Life Below preview: Call up the turtle defense force in this magically-real marine city-builder

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As a passionate gamer, I’ve noticed an exciting shift in city-building games recently. Instead of the traditional exploitative gameplay, we’re seeing titles that blend the formula with empathy and restoration at their core. One such game is Beyond These Stars, which isn’t just about optimizing production chains but also about fostering empathy.

Another game riding this wave is Life Below, an upcoming gem from Megapop. Unlike settling and exploiting the ocean like in many other games, you’ll find yourself aiding a sea goddess in restoring the damaged reefs’ flora and fauna. This captivating narrative is penned by none other than Rhianna Pratchett, known for her work on Overlord, Mirror’s Edge, and Tomb Raider.

At Gamescom 2025, I was given a comprehensive walkthrough of the game by Lise Hagen Lie, the game director, and Jørgen Tharaldsen, the CEO of the Norwegian studio. They led me through the game’s various aspects.

In the game, the developers employed the term “magical realism” to describe its unique style. This is because while we don’t actually encounter charming underwater fairies tending to seagrass or serving a semi-divine guardian of coral reefs, the depictions in the game are grounded in scientific reality. The development team has engaged extensively with marine biologists to ensure an accurate portrayal of the various creatures and their interactions within these intricate and fragile ecosystems, lending a sense of authenticity to everything you’ll encounter in the game.

As a gamer immersed in an underwater world, I’d say I’m the protector, Thalassa, modeled after the crucial tiny critters – zooplankton and phytoplankton. These little guys are the foundation of numerous aquatic ecosystems, providing sustenance and growth for a myriad of marine lifeforms.

The authenticity was significantly boosted by Pratchett, an enthusiastic scuba diver, who pointed out that the team had mistakenly included a freshwater fish in an initial trailer version – indeed, he proved to be the perfect choice for game writing.

This magical realism maintains a consistent link between current events in our oceans and the game, making it easier for us to grasp. According to both developers, Life Below isn’t meant to be an indictment or make players feel responsible for damaging the seas. Instead, it portrays that process factually – however, there’s a significant distinction between reality and the game in one essential aspect.

Tharaldsen emphasizes that the story is one of hope. He explains that although addressing the issue will be challenging, action can still be taken. Since humans aren’t directly shown, the responsibility becomes a collective one, focusing on the problem in the ocean and prompting the question: What can you do about it?

In this game, the concept of magical realism significantly influences various elements, including the resources you amass and structures you build. For instance, pearls serve as one of the resources because in reality, clams play a crucial role in maintaining the well-being of coral reefs.

In the immersive world of Life Below, you embark on a survival journey from humble beginnings, managing just a solitary outpost, a handful of workers, and the vital core of your underwater habitat – a structure equipped with a health gauge that can be ravaged by disasters or harsh environmental conditions. If this sanctuary is annihilated, it’s back to the drawing board – game over. Each region is uniquely embedded within its own biome, offering diverse ecosystems with varying pH levels and temperatures. Navigating these regions requires strategic thinking as building space is scarce in every location, compelling players to make tough decisions about where to establish critical facilities for continued survival.

When you grow your coral reef, you acquire rights to explore new areas and help maintain their ecological balance. This has an equivalent in the energy grid, requiring careful consideration of connection points. Despite its peaceful and calming atmosphere, Life Below is designed to cater to both seasoned gamers and beginners alike, offering a challenging gaming experience.

The story unfolds via tasks given by mysterious water sprites who have seemingly misplaced themselves, creating both a mechanical and a story-driven motivation for you to continually grow your coral reef.

Balancing your regions, considering their impact on factors like temperature and pH, is crucial for success because each region varies slightly. The solution for maintaining equilibrium might differ among all biomes. Additionally, these differences offer chances to specialize. For instance, a cold region can become an energy hub since structures generating power raise the area’s temperature. With the starting temperature being lower, you can install more energy generators before needing to cool down the region with another building, saving space.

In other words, synergies haven’t been incorporated into the equation as of now. As Hagen Lie states, “We took it into account while designing the core structure, but in practice, it didn’t seem aligned with our theme. However, it could be an option for adding complexity later on.

As a gamer, I understand that corals, clams, and other creatures are just the start when creating a lively underwater world. It’s essential to remember the importance of adding more diverse wildlife to ensure the ecosystem thrives. This is a vital factor to consider while designing infrastructure since each species has its unique needs and environmental preferences.

Biodiversity plays a key role in this game, serving as a valuable resource that drives technological advancements. The goal is to attract as many different species as possible to our growing marine sanctuary, as the more species we nurture, the greater our chances of progressing through the levels and unveiling new technologies.

Beyond enhancing Biodiversity, certain species offer extra benefits. The underwater world is dynamic and unpredictable, and threats to your coral reef can manifest in numerous ways, such as heatwaves, pollution surges, or jellyfish invasions. Some of these perils you must endure and then recover from later, but others you can mitigate. For example, jellyfish pose a threat by consuming everything smaller than them, but you have a countermeasure – turtles.

By strategically deploying your turtle protection units where jellyfish are likely to appear, you can significantly reduce the impact of these creatures on you, and there are numerous other examples of such interactions. However, it’s worth noting that attracting and accommodating turtles isn’t always feasible in every area due to their specific requirements. But the game ‘Life Below’ offers a forced migration option, enabling you to relocate animals when necessary. While the new location may not meet all of their needs perfectly, they will stay for some time, providing you with some flexibility in dealing with threats. Additionally, this feature can be used to temporarily move your species out of harm’s way if needed.

According to Tharaldsen, the overall structure of this event is inherently flexible. The experience changes depending on your actions and the progression of the game, resulting in a unique feel each time you engage with it.

To bring in more sophisticated species, you need to interact with another essential aspect: creation or crafting. Contrary to what the word suggests, it’s not as monotonous as it may seem. You merely select a blueprint, and your workers will manufacture bait, potentially inviting new inhabitants. There’s also a visitor system in place, enabling various creatures such as dolphins or sharks to appear temporarily (and help manage nuisances), though they won’t establish permanent residency.

In the game, there’s no scenario where populations naturally increase on their own. Instead, attracting species becomes the most effective method for accumulating inhabitants. As Tharaldsen explains, “What expands or grows” is not the population, but rather the corals themselves – this isn’t related to the game mechanics, but serves as a visual enhancement.

Those seeking a taste of coastal bliss can opt for the wildlife mode, where gameplay pauses allowing you to leisurely explore your vibrant coral community. As Hagen Lie describes, it’s like “a blend of strategy and nature.” The developers also intend to incorporate endearing animal interactions in this mode, creating reactions when clicked upon. Conversely, fully zooming out provides a strategic bird’s-eye view of the map for easier planning of expansion.

Megapop puts great care into creating an authentic ocean atmosphere, where even the movements and songs of whales seem genuine. These whale noises aren’t just made up; they come from sound libraries around the UK and globally for oceans. Moreover, a researcher specializing in marine life from Norway has handpicked her preferred whale songs for this game, ensuring that what you hear is similar to what one would experience in a real coral reef, although players might not realize it.

Hagen Lie notes that Megapop’s sound designer worked diligently to locate recordings for each animal species presented within the game, even going so far as to produce the sounds herself to harmonize with the game’s unique style. In instances where no existing data was available, she delved into research on the muscles animals use to emit sounds and crafted new sounds from the ground up based on her findings. Tharaldsen chuckles, sharing that she frequently sends videos featuring her apartment’s bathtub filled with various sounds and herself making noises by dropping objects.

If you’re still looking for a compelling motivation to care for and safeguard the reef, let your dedication and zeal serve as that driving force.

Tharaldsen concludes by saying that while this is a game, incorporating realistic details seems to add depth and enhances enjoyment.

The game titled “Life Below” is slated for PC release, though an official launch date has yet to be announced. However, you can currently enjoy a complimentary trial of the game through Steam.

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2025-09-04 16:18