Yes - there is a lot of RNG but the games are quick and you can affect a lot of stuff with allies, perks and quirks.
Other than the rng there is a lot of fun in planning, failing, learning, applying, evolving, experimenting and.. winning !
Very good job on this game - very chill and satisfying while being quite original imho.
A very polished builder with a twist.
Looks more complex than it really is, the game is very easy to pick up but quite hard to 'get good' at.
Sometimes frustrating due to the sheer randomness of the layouts, and sometimes because of something you did earlier.
At times you feel as if you're playing against yourself as much as the game - it's quite an odd experience, but enjoyable.
Replayability is good due to the sheer quantity of abilities available through progress, and it has a strong 'just one more turn' vibe.
What lets it down is some of the UI not being toggleable (alt-connection view), and the potential connections not really making it obvious if one of them satisfies a demand.
And the degree of randomness when starting a game has compelled me to restart more than once, as I was unable to find a stable configuration like the tutorial shows you.
Is it worth it?
I burned an entire Saturday on this without even realising it - I would say yes.
Slipways takes a streamlined version of the 4X formula used in games like Master of Orion and rips out all the micromanagement and war mechanics. Of course, when you remove the last X in a 4X game, this changes the gameplay. Slipways is more akin to a puzzle game with a Master of Orion skin, but it's great fun.
There are no other players to distract you from building your glorious empire, and you're never slowed down by micromanagement or war. Instead, you're constantly tempted into overextending yourself. If you ever wanted the exploration and expansion phase of a 4X game to never end, this the game for you.
Conquering the galaxy is undeniably fun, but it takes a substantial time investment. When you're in the mood for a longer game, you can always go back to Stellaris or Master of Orion. For bite-size chunks of empire-building fun, it's tough to beat this game.
Not a bad game, but heavy on RNG.
Full puzzle, not much "stratergy".
Little assemblence of "learn as you go" due to the RNG down to even the race selections research options.
Not even a quick restart option...