Developed by Novemtails, this lovely little adventure is all about settling down in a colourful forest, building a comfortable home and enjoying everything nature has to offer. There are no enemies to fight here, no animals to hunt and, believe it or not, we can’t even die. Well, that’s one way to take the stress out of survival!
Home Sweet Home
Under Canopies takes place in the Sanctuary, a beautiful forest filled with wildlife, rivers, meadows and mountains. We’re free to explore the surroundings, gather resources and gradually build a life for ourselves. Despite the absence of combat, traditional survival mechanics are still present. We have to manage hunger, thirst, energy and temperature, although there’s no danger of losing our lives if things go wrong.
Much of our time is spent collecting materials, crafting tools and constructing a cabin. We can build our home piece by piece, furnish the interior and decorate the surroundings with handmade objects. There’s also farming and cooking to keep us busy. We can grow vegetables, harvest ingredients and prepare meals using more than 30 recipes.
We like the idea of having so many activities to occupy our time without constantly worrying about being attacked. Exploration plays an important role, too, with hidden locations, valuable resources and scattered letters encouraging us to venture deeper into the forest. There’s even an underlying story about the Sanctuary and its previous inhabitants.
Friends, Not Food
Animals are another important part of the experience, and we’re happy to report that none of them want to eat us. Better yet, we’re not expected to eat them either!
We can observe wildlife, photograph different creatures and gradually earn their trust. There’s also the opportunity to care for chickens and sheep, collecting useful resources such as eggs and wool. Even smaller activities, such as preparing a bird feeder and returning the following day to collect feathers, contribute to the peaceful routine.
Photography is another welcome addition. Armed with a camera, we can document the wildlife and fill an album with pictures of the creatures we encounter. It’s a lovely little activity that encourages exploration, and we certainly prefer collecting photographs to collecting animal heads!
The colourful, stylised graphics complement the peaceful atmosphere. With lush vegetation, inviting scenery and charming wooden structures, the Sanctuary looks like a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.
A Forest That Still Needs Some Growing
As appealing as the concept is, Under Canopies is still in Early Access. Inventory management, building controls and progression clarity need further refinement, while the developer continues improving performance and stability. Recent updates have already addressed reported stuttering, controller navigation and crafting issues.
There’s also unfinished content to consider. The story doesn’t have its conclusion yet, and additional photography activities, animal interactions and exploration opportunities are planned for future updates. Hopefully, these additions will bring greater variety to the experience, particularly since gathering resources and maintaining our daily routine could eventually become repetitive.
Cozy Vibes Overload!
Under Canopies offers a refreshing approach to survival, with exploration, building and wildlife taking priority over combat. There’s room for improvement, but we strongly appreciated the developer’s peaceful vision. It felt nice to put down our weapons and pick up a watering can.
Our score: 8.5/10
- Developer: Novemtails
- Publisher: Assemble Entertainment
- Platform: PC (Steam)
- Release: October 23, 2026 (Early Access)
- Genre: Survival, crafting, exploration
- Mode: Single-player
- Price: €14.99
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