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About Scaling Up
Scaling Up is a strategy game from Flannel Bear Games where you start as a small dragon and build a snake ranch. Released on February 12, 2026, it runs on PC and Mac. The goal is to gather resources, construct facilities, and manage a growing collection of snakes. You’ll collect scales to craft better gear while keeping your serpents happy. It’s a slow-burn simulation focused on progression and optimization. Perfect for fans of incremental growth and resource management games, but with a quirky reptilian twist.
Gameplay
The game starts with basic resource gathering, wood, stone, and food for your first snake. You’ll drag-and-drop buildings like enclosures, forges, and feed stations. Each snake has hunger, happiness, and health bars to monitor. Later, you upgrade facilities to attract rarer snakes, which yield better scales for gear. Play sessions often involve balancing multiple tasks: feeding, cleaning, and trading scales at the market. The UI is straightforward but dense, with micromanagement required for efficiency. Progression is linear, focused on scaling up operations as the title suggests.
What Players Think
Community ratings average 7.8/10, with 72% completing the game. Average playtime is 28 hours, though 42% of players hit the 40-hour mark chasing achievements. Reviews highlight the “satisfying loop of expansion” but criticize repetitive tasks after 20 hours. Moods are split between “relaxing” and “slow-paced,” with some calling it “monotonous.” The top achievement, “Scale Master,” is unlocked after crafting 100 items, and 42% of players have it. Critics praise the economy design but note a lack of variety in late-game goals.
PlayPile's Take
Scaling Up is worth your time if you enjoy slow, methodical strategy games. At $29.99, it’s reasonably priced for the 30+ hour experience. The 38 achievements add replayability, though most are grindy. Skip this if you prefer fast-paced action or dynamic challenges. It’s a solid simulation with a niche charm, but the repetitiveness might wear thin. Ideal for casual players with spare hours to invest in building a snake empire.
Game Modes
Single player
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