Having been through all this, I would most of all prioritize getting a permanent residence permit. This brings stability, and then you can decide whether to work in games (more fun) or elsewhere in tech (higher pay). Having been in both industries for a long time, I can tell you you’ll always wonder if the grass is greener on the other side. But at least you’ll have options. If a tech company gets you to permanent residence quicker, go for it.
I encountered a settlement on Prestige 15 or so which had a base hostility at level 2… and a ~15% chance of villagers dying every couple of seconds starting at hostility level 2 during the storm, mitigated by access to services. First storm wiped out my town before I could really address anything 💀
Edit: But having played quite a bit this was a rare combination of bad effects
Some towns are just going to fail if you’re unlucky… But you can set yourself up for success by learning which Services buildings to pick. Some like the Temple (reduces hostility) and the Guild House (increases resolve every time you buy/sell) can be instrumental to surviving harder difficulties.
This is an excellent game. The most fun I’ve had with a citybuilder since Frostpunk. There’s a bit of a learning curve in the beginning, but give it a shot.
I enjoyed Alan Wake 2, but there’s a lot of creepiness and jump scares. Way more than the first game. Wouldn’t recommend it to anyone unduly unnerved by horror.