It’s been a long time coming, but Slavic Magic’ssurvival citybuilder,Manor Lords, is soon to hit Early Access. It promises to provide a more detailed experience than others in the genre with attention to historical accuracy and a side of tactical combat. Better yet, its launch is extremely soon.
Update:Manor Lordsis nowavailable on SteamandGOG.
Manor Lord‘s Early Access release is on Friday, April 26,2024.
That’s what is slated both on Steam and in the press materials I have. They haven’t stated an exact time. However, Steam gives an estimate which puts it at 9 am EST. Without a statement from the developer or publisher, that is not necessarily a time they have to adhere to, but it is the most solid schedule we have. So, with that in mind, we’ve set the countdown to then.
What is included in Manor Lords’ Early Access?
According to the developer, this is what is included at launch:
“The Early Access version is fully playable and has all the content and features described on the About This Game section of the store page. This includes fleshed-out medieval city building, resource management, and a detailed combat experience.”
That’s all true, but there are some things to keep in mind. The first is that, while all described features are present, many of them are unfinished. For example, opponent AI is there, but it’s extremely basic and doesn’t show up on the map. The combat mentioned is entirely for defending your town from Brigands.
You can also only advance your town and upgrade your buildings to an extent. Certain tech upgrades, royalty mechanics, and tax methods are not available yet. There is also only one map. The developer states that the first month is largely going to be bug fixes and polish. They will gather feedback and focus their attention on what comes up as desired features.
There is still a lot to play in the Early Access ofManor Lords, and what is there shows a lot of promise, but it is important to stress that this is an early, unfinished version of the game. It’s not done. However, by playing it early, you can potentially have your feedback heard and watch the game grow.
