Manor Lords, Steam’s most wish-listed RTS/City Builder, is finally playable via early access. Now is your chance to experience, but also support and influence the development of one of the biggest releases of 2024.
Have a question before you jump into the complexities of a medieval fiefdom? We probably answer it below in this list of 5 things you need to know before you play Manor Lords.
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Manor Lords Release Date and Platforms
Release Date: April 26, 2024
Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic, GOG), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Who knew the complexities of medieval governance could be so… entertaining?
Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game that transports you back to the good ‘ol feudal era. You’ll assume the role of a noble lord tasked with building and managing their own medieval settlement. In this grand strategy / city-building hybrid, players must balance the needs of their growing population with the (often conflicting) demands of diplomacy, warfare, and resource management. Through the use of a detailed economy system, players will also oversee the production of goods, trade with neighboring lords, and raise armies to defend their lands or expand their influence. Manor Lords is incredibly immersive, intricate, and satisfyingly fun.
What Does Early Access Mean for Manor Lords?
Video games releasing first as Early Access titles is becoming increasingly popular in game development. Why? There’s a growing number of games that have evolved into spectacular “1.0” releases with the help of their caring communities of playtesters!
Some former Early Access games include Outlast Trials, Baldur’s Gate 3, and a little game called Fortnite. But what will Early Access mean for Manor Lords? The game’s publisher explains:
“The full version of [Manor Lords] is planned to have additional content influenced by community feedback during Early Access, however, the structure and major mechanics of the game are already present now. This includes fleshed out medieval city building, resource management and a detailed combat experience.” We also plan to conduct additional polishing, balancing, and bug fixing during the Early Access period.”
In the Early Access mode of Manor Lords (also known as “Preview” on Game Pass), you can experience a fully playable version of the game with all major mechanics in place. Here are some of the features you can look forward to from day one:
- City Building: Design and manage a medieval city with a gridless, organic system allowing full freedom of placement and rotation. You can build residential, commercial, and industrial districts following the natural lay of the land.
- Resource Management: Manage resources and production chains to ensure the growth and prosperity of your settlement
- Large-Scale Battles: Engage in realistic battles with large unit formations, morale, flanking, fatigue, and weather-affecting combat. Expect a detailed combat experience, with the inclusion of cavalry, fortifications, and siege engines.
- Historical Realism: The game’s buildings and mechanics are inspired by historical references from the 11th to 15th century in Europe, providing a realistic medieval atmosphere. The passing seasons, weather changes, and events like war, disease, or famine can impact your city.
- Community Involvement: The developers use Early Access to gather player feedback and expand the game, allowing players to be involved in the development process. Players can share ideas, bug reports, and suggestions through the Discord server and Steam forums.
Is There Online Multiplayer or Local Co-op in Manor Lords?
As of now, Manor Lords is a strictly single-player experience. There isn’t multiplayer functionality or cooperative gameplay included in the game. However, future updates or expansions could potentially include multiplayer features, and you could influence that! That’s the beauty of Early Access development.
Is Manor Lords Open World?
Manor Lords is not strictly an open-world game like some RPGs, but it does feature a large, expansive map that players can explore and develop. In the game, you can build your medieval settlement within a broad territory, where you have the freedom to manage resources, construct buildings, and develop infrastructure.
The map includes varied terrains, such as forests, mountains, and rivers, allowing for strategic planning and city-building choices. However, unlike traditional open-world games where you can roam freely across the entire landscape, the gameplay in Manor Lord revolves around building and managing a settlement, with elements of strategy and real-time battles.
Overall, the game’s map is extensive, offering plenty of space for creative planning and expansion, but it is not designed for open-world exploration in the same way as an RPG or adventure game might be.
Was Manor Lords Really Made by One Person?
Yes, Manor Lords was primarily developed by a single person, Slavic Magic, who has done the majority of the work on the game’s design, programming, and art. Although it started as a solo project, the scope and complexity of the game have expanded over time, leading to additional team members and collaboration with other professionals for specialized tasks; like music, sound design, and other specific game development aspects. Despite this broader collaboration, however, Slavic Magic remains the director and driving creative force behind Manor Lords.
Is Manor Lords Coming to Xbox Game Pass?
Yes! Manor Lords will arrive on Game Pass on the same day it launches worldwide!
2024 is shaping up to be one of the best years ever for playing new releases via Game Pass. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and Avowed are just a few of the titles playable from day one with Game Pass.
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Check out this list of the best new games in April for more ideas of what to play– or this list of our 24 Most Anticipated games of 2024.
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