Brand New Simulation Game on Steam Combines Animal Crossing Charm with SimCity Gameplay, and It’s All About Cats

Animal Crossing and SimCity take two different approaches to the simulation genre, but both are filled with hours of fun. Whether it’s making your own cozy nook on Animal Crossing‘s island or building a sprawling city in SimCity, the two have been standout games in the genre. It’s hard to make the sim genre one’s own, but Mistpaw Ravine has found its own unique concept that adds an extra dose of cuteness. Set to launch early next year, Mistpaw Ravine combines adorable cats with city building, and for those looking for a new sim game to get into, this may be an ideal one to look out for.

Mistpaw Ravine is clearly really cute, even at first glance, but the overall premise is even more intriguing. Players build the perfect home for a society of magical cats, and between the easy-going gameplay and adorable art direction, Mistpaw Ravine is teasing an ideal cozy game perfect for passing the time. Cozy sim games are a Steam staple, and Mistpaw Ravine is shaping up to be a strong addition to the roster.

Mistpaw Ravine Features List

• Tons of cute cats
• City building and management
• Resource management
• Farming
• Customizable gameplay features

Image via Jon Nielsen

Mistpaw Ravine is More Than Just Hanging Out With Cute Cats

Yes, the adorable magical cats are the main draw of Mistpaw Ravine, but beyond that, the cats must survive in a world that can be terraformed and shaped to the player’s liking. In Mistpaw Ravine‘s world, witches once lived on the land, but they have all since mysteriously vanished. Now, only a dusty and desolate wasteland remains in their place, with the surviving inhabitants being cat familiars. Although the backstory of the game sounds bleak, Mistpaw Ravine is far from a drab time. It’s simply a blank slate for players to build their ultimate cat colony. Like Animal Crossing‘s villagers, the cats of Mistpaw Ravine continue to populate the growing town, and it’s up to the player to ensure that every member of society is satisfied.

SimCity’s City-Building Mechanics Are Reimagined With a Magical Cat Twist

SimCity remains a classic entry in the sim genre, and while Mistpaw Ravine doesn’t go as in-depth with its city-building mechanics, it still plays an essential role. In Mistpaw Ravine, players must build up the city into a civilization that’s complete with industry and jobs for its magical cat citizens to take on. There are a variety of ways for players to build a strong society, and as the city grows larger, multiple routes need to be taken to ensure success. Mistpaw Ravine is a game like SimCity, but on a smaller scale.

Mistpaw Ravine is All About Growth

• Food management
• Securing power across the town
• Build production chains
• Restore the environment
• Improve quality of life

Like SimCity, Mistpaw Ravine Adds a Dose of Survival to its Gameplay

Making sure that the cats of Mistpaw Ravine have an ample food supply and a good quality of life isn’t the only way that players have to ensure the happiness of its townspeople. Because it’s a game that takes place in a wasteland, toxic storms will swoop in, threatening crops and potentially even making cats sick.

Even though cats can get sick from a toxic environment, cats cannot die in Mistpaw Ravine.

Image via Jon Nielsen

In SimCity, weather hazards like floods and tornadoes can make a big impact, so it’s important to be on top of things when managing the health of the city. Mistpaw Ravine takes the same approach, but it seems to be more laid-back in comparison, especially when it comes to the game’s customization. Aspects like cat hunger rate, the frequency of storms, and how much power workplaces use can be adjusted, so whether one’s looking for a more challenging management experience or a more relaxed time, Mistpaw Ravine allows multiple options. City-building games tend to require some level of management and survival-based mechanics, and Mistpaw Ravine‘s customizable approach makes it suitable for a variety of different gamers.

In addition to making the city grow, players are given a variety of ways to keep cats happy. Cleaning litter boxes, building things like scratching posts, and providing a varied supply of food are some of the many ways that Mistpaw Ravine‘s cats can be kept satisfied. So, not only is it a game about resource management and building, but it’s also about making sure that society thrives.

Image via Jon Nielsen

No genAI was used in the development of Mistpaw Ravine.

Between the easy-going gameplay and adorable art direction, Mistpaw Ravine is teasing an ideal cozy game perfect for passing the time.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Terraforming Gets the Spotlight in Mistpaw Ravine

Image via Jon Nielsen

Through the power of explosives, Mistpaw Ravine‘s cats can terraform the wasteland and make way for titular ravines and rivers, which supply water all across the city. It’s an essential piece of gameplay, so for the gamers who enjoyed terraforming in Animal Crossing, Mistpaw Ravine takes the mechanic and turns it into one of the game’s most vital features. With the word “ravine” in the game’s title, it’s clear that building strong and functional waterways is a cornerstone mechanic, adding an extra layer of resource management and creativity to the equation.

Mistpaw Ravine May Not Be Fully Launched Yet, But the Wait Won’t Be Much Longer

• The game is expected to arrive sometime in Q1 of 2026.
• It’s created by a single developer, Jon Nielsen.
• A demo is available for download.
• Once launched, it’s unclear how much Mistpaw Ravine will cost.

Mistpaw Ravine is a game in a specific niche, but for gamers who have been on the lookout for more city and resource management with a touch of easy-going gameplay that’s centered around an adorably charming premise, then this indie Steam game may be worth keeping on one’s radar.

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