Challenging enough to always be interesting and so satisfying when you solve one crisis after another and see your little town grow. Focus on food +++ and firewood above everything else in the first year, then slowly expand. Trying to go too fast too far will destroy your town. Forest exploitation buildings are really good and will provide an endless (if slow) stream of wood. Also build some houses after a few years: people only move out of their parents' home and make children if they have their own house. Don't buy too many at once either. There's a balance to be kept if you want to keep your population growing, but not so fast you'll starve. No fighting in this game is so nice, wish more games did that. Just you and the unforgiving nature - which actually makes for a relaxing experience. Also the soundtrack is top notch.
