EcoGnomix is a premium role-playing game by developer Irox Games. It is a fantasy-themed city-building experience featuring roguelike elements and survival crafting mechanics. In it, players will lead a group of gnomes as they venture deep underground in search of treasure and resources to build their settlement. 

Similar to other games like Sandwalkers and For The King II, EcoGnomix incorporates turn-based combat and semi-open-world adventuring through a maze-like labyrinth and crafting into its gameplay. The result is an experience that is both tactical and highly engaging at the same time, catering to fans of strategy games and RPGs alike. 

Roguelike fantasy city builder  

EcoGnomix takes place in a fantasy world wherein you are on a quest to build a small village atop a deep underground cave. You will need to have the resources in order to fulfill that endeavor, and this is where you will employ a group of gnomes who are experts at excavation to mine the materials you’ll need. Outside the caves, the city screen allows you to construct buildings, cultivate resources, and unlock meta-progression upgrades. 

The gameplay is a combination of city-building and survival exploration mechanics. On the surface, gradually build your little gnome village using various structures. Send your gnomes to venture into the game and collect resources to unlock more buildings and upgrades back at the base. There are multiple unique biomes with branching paths to discover, with their own set of hostile enemies who will attack on sight.  

Knack for economy 

In EcoGnomix, you level up your gnomes and acquire new skills to help face tougher opponents as you dive deeper. Experiment with different synergies and gnome units to see which one is suited for different scenarios. Now, the experience is not without its quirks, though, as the difficulty suddenly spikes to an unusual level after finishing the first cave, which is something that should be addressed in future updates.  

The game also introduces Balance Patch 1.1 not long after launch, targeting key gameplay feedback from early players. This update fine-tuned gnome abilities and upgrade efficiencies, smoothing some of the more jarring difficulty spikes reported by players. On Switch, a corresponding update added balance adjustments for both gnomes and upgrades, although the developers acknowledged that more expansion content isn't currently planned. Moreover, it can feel unfair, with too much reliance on randomness. 

Strategy, survival, and gnome ingenuity 

EcoGnomix successfully blends city-building with roguelike adventuring, offering a strategic and engaging experience for fans of RPG and survival mechanics. Its mix of resource gathering, tactical combat, and underground exploration keeps gameplay dynamic, while updates have helped smooth out difficulty spikes. However, its reliance on randomness and occasional balance issues hold it back. Despite these flaws, this game stands out as a creative and promising addition to the fantasy strategy genre.