The illustrated garden gave the game its first foundation. It was where we worked on tile shapes, pipe connections, and the colours of water and flowers. Later, we wanted to give the board more depth: wood grain, raised leaf details, varied rocks and light along the bends of the channels.
That led to a 3D garden with a fixed camera. Tiles, frames, pipes and plants received their own models. The camera keeps a familiar view of the board so that the water route remains easy to read while playing.
We kept both views as a choice. You can pick 2D or 3D when starting the game and change the view later in the settings, including from within a level. Pipe rotations, watered flowers and remaining drops carry over.
Both views share the same levels, music and sound effects. A familiar puzzle can be continued in a different presentation without restarting your progress. All thirteen biomes now have their own 3D artwork.
Game page: Garden by the Drop