in this post. We’re also putting more focus on the story and player experience. The journey to save the villagers is now more present in the experience, with the player being more involved in restoring houses and helping the villagers they meet along the way.
✨New Gameplay Features
We’ve been adding a range of new cozy systems and activities, including:
(Please note: the videos shown are work in progress and may not reflect the final version of the game.)
Puzzles & Progression 🧩
New puzzle systems with a variety of mechanics to help you find lost items for villagers.
Cozy Interactions 🐾
Catch critters and sell them to villagers, water plants, shake bushes to uncover hidden surprises, and more.
Exploration & Relaxing🌿
Find scenic spots to sit, relax, and take in the world around you.
Progress & Tracking 🗺️
An improved in-game log system, tracking:
Your milestones
Daily quests
Critters discovered
Side quests and progress
A Better Beginning 🌱
A new intro sequence for a smoother and more welcoming start to the game.
🎥 New Trailer & Steam Page Update
In the coming weeks, we’ll be working on a completely updated Steam page, featuring all the latest visuals and systems. This will also come alongside a new trailer, with all the latest features.
📦 Demo Removal
We will be removing the current demo when we publish the new Steam page, as it no longer fully represents the game after all the recent changes. We want new players to experience something that truly represents the current vision, and the demo does not reflect that anymore.
🚀 Release Announcement
We’ll also be moving into Early Access this summer. 🎉🥳
Early Access will allow us to continue developing the game while bringing it to players earlier in its journey. The price will be set fairly and accessibly, with a solid amount of content available at launch for the price point we have in mind. We’ll be sharing the exact release date when we launch the new steam page. See you in our town this summer! Cozy greetings,
Team Slappy Inc.