Manor Lords

Manor Lords is a medieval city-building and real-time tactics game developed by Slavic Magic, a solo studio led by Grzegorz "Greg" Styczeń, and published by Hooded Horse. Released into early access on April 26, 2024, the game launched on PC via Steam, with subsequent releases on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Manor Lords immerses players in the role of a medieval lord, tasked with building and managing a settlement in a dynamic, historically inspired world. The game's development was supported by a grant from Epic Games' Epic MegaGrants program and was initially developed using Unreal Engine 4 before transitioning to Unreal Engine 5 in August 2024.

The gameplay of Manor Lords combines in-depth city-building with large-scale tactical battles. Players manage resources, construct buildings, and navigate environmental challenges such as soil exhaustion and deforestation. The game features three distinct modes: "Rise to Prosperity," focusing on city-building; "Restoring the Peace," offering a balanced experience; and "On the Edge," emphasizing conquest through warfare. These modes allow players to tailor their experience, balancing growth and strategy. The game's emphasis on organic city-building is evident, with roads and buildings placed without predefined grids, creating a more natural and immersive environment.

The soundtrack of Manor Lords, composed by Elben Schutte and Daniel Caleb of Pressure Cooker Studios, enhances the game's atmosphere with music that ranges from serene choral pieces to intense battle themes. The soundtrack is available in uncompressed WAV format, allowing players to experience the music in high fidelity. The compositions draw inspiration from the medieval period, incorporating instruments like the lute and choir to evoke the game's setting in 14th-century Franconia. The music complements the game's visual and gameplay elements, enriching the player's experience.

Upon its early access release, Manor Lords garnered significant attention, becoming the most wishlisted game on Steam with over two million wishlists by January 2024. The game sold over one million copies during its launch weekend and surpassed three million sales by February 2025. Critics praised the game's ambition and depth, with comparisons to established franchises like Total War and Crusader Kings. However, some reviews noted the game's unfinished state, citing a lack of endgame content and story elements. Despite these critiques, Manor Lords received several accolades, including Best Debut Indie Game at The Game Awards 2024 and Best Early Access Game at the Golden Joystick Awards 2024. The game's success has led to plans for future updates, including a major systems overhaul to enhance gameplay depth and visual fidelity.