Grove Keeper presents a fresh take on the management sim genre, reminiscent of titles like Dungeon Keeper and Evil Genius, but with a focus on environmental protection.

In this game, you embody a forest deity who must thwart woodcutters and hunters intent on depleting the land of its natural resources. Your allies in this battle include mythical creatures such as satyrs and giants, who are ready to defend the forest.

I tested a demo of Grove Keeper at PAX Australia, beginning with a central tree and a basic dwelling. Nightly operations involve planting trees to harvest resources that summon protective magical creatures. Each species of tree has unique attributes; for example, Willows need water, while Spruces are more forgiving on placement but yield less magic.

As daylight breaks, human adversaries armed with axes and bows invade, and it’s up to you to command your mystical defenders into action. The game features various spells, allowing you to cast meteors, heal allies, or summon aquatic creatures like kelpies for tactical advantage.

The gameplay combines strategic resource management with fun action sequences as you repel human attacks, often resulting in humorous ragdoll physics as enemies meet their fate.

At the conclusion of each day, you are presented with options to enhance your abilities, whether by increasing troop limits or enhancing damage output. Grove Keeper is under development by indie studio Steep Summit, and eager players can find updates on Steam.