Deal | Rare deal: City builder for tinkerers (90% positive) now available for under $3 on Steam

Those who enjoy optimizing production chains in city builders instead of constantly dealing with time pressure may find a hidden gem in Scorchlands. Developed by Ringlab and Star Drifters, the city builder launched in July 2024 and normally costs $11.99. Thanks to a 76% discount, the game is now once again available at its all-time low of $2.87. According to SteamDB, this is the first time since October 2025 that this price has returned. Steam currently lists Steam Deck compatibility as “Unknown,” but according to a community post, the title is playable on Valve’s handheld.

In Scorchlands, players are taken to the volcanic moon Helia, where the bird-like Giwi are trying to build a new home. Players establish colonies, tap into resource deposits and gradually create an increasingly complex production network. Resource management is at the heart of the experience: raw materials have to be mined, processed and transported between different settlements – all of which requires careful planning. Fortunately, Scorchlands lets players take their time.

Unlike classic city builders such as Anno, the title largely does without time pressure and constant crises. Instead of reacting to a steady stream of warning messages, players can optimize their production chains at their own pace. There is combat, but it is handled more through tactical planning than frantic click-fests. Judging by the Steam reviews, the relaxed gameplay is one of the game’s biggest strengths.

Scorchlands has only around 130 reviews on Steam so far, but 90% of them are positive. The original concept, with its focus on resources, terraforming and hex-based puzzles, is generally well received. However, later in the game, the growing number of resources is said to become overwhelming. Players also criticize Scorchlands for lacking a proper endgame, which limits long-term motivation. At less than $3, however, the title should still be worth a look for fans of building strategy games – especially since, given its price history, it is unclear how soon such a discount will return.

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