The developer of Manor Lords (Slavic Magic) told players before its early access release that the game is not what they might think.
In post on the Manor Lords Steam pagethe developers clearly state Manor Lords is not an RPG like Mount & Blade and that the option of the player walking around the city is purely cosmetic. I'm disappointed that my avatar is nothing more than cosmetic. I was hoping to get married and have kids to appoint as generals, but the focus of the game is on city building, and that's fine (tell that to my forever single lord).
Furthermore, the development team behind Manor Lords is not a Total War killer, but it does take inspiration from the famous franchise when it comes to combat. I'm fine with this attitude because I'm really not interested in elaborate hour-long battle sessions while my villagers ask me to build them a tavern and grow more vegetables.
Related: Best City Building Games
And if you're dreaming of the next fast-paced real-time strategy akin to Age of Empires, better temper your expectations. Manor Lords has “a more relaxed experience, with high-intensity moments peppering atmospheric city-building.” For me, the game concept of Manor Lords is closer to the Settlers or Pharaoh than any other game.
To further cement their attitude of not making false promises, the developer has decided not to release a roadmap for the time being; they want to listen to community feedback and act accordingly. That's great news for all fans of the game, because it means there's a chance for the developer to introduce family options for my manor!
Manor Lords early access is scheduled for April 26, 2024. While you wait, check out our list of the Best Building Games on PC at Pro Gaming Guides.
