Plentiful — a game where you don't build a world of blocks but save it from chaos

A unique new release has appeared on Steam — Plentiful, which has already been mistakenly compared to Minecraft. The reason for the buzz is clear: the game features simple low-poly graphics, the world is divided into hexagons, and the project is led by a person with a big name. This is Obbe Vermeij, the former technical director of Rockstar North, who worked on GTA IV and other parts of the Grand Theft Auto series.

However, the developer immediately clarified: Plentiful — is not Minecraft. This is not a sandbox about mining blocks, building houses, and surviving in first-person, but a completely different genre — a God simulator, where the player controls not a hero but the world itself.

Who created Plentiful

The game's creator is Obbe Vermeij. He is well-known to Rockstar fans as one of the studio's veterans and a former technical director who participated in creating the classic GTA trilogy for PS2 as well as GTA IV. In recent years, he has often shared stories about the development of old hits, but now he has reminded everyone of himself as an independent creator.

Vermeij worked on Plentiful for about three years. The game was released for PC on Steam in early May 2026 in early access format. However, the project already offers enough content: the developer claims that the campaign can be completed from start to finish, and additional modes are also available.

This career shift seems particularly intriguing. After working on loud criminal action games, Vermeij has released a calm, almost meditative game about nature, resources, and the survival of a tribe.

What kind of game is it

Plentiful is positioned as a «nature sandbox» and a God simulator in the spirit of the classic Populous, which Vermeij himself calls one of his favorite games.

The main idea is simple: the player receives a world made up of hexagons and begins to shape the landscape to create conditions for life. It's not just about arranging hills, trees, and water beautifully. You need to monitor how everything is interconnected. In the game, water, plants, animals, and people react, and every action has consequences.

The player's task is to help the tribe survive. To do this, you need to grow food, maintain the balance of nature, manage resources, account for seasonal changes, and deal with natural disasters. Each level offers a unique landscape and its own challenges, so there is no universal solution.

Features of Plentiful

The game has several features that immediately set it apart from other indie projects.

First, there is no traditional main character. The player doesn't run around the map, build a base with their own hands, or fight directly. All interaction happens through a cursor, as if you're observing a living world from above and gently guiding its development.

Second, the ecosystem plays a crucial role. If you overdo it with trees, it can affect water and soil. If you leave everything to chance, the tribe may face hunger or other problems. This game is not just about creativity but also about consequences.

Third, Plentiful already offers different modes: campaign, «Creativity», «Survival», and «Endless». This means the project is designed for those who want to complete set scenarios and those who prefer to experiment more freely.

How Plentiful differs from Minecraft

Comparisons with Minecraft appeared almost immediately, but they are mainly related to the visual style. Both games have simple, stylized graphics, but the similarities almost end there.

Minecraft — is a game about personal involvement: you control a character, gather resources, build, explore the world, and survive on your own.

Plentiful — is a game about system management: you are not a hero within the world but a force above it. You don't mine blocks or build walls; you change the landscape, influence the ecosystem, and help an entire tribe survive.

Obbe Vermeij himself even humorously emphasized this difference: yes, there are hexagons here, but no Steve.

Conclusion

Plentiful looks like an interesting and unconventional project from someone usually associated with completely different games. Instead of a criminal action game, the former GTA developer offers a calm, thoughtful simulator where nature, balance, and the long-term consequences of decisions matter.

If you enjoy unusual sandboxes, strategies, and experiments with living systems, Plentiful is definitely worth your attention. What do you think of this idea — a God simulator from the creator of GTA IV? Does the game resemble Minecraft only in appearance, or are such comparisons inevitable? Let's discuss.