Darwinia for Windows, Linux and soon for Mac.

Taking a rare break from WoW this weekend, I downloaded the demo for Introversion Software’s “Darwinia” and was impressed enough to buy it soon after.

This game reminds me of “classic” games in that it’s fun, very creative, simple and deep.

The simple part is the interface — you get a cool gesture-based task manager and a simple point and click interface. The navigation is brilliant — very fluid and almost casual — you’re not working, you’re not trying really hard — in fact in the beginning you’re just like “hey, what’s this? can I click here? oh.. that’s cool…”

Then you realize that you’re having fun trying to destroy these “viruses” with your squads and reclaiming the bits for Darwinians (little builders that run things). Ok, so now the game is taking on definate RTS elements.

Now, as you play further, you suddenly realize that the game goals you were given were very loose and open-ended. No waypoints, no specific “Starcraft” like goals…. it dawns on you — this is potentially a very deep game in the number of different strategies and things you can try out.

Which brings you back to play. This game is a strategy/virtual life.. playground.

It’s simple, elegant and for the work of two small-shop UK developers, simply brilliant!

Read the IGN review for more info.