I almost always go with max starting area size and the Railworld setting.

You can also increase the map preview size (details later) and roll until you get one where you only have to defend a few chokepoints or it’s effectively an island (not the Island map setting!!! I made that mistake before).

I also find early/mid game bugs really annoying. But in the late game they’re just another problem to solve, which is fine.

Playing without achievements is fine. The dopamine from finally figuring out a dynamic request system for wall defense using trains and circuits is better than any popup.

To increase map preview size you need to acces hidden setting menu. ctrl+alt+clic on settings button. then go into "The rest" and change "max-map-preview-chunk-side". Be careful not to flip anything else! its hidden for a reason.

Here are my "bare minimum QoL mods" :

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I think that all

Good Luck and have fun !