Summary
There is no shortage of real-time strategy and city-building games, and with other titles likeFrostpunk 2on the horizon, that library is only going to continue to grow. Despite this growing list of games, Slavic Magic’sManor Lordsstands out, particularly due to being asolo-developed indie gamethat is already off to a great start.Manor Lordsoffers just about everything a lover of medieval city-builders might want in a game, from extensive, liberal city-building mechanics to epic real-time battles with the enemy. However, one particular feature helps distinguishManor Lordsin a vast sea filled with games like it, despite the feature being a bit rough and ready at the moment.
Unlike other real-time strategy city-builders,Manor Lordsincludes a third-person mode called “Visit Mode” in which players can explore the reaches of their own city to see it from the perspective of the villagers there. Upon activating Visit Mode, the player becomes a character dressed in medieval attire whom they can directly control and wander the city at their leisure. It is a highly innovative feature that complements the game’s creative liberty, and could very well set a precedent for the game and the genres that define it. Unfortunately, it has a long road ahead of it when it comes to stamping out various glitches and bugs, as well as reaching its full potential.
Manor Lords' Innovative Visit Mode Has Yet to Reach Its Full Potential
Manor Lords' Visit Mode Currently Suffers From Technical Issues
Despite being one of the most innovative features in the city-building and real-time strategy genres,Manor Lords' Visit Mode suffers from some rather glaring technical issues. The most prominent glitch allows players to phase through anything in their city, from walls to fences, unlike the villagers, who are required to acknowledge the boundaries set for them. To be fair,Manor Lordsis currently only in early accessand there is even an in-game disclaimer when attempting to activate Visit Mode that tells players to expect glitches from it.
Manor Lords Could Allow Players to Create Their Own Character for Its Visit Mode
Something thatManor Lordsshould consider for its Visit Mode (and likely already has) is giving players the ability to create their own character. Currently, there is a standard character for Visit Mode, and it is almost impossible to even get a good look at the character’s face. Giving players the chance to create their own character and customize their wardrobe would help with the immersion thatManor Lords' Visit Modealready provides.
Manor Lords' Visit Mode Could Allow Players to Live in and Decorate Their Own Home
Another feature thatManor Lords' Visit Mode could implement at some point would be to allow players to live in and decorate the interior of their own homes. This is presumably a tall task for a game likeManor Lords, considering a feature like this might detract from the top-down city-building aspect of the game, but it would arguably fit right in with the Visit Mode experience. Creative liberty such as home decoration is becoming an increasingly popular feature in the gaming sphere, especially when it comes to the multitude ofcozy gamesthat have come out recently. WhileManor Lordsis far from a cozy game, Visit Mode could be enhanced even further with a feature like home decoration.
Despite the long road it still has ahead of it,Manor Lords' Visit Mode is nonetheless one of its most innovative features, and it’s likely to set a precedent both for the game itself and for future real-time strategy andcity-building games. If it can overcome the technical obstacles it currently faces and also add some more features to increase its immersion even more, it will undoubtedly set the tone forManor Lordsmoving forward and any games like it to be released in the future.
Manor Lords
WHERE TO PLAY
Manor Lords is a strategy game that allows you to experience the life of a medieval lord. Grow your starting village into a bustling city, manage resources and production chains, and expand your lands through conquest.Inspired by the art and architecture of late 14th century Franconia, Manor Lords prioritizes historical accuracy wherever possible, using it to inform gameplay mechanics and visuals alike. Common medieval tropes are avoided in favor of historical accuracy in order to make the world feel more authentic, colorful, and believable.Manor Lords provides a gridless city-building experience with full freedom of placement and rotation. Building mechanics are inspired by the growth of real medieval towns and villages, where major trade routes and the landscape influenced how settlements formed and developed.From boots to barley and hides to honey, Manor Lords features a great variety of goods fitting of the era. Materials need to be transported and processed into finished products through production chains, and you must balance the basic needs of your people against the desire to produce luxury items to ensure happiness, manufacture trade goods for export, or forge arms and armor to aid in your conquests.
