One of 2026’s first indie surprises has arrived. Craftlings is finally out, and its mix of Lemmings-like puzzle gameplay and strategic town-building has impressed us. Here are all the key details on ARIANO Games’ first release.
“Inspired by legendary classics from the ’90s, Craftlings will take you on a journey full of strategic decisions and test your skills in optimizing automated production chains and Craftlings’ paths. Gather, deliver, build, and fight for wealth and glory in the unique, nostalgic world of Craftlings.”
In Craftlings, careful planning beats quick reflexes. Even if it’s been marketed as a strategy game with clear-cut objectives, it takes a different approach to lead the Craftlings to victory and precious resources. We’ve been having fun with this one, and while it might seem extremely nostalgic, it’s got a voice of its own and plenty of modern twists that help with the mix of very different schools of game design.
Craftlings Platforms
At the time of writing, Craftlings is available exclusively on Steam for $14.99. It’s unclear whether ARIANO Games is gunning for a launch on GOG and/or consoles as well. We personally think it’d be a good fit for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Craftlings Content & Game Modes
Craftlings is a single-player game spread across 12 levels, four of which are meant to serve as tutorials. At launch, there are no sandbox-like modes or level editors. That said, players can aim to beat their own and other players’ timed high scores and achieve better mission ratings. Levels have no time limits, but you can lock yourself out of completing them if you don’t plan well enough!
Despite its chill vibes (supported by a strong audiovisual presentation that isn’t overly nostalgic), Craftlings can be difficult, but it always rewards careful observation and pure experimentation over rapidly rushing to tweak your town’s layout and all the items that help the little creatures get their jobs done. It doesn’t have a strong focus on warfare, but you should expect more than a few fights, too.
For the latest gaming news, follow GameWatcher on BlueSky, check out our videos on YouTube. We sometimes include affiliate links in our posts, which grants us a small commission, thank you. Please support independent Games Media. ❤️
