Before We Leave

Before We Leave

Released May 2021

Before We Leave is a city building game set in a cozy corner of the universe. Nurture your Peeps and their surroundings while rebuilding and rediscovering civilisation. Settle new lands and planets while avoiding hungry Space Whales.

78% positive · 1,720 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence

Where to buy

Prices in USD, as listed by each store.
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Evaluation

Before We Leave launched on May 13, 2021 and received two major free content updates post-launch: the Planet Editor Update (September 8, 2021) and the Wasteland Update (March 14, 2022). The developer, Balancing Monkey Games, explicitly announced in February 2022 that the Wasteland Update would be their final content update for the game, citing roughly five years of development and a desire to move on to a new project. The Wasteland Update shipped on March 14, 2022, fulfilling that final commitment. In October 2022, the studio confirmed again that "apart from the occasional bug fix patch, work on Before We Leave is complete." A further, even more definitive statement came in February 2023, where the developer stated plainly: "Work on Before We Leave is now complete." The studio has since shifted its full attention to a sequel, Beyond These Stars. The only post-2022 activity on this game's Steam page was a security patch in October 2025 to address a Unity engine vulnerability — maintenance, not new content. The game is a complete, finished product with no further content planned.
Evidence
Developer explicitly states: 'Work on Before We Leave is now complete.' The studio announces its next game and confirms all staff have moved to that project full time.
news post · Feb 15, 2023 source development ending
high
Developer confirms again: 'Apart from the occasional bug fix patch, work on Before We Leave is complete.'
news post · Oct 18, 2022 source development ending
high

Content

1 of 1 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Publisher
Team17
Achievements
56
Platform
Windows, macOS
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player

About this game

Rediscover what was lost and nurture your reborn civilisation in Before We Leave, a city building game set in a cozy corner of the universe. Grow, gather and manage resources to help your settlements thrive, and share goods between the hexagonal lands and planets around you. Relax and expand the fabric of your growing societies and create a solar system of happy planets at your own pace. Not everything will go your way, though - use your wits and research solutions to overcome the challenges that your ancestors once faced.

FEATURES

  • Build settlements for the newly emerged Peeps

  • Discover and research the ancient technologies around you

  • Manage resources, pollution and happiness to avoid the mistakes of your ancestors

  • Trade between your settlements by sea and by space

  • Explore six unique biomes on islands of all shapes and sizes

  • Protect the Peeps from ancient beings that guard the galaxy

THE STORY

Your Peeps have spent generations underground. They’ve missed the caress of sun on skin, the squelch of soil between toes, the tickle of flies on noses. They emerge, full of wonder, but with no idea how to grow anything - except potatoes. Start rebuilding their lost civilisation by providing shelter, uncovering ancient technology, and expanding this reborn society to other continents and planets.

But the universe is not safe. Ancient, ancestral guardians demand attention and challenge your settlements - it’s up to you to circumvent these creatures that hamper progress and disturb your newfound peace.

There are no weapons, no battles with neighbours for control of resources - just you, and a solar system full of opportunities.

Last evaluated Jun 26, 2026
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