Lyon-based developer Gameleon Studio has announced Ornelia, a village builder and god game that “redefines the genre.” It will launch first in Early Access for PC via Steam. A release date was not announced.
Here is an overview of the game, via Gameleon Studio:
About
Ornelia is a village builder and benevolent god game that redefines the genre through the lens of care and creation. Arriving soon on Steam Early Access, Ornelia invites players to step into a living, breathing world where their every act of kindness literally powers the landscape.
A God Game Where Goodness is Your Greatest Power
In Ornelia, you aren’t a distant deity—you are a hands-on guardian of the Kinous, adorable and expressive creatures who live under the shade of the great Kiskanu tree. Unlike traditional god games that focus on destruction or conquest, Ornelia is built entirely on benevolent agency. Your kindness is the engine of progress; each night, the great tree draws strength from the care you’ve shown your village, glowing brighter as your community flourishes.
As a guardian, your influence is tactile. You can physically intervene in the world—picking up Kinous to help them along, triggering small miracles to clear paths, or reshaping the space around them in real-time. The Kinous are deeply aware of your presence; they use emotes, ask for guidance, and celebrate the milestones of the village you build together.
Creation at Your Own Pace
Ornelia will launch into Early Access with Create Mode, a creative sanctuary where players can plan, build, and grow their village without the pressure of a ticking clock. Whether you are designing for peak efficiency or purely for aesthetic beauty, the village-building mechanics allow for deep personalization, ensuring every town is a unique reflection of its guardian’s style.
Looking toward the 1.0 release, players can also look forward to an Adventure Mode, a narrative journey where your kindness becomes a weapon. In this mode, players will embark on a mission to restore the Kiskanu tree to its full glory by pushing back the encroaching “Black Mass,” a shadow that threatens the peace of the world.
Key Features
- Craft Your Cozy Village – Total freedom to choose what to build and where to place it. Create a village that balances efficiency with your own personal design flair.
- A Living World in Your Care – Watch the Kinous react to your choices in real-time. Use the zoom feature to see their tiny celebrations and individual personalities up close.
- Tactile Godhood – A hands-on approach to divinity. Physically interact with the world and its inhabitants to perform “good-only” miracles.
- Two Ways to Play – Jump into Endless Mode for a pure creative sandbox in Early Access, or prepare for the upcoming Adventure Mode to restore the world from the Black Mass.
Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.