Wicked Cabins is a cozy diorama builder with a perfect spooky twist

I’ve always been partial to diorama building in any form. Back in the day, I used to build and paint terrain for Warhammer and D&D games, but now that I’m older (and have limited time, funds, and space for the hobby), I’m always looking for ways to indulge virtually. Wicked Cabins is a game that lets me do just that. 

Created, developed, and published by Dariusz Pietrala, Wicked Cabins is what you’d get if cozy hit Tiny Glade crossed over to the dark side and fully embraced a Halloweentown aesthetic. There is no end to the spooky building objects and decor pieces, and the demo is now available just in time for the spooktacular Halloween celebrations to begin. 

Time to relax

As with other diorama builders of the type, Wicked Cabins has no timers, no pressure, and no stress. It’s just you, a bunch of building blocks, and ultimate freedom to create whatever you can conjure up in your mind. Bringing your dark and spooky ideas to life in a desolate and previously empty location can make even the spookiest place feel cozy and warm, and that’s the point of Wicked Cabins. 

According to the Steam page, there will be four different locations in the full game once it releases: Woods, Transylvania, Swamp, and perhaps most worryingly, Hell. I can’t imagine how the building process in Hell itself will go, but I’m sure that someone with sufficient talent will be able to make it feel like a cozy corner in no time. I am not that person, but I’ll give it a good shot. 

The demo only has one level, but there’s a lot that can be done with it and plenty of building blocks to really get you into the diorama groove. You can build a witch’s shack, a castle of epic proportions, or even a whole neighborhood if you’re that way inclined. The limit really is your own imagination and what you can conjure up, and then convert to the virtual world of Wicked Cabins. 

A spooky, good time

Over the years, my love for all things dark and spooky has become somewhat hidden behind a generally very ‘normal’ fashion sense and pastel colors that are a far stretch from the gothic/emo aesthetic I swore by for the entirety of my teenage years and young adult life. However, just because my dark little soul is now wrapped up in pinks and purples, that doesn’t mean it isn’t there, and it is incredibly soothed by the joy that is Wicked Cabins. 

With that said, you don’t need to particularly be a fan of the aesthetic of the game to find enjoyment in it. Part of my love for diorama-building games comes from stretching them to create things that it perhaps should not be possible or expected of me to create. Using those blocks in strange ways to create something unique is half the fun, and doing the unexpected with the resources you have is definitely encouraged. 

Like I said before, the full game will offer four locations on which to build, while the demo only has one to explore. There will also likely be a ton more building pieces and decor items to pile into your on-screen dioramas when the full game releases. I can’t wait to explore new areas and find new ways to use existing and new items to create adorable, spooky dioramas. 

If you want to give it a try, the demo of Wicked Cabins was released through Steam on October 23, and there’s also a playtest to sign up for on the page if you want to stand a chance of playing the game before it hits the official release.