Scenario 6: Tiny Kingdoms: Merge & Build
If you clicked on this, you were probably looking for realistic practice with game music client briefs. Here's a scenario that shows what developers need from composers - perfect for building your skills without the pressure of a real project.
Have fun :)
Game Overview
Genre: Merge/City Builder
Platform: Mobile (iOS/Android)
Art Style: Cute isometric pixel art with bright colors
Target Audience: Ages 20-40, casual strategy fans
Game Lore:
Players are apprentice Kingdom Architects tasked with rebuilding the scattered Tiny Kingdoms after the Great Shrinking - a magical catastrophe that miniaturized all the world's cities and scattered their pieces across floating islands. Using ancient merge magic, players can combine similar buildings and resources to create larger, more magnificent structures.
Each kingdom has its own theme and personality: The Sunny Meadow Kingdom focuses on agriculture and nature, the Crystal Mountain Kingdom specializes in mining and gems, the Cloudy Sky Kingdom is all about air travel and weather magic, and the Mysterious Forest Kingdom deals with enchanted creatures and old magic.
The core progression involves merging increasingly complex building chains - starting with simple huts that combine into houses, then mansions, then magical towers. Players also collect tiny citizens who have unique skills and personalities, and can be assigned to different buildings to boost production or unlock special abilities.
Core Mechanics: Merge gameplay, resource management, kingdom building, collection and placement, incremental progression.
Musical Brief
From: Lisa Park, Lead Game Designer
Subject: Tiny Kingdoms Music - Small Scale, Big Heart
"Hello! We're working on a merge game that's all about rebuilding cute little kingdoms, and we need music that captures both the magical and the adorable sides of our world.
Track requirements:
Main building theme (6-7 minutes, needs to loop for long building sessions)
Kingdom-specific themes (4 different tracks, 4-5 minutes each)
Merge success jingle (2-3 seconds, satisfying and magical)
Upgrade fanfare (5-8 seconds, celebratory but not overwhelming)
Menu music (3 minutes, inviting and warm)
The musical personality: Think "epic fantasy but pocket-sized." We want music that makes players feel like they're creating something important and magical, but in a cute, non-intimidating way. Like if Lord of the Rings was directed by Hayao Miyazaki and everything was adorable.
Reference tracks we love:
My Time at Portia (that perfect blend of cozy and adventurous)
Slime Rancher (upbeat without being hyper)
Some of the gentler tracks from Ni No Kuni
The building music from Dragon Quest Builders
Player behavior insights: Our analytics show people play this during commutes, lunch breaks, and before bed. The music needs to be engaging enough for active play but not so intense that it prevents relaxation. Many players have the sound on in public spaces, so it should be pleasant for people nearby too.
Technical requirements:
Optimized for mobile devices (file size vs. quality balance)
44.1kHz, 16-bit final delivery
Must loop seamlessly - any gaps or clicks will be noticed immediately
Consider providing different mix versions (full, reduced percussion, ambient only)
Specific kingdom themes:
Sunny Meadow: Light, pastoral, nature-focused
Crystal Mountain: Sparkly, mineral-like tones, slightly more grandiose
Cloudy Sky: Airy, floating feeling, wind instruments
Mysterious Forest: Gentle mystery, not scary but intriguing
Timeline: Initial drafts in 4 weeks, final versions 2 weeks after feedback rounds.
Merge game specific needs: The merge action happens frequently (every 10-30 seconds during active play), so the success jingle needs to be short enough to not overlap with itself, but satisfying enough to feel rewarding every single time.
We're really excited about this project and want music that makes people smile every time they hear it!"