Deal | This nature-focused building sim just left early access - stack habitats and chill at 22% off on Steam ^↺

Preserve has quietly bloomed into one of the most peaceful games on Steam this month. After more than a year in early access, the colorful, hex-tile nature builder officially launched as version 1.0 on May 15 - and it’s already winning over fans of titles like Dorfromantik, Terra Nil, and Islanders. It is now available at a 22% launch discount, bringing the price down to $9.74 in the U.S. The offer runs until May 29. That also makes this the game’s lowest price to date, according to SteamDB.

Developed by Bitmap Galaxy, Preserve is a tile-based puzzle game that invites players to grow a self-sustaining, symbiotic ecosystem - placing rivers, forests, animals, and rare landmarks on a hex-grid world. Each tile affects the surrounding environment, meaning every choice shapes the larger balance of the map. Biomes range from alpine forests and coral reefs to redwood groves and savannahs, with new vertical stacking mechanics introduced in the full release.

The biggest new addition in 1.0 is the Vertical Expansion system, which lets players build multiple layers of terrain on a single tile. There's also a full Jurassic biome update in development, which teases the possibility of dinosaur-themed maps soon.

Preserve’s different game modes include Harmony (puzzle-focused), Sandbox (freeform creative building), and Photo Mode (to capture your custom-built landscapes). Players have high praise for the game’s thoughtful progression and its use of a "card upcycle" system to introduce new tiles organically.

On Steam, Preserve is sitting at a Very Positive rating from over 350 reviews, with users calling it "unironically peak," "visually beautiful," and "so relaxing it made my brain happy." It's light on narrative, heavy on vibes - and that seems to be exactly what players were looking for.

For fans of slow-paced strategy and nature sim hybrids, Preserve slots in nicely alongside Dorfromantik, Before We Leave, and Cloud Gardens. Unlike many city builders, Preserve is focused less on expansion and more on harmony. The soundtrack, visual style, and pace make it easy to recommend for anyone looking to unwind while still engaging their brain. You can check the game out here.

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