Denizen

Denizen is a life sim style of game that is still in early access as I write this. The game is the kind of thing that will take over your life if this is the kind of thing that you are into. I have spent quite a few hours with the early access build of the game and while there is still a great deal of content to be added to the game, there is more than enough content here to hook you and keep you busy for a very long time. Keep in mind, it is the early access version of the game that I am talking about here.

Welcome To Cedar Shores

The thing with Denizen as far as the story goes is that you kind of have to make up your own story in your head. You move to a new city called Cedar Shores and you just want to live the best life you can. Getting a new job, finding a nice place to live, having some fun, getting to meet new people, and so on. Think of games like The Sims and you will have an idea of what to expect here. This is pretty much exactly what comes to my mind when I think about what a sandbox life sim game is.

Working For The Weekend

There are a few different jobs that you can get in Denizen where you work for other people, but ultimately, you want to start owning your own businesses and make a ton of money that way. There are many different ways that you can make money in the game and you can start off just being stuff like a delivery driver or perhaps working on a forklift and work your way up the ranks. The whole “working” aspect to make money is pretty well done and I did feel like there was a solid progression here in the game.

Property Is Where The Money Is

Now, I am not saying that this is going to be the case when the game is finished, but in the early access version of Denizen that I played, it felt like the major progression of the game was tied to the property management aspect of the game. There are many different properties that you can buy in the game and it felt like each one was a step further into me becoming a big deal in the city. The property management aspect of the game is one area that I would love to see expanded upon when the next big update happens. I would say that it took me a little over the 20 hour mark to get the last property that was available to me in the game.

The Finer Things In Life

While working, managing your business, and getting a property empire is a huge part of Denizen. What is the point of working hard and making money if you cannot enjoy it? There are a bunch of cars, nice clothes and toys that you can buy. However, there are also several recreational activities that you can do which will help your social status. You can partake in a bit of fishing, hit the tarmac and do some racing, and even become a top DJ. While there will be more content coming, I do think that there are enough social activities to keep you entertained while you are not working to make those virtual big bucks.

Pros:

• I liked the city setting
• There are some fun recreational activities to do
• I liked the progression of buying properties
• If you enjoy life sim games, you will probably enjoy this

Cons:

• The early access version does not exactly have a ton of content
• I have not heard any indication of when the next update will be

Denizen is a sandbox where you can do anything to fulfill the most basic need - to live. Travel around the lively city, meet interesting people and find a job to your liking. Navigate the city streets and look for any job you can to provide food and rent. Furnish your own place, buy cars and live a full life inside the small reality of Denizen city.

Pros of the game:

• Great level of freedom
• Communicate with NPCs and discover new frontiers