Deal | Build a city on the back of a monster: Indie hit drops to its best price on Steam

In The Wandering Village, you don't build your settlement on an ordinary patch of land – you build it on the back of a gigantic creature named Onbu. It's not just a unique setting but one that introduces entirely new mechanics to the city-building genre. Developed by Stray Fawn, the indie title was released around a year ago and has been met with a very positive reception. It's currently available on Steam at 50% off, bringing the price back down to its all-time low of around $15, according to SteamDB. Thanks to its Steam Deck Verified status, it's also well worth considering for handheld players.

Earn the monster's trust – or exploit it

As Onbu wanders through a world overrun by poisonous spores, players focus on familiar city-building tasks such as constructing homes, gathering resources and producing food. There is one major catch, however: the creature's back offers only limited building space, forcing players to plan their settlements far more carefully than in traditional city builders. The fact that your entire city is constantly moving through the world also has a significant impact on gameplay.

Onbu travels through a variety of biomes, each introducing new environmental challenges. In deserts, for example, water and fertile soil become scarce, while cold regions make farming much more difficult. Toxic spores can also infect your settlement and make villagers sick. Onbu itself is much more than just a moving platform. The massive creature, which resembles a stone dinosaur, requires food, rest and medical care. Players can choose to earn its trust and build a symbiotic relationship, allowing them to influence the creature's movements, or exploit it in order to harvest valuable resources more quickly.

Gentle learning curve, but limited depth

The idea of building a city on the back of a giant monster has clearly resonated with players. The Wandering Village currently holds a 91% positive rating across roughly 8,500 Steam reviews. In addition to its unique gameplay, players frequently praise its accessibility and gentle learning curve. The game isn't without criticism, however. Loot Level Chill awarded it 8 out of 10, noting that its gameplay systems aren't as deep as those found in more traditional city builders and that the path to survival can sometimes feel a little too scripted.

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