News Tower

News Tower is a newspaper management simulation video game developed by Rotterdam-based indie studio Sparrow Night and published by Twin Sails Interactive.^[1][2] The game entered Steam Early Access on February 13, 2024, for PC and Mac platforms,^[1][3][4] and is set to be released in full on November 4, 2025.^[5]

News Tower
Cover art
Developer(s)	Sparrow Night
Publisher(s)	Twin Sails Interactive
Platform(s)	Windows macOS Linux
Release	February 13, 2024 (early access) November 4, 2025 (full release)
Genre(s)	Management simulation Strategy
Mode(s)	Single-player

Set in 1930s New York City during the Great Depression and Prohibition era,^[1][6] players assume the role of a newspaper publisher tasked with building a media empire from a struggling local Brooklyn paper inherited from their uncle.^[2][7] Players navigate the complex world of journalism during a turbulent historical period, recruiting and managing various newspaper staff while searching for newsworthy stories across the globe.^[1][2][6] Players must balance journalistic integrity against pressure from influential factions including the mafia, mayor, military and high society figures who may offer rewards for favorable coverage,^[1][2] while designing and optimizing their newspaper headquarters floor by floor and meeting weekly publishing deadlines.^[1][8][6]

Gameplay

News Tower is set in 1930s New York City during the Great Depression and Prohibition era.^[1][9] Players assume the role of a newspaper publisher tasked with building a media empire from a struggling local Brooklyn paper.^[10] The game combines elements of tycoon management, resource allocation, and narrative decision-making as players navigate the complex world of journalism during a turbulent historical period.^[9][11]

The core gameplay loop involves recruiting and managing various newspaper staff including reporters, photographers, typographers, janitors, advertisers, and lawyers.^[1][10] Players must search for newsworthy stories across the globe, from major historical events like the Great Depression to minor local stories such as missing cats.^[1][12] Each story can be approached from different angles, with players choosing between maintaining journalistic integrity or succumbing to pressure from influential factions including the mafia, mayor, and high society figures who may offer rewards for favorable coverage.^[1][10]

The game features a tower-building mechanic where players design and optimize their newspaper headquarters floor by floor, managing everything from printing presses to employee break rooms.^[1] Players must balance employee well-being, production efficiency, and meeting weekly publishing deadlines while expanding their readership throughout New York City's various districts.^[1][10]

Development

Sparrow Night was conceived in late 2018 when Jan-Maarten Nachtegeller, who had prior experience in game development, collaborated with Stefan Rijsmus, founder and creative director of Studio Nul, a design, film and technology studio.^[13] The partnership officially began in early 2019, with the founders expanding their team to include additional developers and an illustrator to work on their debut project,^[13] News Tower.^[14][10] The concept for their flagship title emerged from contemporary media concerns. Nachtegeller explained that inspiration came from observing the relationship between press and public during the 2016 U.S. elections, noting the rise of Fake News discourse and growing skepticism toward traditional news outlets in the Netherlands.^[15]

The four-person development team based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, chose Early Access as their development approach to incorporate community feedback into the game's evolution.^[1] News Tower entered Steam Early Access on February 13, 2024, for PC and Mac platforms.^[16][17] The studio describes its mission as creating games that are "smart, welcoming, and immersive," focusing on engaging gameplay mechanics that combine entertainment with educational elements.^[18]

The Early Access version spans from 1930 to 1935, with the full release planned to cover the complete decade from 1930 to 1939.^[1][3] Additional features planned for the full version include a competitor system, additional NPC questlines, and an endless mode allowing continued play beyond the campaign timeline.^[1] The development team estimates the Early Access period will last approximately one to one-and-a-half years before the full version release, scheduled for 2025.^[1][3]

Reception

News Tower received generally positive reviews from critics who praised its unique theme and engaging gameplay mechanics while noting some areas for improvement in its Early Access state. GameStar described the game as having "a really good foundation" despite being newly released in Early Access.^[19] TechRadar called it "an incredibly fun and fast-paced newspaper sim and management game," noting that "there's so much to do and explore in this indie game that you'll never be at a loose end".^[20]

GameLuster noted problems with the tutorial, stating it "made a bad first impression when I initially booted up the game".^[21] GamesHub pointed out tutorial clarity issues, noting "the game does provide a tutorial at the start, it could be clearer with its guidance and instructions – there are elements that feel intuitive, but others that I had to reread multiple times to parse".^[22]

News Tower was the biggest winner at the 2024 Dutch Game Awards, establishing Sparrow Night as a notable presence in the Netherlands' game development industry.^[23] The Dutch Game Awards jury praised the game as a spectacular debut, noting that each game mechanic is utilized to its full potential and the depth of the gameplay caters to both strategy enthusiasts and newcomers.^[24] The game won four awards at the Dutch Game Awards, including Best Game, Best Audio, Best Game Design, and Best Debut Game.^[25]