Well done, everyone!
With around 360 excellent submissions to our Update 6-themed map contest, picking the winners was a hard nut to crack! But, following the team-wide voting session, we now have the results - the three grand victors and the nine honorable mentions.
We were very impressed with how the community explored the Update 6 features. You built all kinds of aqueducts, often one atop another. You created caves, underground streams, tunnels, and secret areas. You crafted your maps to accommodate multiple playthroughs with flexible start options. And above all, you made your maps original, pretty, and playable. We love it!
The winner in each category receives 1000 EUR, Timberborn merch, a place in the in-game credits, and an exclusive rank on our Discord. The swag (Timberborn T-shirt and mug) also goes to those honorably mentioned. Expect to hear from us very soon.
Congratulations to everyone who won, and big thanks to all the participants!
Small maps (128x128 and below)
Winner - Quest for the Ancient Aquifer 2 (32x256) by Mulien92
This is a meticulously crafted sequel to the original Ancient Aquifer challenge map that we showcased almost three years ago. It pushes the limits of what's possible with Update 6's Natural Overhangs, pretty much serving as a demo for the upcoming 3D terrain! It's a narrow but long map, with many hidden waterways and fine details to admire. Getting from one side to the other will surely be an adventure to remember.
Honorable mention - The Highlands (128x93) by iAmaRobot100pc
This map is not for the faint of heart, especially since the default starting area is small, and only the upper levels are free from contamination. Eventually, your beavers will need to make it downward, and start working on restoring the area, maybe even rebuilding the aqueducts.
Honorable mention - The Overhang (100x30) by Lizzy18
We like the detail in the titular overhang, which further explores one of the themes seen in this category’s winning entry. Will your beavers make it to the plateau area before bad tides turn the water cascading down red? The left side of the map already hints at what may happen.
Honorable mention - Ancient Waterways (128x128) by Tibector
The central structure might have been a highway interchange at some point but to beavers, it’s a perfect aqueduct setup… provided they manage to expand the green areas. They’ll need to push badwater back and delve into the more dangerous parts of the map.
Medium maps (129x129 through 255x255)
Winner - Fortitude (128x255) by DavThmsn
With a solid usage of the new overhangs to create a ruined castle wall and an aqueduct vista, this map is split into three distinct parts, each featuring a slightly different challenge and opportunity to exploit. Bringing the color green back to the area is the beaver casus belli for settling here. Rebuild the walls and show nature who's the boss!
Honorable mention - Ashes of the Last War (169x169) by LordUmbrella
This map is one of the finest examples of turning in-game objects into something different we’ve ever seen. Around the map, there are scattered remains of tanks and nuclear silos, there’s an entire underground bunker with a tunnel network leading to it. There’s even a destroyed... AT-AT?
Honorable mention - 2024 Map Contest (250x250) by Dixiecups77
The map’s name might not give away much, but we really liked the map’s balanced layout, allowing the player to expand differently each time. While the map offers a rather classic experience, you will benefit from using the prominent aqueduct overlooking the area.
Honorable mention - Don't Be Vain (200x200) by KenderFrog
Near the start, there’s a vast, ruin-covered cave filled with water. Will your beavers satisfy their needs with just what’s sipping through the cracks? Will they reclaim a reservoir connected to the cave via a waterway? Or will they give in to the vanity and break their way inside?
Large maps (256x256 and above)
Winner - Forsaken Bay (256x256) by cactusinapot
Here’s the most impressive island-type map we've seen so far. Forsaken Bay has a lot of thought put into it. From many alternate starting locations (to follow up on the pirate theme, X marks the spot) to giant, diagonal spikes protruding from the ocean and a sunken ship. And there’s a volcano, because no island paradise is complete without one! By the way, check out Shelter (70x70) by the same author - it was one of our favourite Small maps in the contest.
Honorable mention - Legacy of the Tides (256x256) by Schtr0umpf
On the surface, this map may appear to be on the classic side… but as soon as you notice all the terrain-level Natural Overhangs, you realize it’s actually full of cleverly hidden underground secrets. We absolutely admire the amount of work the author had to put into the sewer-like irrigation system that keeps the land green.
Honorable mention - New Gigapolis (256x256) by Beaver-Hugo
One of the struggles we see with large maps is using huge areas without leaving blank, not very intersting space. Gigapolis avoids that pitfall as it sure looks like remnants of a large hooman settlement, with the large highway splitting over it, but also an archipelago, a flooded business district, collapsed mines, and the hills overlooking the city.
Honorable mention - Bryce Floodlands (256x256) by Cloudfire57
Inspired by Bryce Canyon, Utah (and Terraces and Thousand Islands, Timberborn), this classic large map allows you to expand in many directions. There are multiple terraces to choose from - and while flat areas may give you enough building space, you will need to figure out how to join them into a settlement, with badwater polluting most of the water.
Where do I find other entries?
Once again, congratulations to all winners and those honorably mentioned!
You can find all entries to the contest on Mod.io, with many of them also live in Steam Workshop. There's a ton of custom content on both repositories, so be sure to give it a look ahead of the next session!