Wild West Pioneers Is What Happens When a City Builder Starts Thinking Like a Cozy Game

I've played enough city builders over the years to know that I tend to enjoy them right up until the point where I feel like I'm spending more time babysitting everything than actually building anything. I like having a plate full of things to manage, of course, because that's a huge part of the reason I play these games in the first place, but there is definitely a line where all of that management can start to feel like work. Maybe some consider that the point of city builders—and I do, at times—but sometimes, I wouldn't mind something a little slower. Well, after spending some time with Wild West Pioneers ahead of its Early Access launch, I never really felt like it crossed the line between work and fun. There is actually quite a bit going on here once everything starts opening up, but the pace of it all is surprisingly laid back, and I found myself settling into its rhythm much faster than I expected.