No, I am not evil for wanting to turn space whale city-builder Beyond These Stars into a Moby Dick simulator
Beyond These Stars is a space whale city-builder where players construct cities on the back of a living space whale named Kewa. The game allows players to build and expand their settlements while maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the massive creature that serves as their world.
In this feature, the author describes their playstyle as a responsible “Space Whale Mayor,” emphasizing a caretaker approach to development. Rather than extracting resources without consequence, they balance city construction with efforts to nurture Kewa’s wellbeing. Actions include planting saplings for breathable air, spreading compost to revitalize neglected areas, and unblocking irrigation channels to transform barren lands. The player transforms hexagonal plots into productive facilities like mines and smelters while simultaneously giving back to the whale through ecological restoration.
The article’s headline suggests an intentional defensiveness about gameplay approach, with the author rejecting characterizations of being “evil” for their playstyle choices. The Moby Dick reference in the title implies some community discussion about more predatory or aggressive approaches to the whale relationship, positioning this as a counterargument for ethical, symbiotic gameplay. The piece appears to be both a personal reflection on the game’s mechanics and design philosophy, celebrating the tension between development and conservation that the game facilitates.