There is a nice restraint to the way progress unfolds. Light up a corner, gather what is nearby, put down a few buildings, then decide whether the next patch of darkness is worth tackling. Watching an empty stretch of land slowly acquire a proper settlement has a quiet payoff. The full version is already unlocked in-game, so the complete content is available from the start.
The little side challenges break up the building without derailing it. They are simple, but performing well can make the next round of construction noticeably easier. Anyone after a sprawling management sim may find it slight; for a calmer strategy game with a touch of exploration, it hits a rather pleasant middle ground.