Sometimes there are nights where playing a taxing and competitive game aren’t the vibe. You’re looking for something to wind down with and relax for the evening. Whether you’re catching up on a podcast, or listening to your favorite playlist, Midnight Moments by developers Happy Volcano might just be a way to end your day.

Designed as a low pressure experience, Midnight Moments is a game to play as an escape. Build your own corner of a cyberpunk world with rain soaked streets, vibrant neon lights and busy nightlife. Every piece you build adds to a growing atmosphere of your own creation.

Gameplay

The beauty of Midnight Moments is that there is no right or wrong way to approach this game. Inspired by cozy lofi cityscapes, relax and enjoy creating fluorescent cyberpunk scenes with no goals or timer pressure. 

Use building blocks and pillars to build and shape the perfect scene. Climb high using cascading staircases, or use fencing to block off areas. Go big and create a sprawling neon metropolis, or build a small shanty nightclub tucked away in the back alley. 

Add cladding and roofing elements to give the buildings realistic accessories. Decorate the scenes with props like doors, lights, signs to give character. I don’t think there is “too much” when it comes to adding details in this steam punk world. There’s also no wrong place to put something, experiment and be creative!

The addition of characters is icing on the realistic cake. If you don’t like the stance of a character before placing click the icon again and it will refresh. Sprinkle a few around your scene, or create a gaggle of party go-ers.

Details

Midnight Moments puts creative control in the player’s hands, right down to the smallest details. Customize not only the colors of buildings and props, but also the lights too. Choose between 6 vibrant neon colors to give your city the exact vibes you’re looking for. A rainy back alley club, or maybe a run down apartment building. 

And because it’s cyberpunk, there’s gotta be rain. Use the sliders on the right side of the UI to adjust the rainfall intensity.  You’ll also find lighting controls, where you can customize the light’s direction, brightness, and color to create the perfect atmosphere for your scene. 

Midnight Moments also gives the option to zoom into scenes. Admire the neon reflection on a wet city street, or bask in the glow of a street lamp.

UI

The user interface in a game can make or break a game’s playability. Midnight Moments makes it very easy to navigate the UI by breaking up building materials in very simple and sensible ways. Rather than scrolling through broad categories, Midnight Moments breaks sections down so that you can easily find what you’re looking for. 

I will say that the first few times you play, you’ll probably need to check what’s in each category because there’s no obvious labeling beyond the icons. For those in favor of a cleaner UI it looks great, but I hope there’s at least in future updates to toggle it on and off. 

Shortcuts & Tips

If you’re a fan of taking pictures of your creations, there’s a way to prevent the UI from interfering with your screenshots. Press V to toggle the UI on or off. By pressing T, you can auto rotate your creation to get the perfect angle. F12 will take an in game screenshot.

Because Midnight Moments has no goals or time pressure, stepping away from the game won’t hinder your play. But there is NO auto save. Make sure you are saving your scenes, and saving often especially if you plan to come back to your build.

While there are only so many props to use, this is where your creative juices start flowing. Just because something is in a certain category, doesn’t mean it has to be used exactly in that way. Thinking out of the box will get you unique and really cool scenes that are all your own.

Sounds

Midnight Moments is designed to be a relaxing experience, perfect for winding down after a long day. Developer Happy Volcano even encourages players to listen to their favorite music or podcasts while playing. Instead of a traditional soundtrack, the game features only the soothing sounds of falling rain and a bustling city, creating a calm and immersive atmosphere.

One of my favorite parts of this game is the tiny noises items make when you delete, place or move items. Specifically the delete when an item explodes into pixels. The sounds for placement are different too depending on the item. Metal will clunk, while lighter items will clink. It just tickles the brain.

Conclusion

While Midnight Moments may not be for everyone, that’s exactly what makes it stand out from others. It isn’t trying to be filled with objectives or fast paced. So many times games try to add so many elements that key gameplay gets drowned out. Developers Happy Volcano on the other hand chose to stick with one element and do it well. They embrace slowing down, and focusing on a more a tranquil experience. Simply enjoying the lulling sounds of the rain and vibrant neons, being truly immersed in a cyberpunk oasis.

Midnight Memories releases July 30th on Steam for PC.

Thank you to the developers for the game code. Midnight Memories was reviewed on a PC.