Hey guys, it's been a moment. I've been hard at work over the last couple of months, even taking time away from my main job to further the work on Tiny Atolls.

I took quite a few weeks to break the main concept down into something simpler and more "fun" and something I can relate to myself. The old gameplay was too puzzley and childish, with the color mechanic and an absurd recursion of tile placement.

The New Core Gameplay

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/43376969/7c055104f2b2480e94ac0c0840ab7824ab2bc9f5.gif"][/img]

In the future, the new gameplay will resemble more of flash games like "Little Alchemy" and "Islanders". I'm keeping a lot of the mechanics, such as hex-tiles and the idea of placing shapes of tiles to generate complex buildings with special effects.

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/43376969/36945f8c795cb1dd6ba5f6426b1e6103ef9853c0.gif"][/img]

Im changing the way the player places tiles in the world and you can now place any tiles you have in any order you wish, and those tiles can be combined inside the UI itself to create more specialized tiles that shape the island in different ways.

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/43376969/1db9631e90ae64fb18157e409f65fd39f657d717.gif"][/img]

For instance, you can merge 2 "Flower" tiles to create a "Tree" tile, giving you new shapes to explore and new combinations in the world to interact with.

Preview Branch

I just released a preview branch that you can access via the beta tab on Steam, so you can get a very VERY rough preview of what the new gameplay looks like.

The reason the game now has 2 different branches is:

[olist]

I need some people to test the new gameplay to give me feedback on it, so I can provide quick updates and further refine it.

I do not want to delete the original version of the game just yet, as I believe that even with its flaws and bugs, it is still a more playable and enjoyable experience than the current state of my reforged project. It will be replaced in a few months once the new gameplay is on its feet.

[/olist]

Warning to those who want to try out the new gameplay: There is no save/load feature, no multi-language support, and the gameplay loop is very tiny and it will simply let you know when youve won the game with a game over screen.

Some words from me

So yeah, thats that. It took tremendous work and mental resilience for me to push through the mud of what is there and what could be, to have the game in a pretty good place. I'm very confident in the new gameplay loop of Tiny Atolls.

Yet again, I want to reiterate what I said in the last update post. I've seen some Steam reviews where people didnt really understand what this game is about, and that's fine but it's possible Im not making it clear enough: I am not making this game for money anymore, even though that was the original purpose when I had a team working on it. It has become something else now; something to flourish and finish in a satisfying manner.

That means there are no real deadlines for the completion of this project anymore, as updates can only be delivered sporadically, but consistently.

I hope you understand the reasons I'm shifting the gameplay and it's to realistically be able to finish it on my own. I thank every one of you who has been supporting the project, and I hope to be able to bring you the new update to the main branch very soon!

Cheers

[ 2025-06-24 15:29:03 CET ] [ Original post ]

Multi-Language Support

You can now choose from 9 different languages in the game:

• English
• French
• Italian
• German
• Spanish
• Japanese
• Korean
• Russian
• Chinese

More language support is coming, some concepts were not translated as they are hard to translate into words so this will be up to the community to let me know if they do indeed need a translation for those. Let me know if there's any issues.

The updated roadmap:

What's next?

The next update is going to take a while to release since I will be reforging the main mechanics by removing the color element and making the game simpler overall.

[ 2024-08-12 12:03:14 CET ] [ Original post ]

It's been a while

Let's start off with the good news and recent update:

Save & Loading

This highly requested feature is now available: you can save your game progress and resume anytime. The game autosaves every few minutes and also saves when you quit. To reload your saved game, just press 'Continue' on the main menu.

Building on Bridges

The second most requested feature, building on bridges, is now part of the main gameplay mechanic. To progress to another island, you'll need to construct bridges and place buildings to reach the other side, enhancing both gameplay and aesthetics.

Ocean Wildlife

There are now new whales and dolphins populating the world of Tiny Atolls. This is a nice transition to what I want to talk to you next!

World Ocean Steam Sale

Tiny Atolls is part of the World Ocean Day Steam Sale for a week. To help protect dolphins and whales, I'll be donating 50% of all event sales revenue to the WDC. This is a great opportunity to support a cause and continue developing Tiny Atolls. Speaking of development, here's an updated roadmap.

New Roadmap

I've added a lot of requested features, updated the dates to fit the current timeline. Now onto what's been happening the last months of development

What Happened?

In the beginning, Tiny Atolls was developed by two developers, including myself. We soon added another programmer as I had too many other professional and personal commitments, and he was expected to take over after the Early Access release. The Early Access launched on September 29, 2023, with positive reception and sales. I had planned to leave the project to the other two developers, investing my own money into the development and agreeing not to take any profits so they could benefit and manage their time. However, once I stopped actively working on the project, they halted development and delayed roadmap updates. The Save & Load system, for example, was deemed too difficult by the previous programmer because it had both my code and his. In January 2024, they informed me they wanted to quit the project. This was a significant setback and a hard moral hit, especially as I had a lot of work and personal commitments at the time. Despite this, I am determined to finish and fully release Tiny Atolls. I believe it can become a unique game with a strong identity. I was responsible for most of the game's art, code, and design and have the skills to complete it. This update is not a criticism of the former developers; they have their reasons. I believe honesty is the best way to keep you updated on the project. Now, as the solo developer of Tiny Atolls, I will do my best to deliver the promised updates and a finished game, starting with the current Save system and building on bridges!

What's next?

As you can see on the roadmap, new elements have been added. These include a new visual art direction; I want to move away from the current sterilized look and improve it to a more stylized aesthetic that better fits my vision, so nearly every asset will be reworked. Additionally, I'm introducing a Roguelite progression element to enhance the game's replay value and exploration mechanics. Another significant change is the removal of the color-puzzle element, as it doesn't add much depth and conflicts with the exploration focus. I'll keep updating you with news and design decisions in the coming months. Take care. Matthieu Houllier

[ 2024-06-08 17:15:04 CET ] [ Original post ]

Special Announcement! We're thrilled to announce that our game is now available on Steam for Mac! You can finally experience the enchanting world of TINY ATOLLS on your Mac. TINY ATOLLS is a minimalist building strategy game that revolves around forging meaningful connections between different types and colors. Expand across colorful islands, unlock new tiles, and complete quests to shape and transform your world! Join the TINY ATOLLS experience on Steam, share your creative strategies, and embark on a journey to reshape picturesque landscapes and build remarkable cities! Feel free to ask questions, share your thoughts, or report any issues you may encounter. Our team is here to assist you. Thank you for your support and enthusiasm. We can't wait to see you in the game! The Tiny Atolls Team

[ 2023-11-03 15:33:29 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello everyone,

We're delighted to share some recent improvements made in response to your valuable feedback. While there's still work to be done, we're committed to enhancing your gaming experience to the best of our abilities.

Enhanced Bridge Visuals:

We've taken the time to revamp the visuals of our bridges, making them more aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, we're working on a feature that lets you place tiles on the bridges, as suggested by many of you.

Information at Your Fingertips:

We've introduced a handy feature in response to your feedback. Now, when you hover your mouse over a UI element, a small information bubble will pop up, giving you details about that element. It's a small change that should make navigating the game easier.

Balancing Metrics:

Game balance is essential, and we've reviewed the game's metrics to ensure a balanced and engaging experience. You'll notice some subtle adjustments that aim to improve gameplay while keeping it exciting and challenging.

Enhanced Tutorial:

Your feedback on our tutorial has been invaluable, and we've made some tweaks to make it more informative and intuitive, especially for new players.
We hope these updates will enhance your enjoyment and meet the quality standards you expect from us. Your feedback is important to us, so please continue to share your thoughts on these changes and provide ideas for the future. Thank you for being part of our wonderful community. We look forward to your reactions and are excited to keep making our game an even more special place for everyone. Stay tuned for more updates! See you in the game, The Tiny Atolls Team

[ 2023-10-13 23:34:07 CET ] [ Original post ]

Ahoy, Tiny Atolls adventurers!

It's been an exhilarating week since we set sail on our journey together, and we're thrilled to share some fantastic news.

So many new dedicated players

We're delighted to report that we've seen a lot of new players in this short span. We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who embarked on this voyage with us. Your trust and belief in Tiny Atolls have fueled our passion to create the best gaming experience possible. It's truly amazing to see the Tiny Atolls community grow with each passing day.

Your Feedback: Our Guiding Star

But our journey doesn't end here. We believe in constant improvement, and your feedback has been instrumental in shaping the game. We've been listening closely to your suggestions and observations, and we're excited to announce that we've already implemented several fixes and enhancements based on your valuable input. This includes a small tutorial to help you embark on your first playthrough of the game!

Share Your Thoughts

We'd love to hear more from you! If you haven't already, please take a moment to share your thoughts on Tiny Atolls. Your reviews, comments, and suggestions are essential to us, and they'll help us continue refining the game to meet and exceed your expectations. Thank you once again for joining us on this incredible journey through the Tiny Atolls. We look forward to many more adventures together! If you haven't set sail with Tiny Atolls yet, there's no better time than now. Join the adventure and be a part of our growing community! Again, from all of the Tiny Atolls development team :

Thank you!

[ 2023-10-06 19:24:02 CET ] [ Original post ]

Greetings, Explorers!

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our charming city builder, Tiny Atolls, just moments ago. The anticipation of witnessing your interactions with the game is electric!

Your valuable feedback and suggestions will play a pivotal role in shaping the game's future. We invite you to join us on social media and participate in the Steam forums, where you can leave your insights and thoughts. Stay tuned for frequent updates on the game's development and more exciting news! So, settle in and embark on your journey into Tiny Atolls. We're eager to see the splendid creations, discoveries, and achievements you'll make. Don't hesitate to share your creations with us!

Right below, you'll find the schedule for upcoming content releases, leading up to the game's grand finale:

This is the perfect moment for us to express our gratitude to the amazing community that has followed Tiny Atolls' progress on social media. We genuinely appreciate those who've shared our work. So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you."

[ 2023-09-29 16:01:28 CET ] [ Original post ]