For the uninitiated, Banished is a historical simulation city building survival game.  That might seem like a lot of things going on, but after a few dozen play throughs of the base game you might find yourself wanting more.  There’s a robust set of achievements, including one that will have you playing for several hours to earn “tenure.” However, after the majority of achievements are met the discerning player might be tempted to move onto other games.  Here are some reasons why you should play the game modded.

  1. Mods are free and easily accessible on the Steam workshop.  Simply click on the “mod” option in the opening menu and browse.  Rather than selecting individual smaller mods, I recommend trying the major packs like Colonial Charter or the Red Ketchup Editor’s Choice mods to get started.

  2. Production chains are more complex.  Rather than the rudimentary tech tree of the base game, players are forced to consider more options for how to run the city with mod packs.  There are more options, making each play through much more unique.

  3. Some of the mod packs include new textures for both buildings and the map itself.  This will change the look and feel of the society greatly. It allows for unique “stories” to develop and, if you want, even regional “themes.”

  4. The added depth not only allows for variety, but it also creates possibilities for complex ecosystems.  For example, with the Red Ketchup Mod players can create a fodder farm and a florist. These add new materials to the game which the player can then complete a wide range of actions, including making perfume.  That pack adds in several complex supply chains such as an armory, additional textiles, and three story buildings that can be connected into city blocks.

  5. The stories are often more interesting, which allows for roleplay and theme development.  In the Colonial Charter pack, players can build a fort or start with a unique “storyline.”  Rather than the citizens being banished for some sort of bad behavior (there is no “lore” to the game), with Colonial Charter there’s one storyline that they are a group of missionaries, another that they were shipwrecked, and several more that are worth exploring.

If this sounds interesting to you, go out and grab the game.  It is often quite affordable on Steam. Play around with the vanilla game for a bit, then add these additional options for free and add hundreds of hours to your gaming experience.