Construct a charming island settlement – or a sprawling coastal city – in the relaxing, creative building game Townscaper.

Pick a colour, tap away on the open waters and watch as houses, buildings and gardens spring up. Then stack blocks together to add architectural flourishes such as lighthouses and stairwells.

What we love: Every building is intricately rendered, with small details that are a joy to discover; a park bench in an alleyway, seagulls perched on the rooftop of a deserted plaza and shrubs that transform the surrounding greenery into a cosy park. Even laying down a humble brick produces a satisfyingly resounding plop.

Quick tip: Want to expand the repertoire of structures you can build? Try constructing a courtyard by creating an area that’s sealed by buildings on all sides. Stairs, too, will materialise when you leave a few spaces between two buildings.

Meet the creator: Released through indie label Raw Fury, Townscaper was created by talented indie developer Oskar Stålberg, who also released sumptuous real-time strategy game Bad North through the same publisher.