[This title was featured as the Mini Review for the Friday News Wrap-Up for the 12th of October, 2012]

This isn't so much a game as it is an open-ended toy of sorts. Topia World Builder is a risky release from Crescent Moon Games and Solid 60, but there's method behind the madness.

With news of the game appearing around the same time as From Dust on the XBLA, it touted some impressive features, many of which have been realized in this current version.

Although mostly a free-play title where you can shape a planetoid, creating mountains, valleys, plains, rivers, lakes and so forth, the game responds beautifully by ensuring no matter what you do, the end result is somewhat realistic. Trees and plants will grow in arid zones, while inhospitable lands will spurn their growth. Throw in some herbivores and they'll happily frolic and reproduce, but you can also throw in a carnivore or three to spice things up.

While the game is promising to add in a focused set of missions in the future, for now Topia remains a beautiful way to distract yourself from the drudgery of real life and start working on a virtual one.