Summary

  • Manor Lords impresses with its smooth Early Access launch, but critics point out the lack of updates and content.
  • The upcoming fishing update may seem small, but it's a step forward alongside the transition to UE5 for improved graphics.
  • Despite missing key features, Manor Lords charms players with historical realism and promises more to come from Slavic Magic.

The launch of Manor Lords in Early Access has been a great surprise for many fans of the city-building and strategy genre. A lot of games launch to a rocky start riddled with bugs, but Manor Lords has managed to be in great shape for the most part. What's even more impressive is that the game is being developed by a single person known as Slavic Magic. Despite such an impressive success early on in the game's lifespan, not everything about Manor Lords is perfect.

A major point of criticism aimed at Manor Lords is the game's lack of updates. Released at the end of April, the game is still in its infancy, but there have been various critiques about the state of the game's content. Although the game may not be receiving updates at the same rate other Early Access titles might, Manor Lords is planning more content for the future. A much-requested feature is finally being added to the game, but it also illustrates just how far Manor Lords has before it feels like a finished product.

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Manor Lords' Upcoming Update is a Small Step Forward

Adding More Content One Update at a Time

After requests from players, the next planned update will bring fishing to Manor Lords. Since the game's launch, players have been providing Slavic Magic with plenty of feedback as the developer's pursuit to craft one of the most realistic simulation games continues. Manor Lords is one of the most successful indie titles of the year so far, and fan feedback is essential in Early Access. However, it can also be disheartening to some players to see that a major update is a mechanic as seemingly simple as fishing.

That's not the only change coming with the planned update, though. With this next update, Manor Lords will be moving from Unreal Engine 4 to UE5, so there will at least be graphical changes as well. Despite these exciting upgrades, they are still very much baby steps in the grand scheme of things. However, they are baby steps in the right direction. Previous updates to Manor Lords have added some substantial improvements, so although things like fishing and ponds may seem small, they will likely have a big impact on the overall game.

Players have managed to craft some incredible civilizations in Manor Lords, and these small step-by-step improvements will only expand what can be done. These micro-adjustments are moving Manor Lords in the right direction, but it also raises the question of how long it will take for the game to reach a complete state.

Manor Lords Excels at Its Premise, but Lack of Content Continues to Hold the Game Back

Even for an Early Access launch, Manor Lords released missing some important content. Collision detection on buildings was not finished, and skill trees were incomplete. There are still plenty of features Manor Lords lacks that could really bring its goal of full-on realism to the forefront, but the solo-development could make that take a while to accomplish. Despite the slow updates and calculated steps to completion, Manor Lords has been viewed favorably by many who have played it, as the game has garnered mostly positive reviews on Steam, so it seems like many are okay with waiting for the finished product.

Although the long wait for features like ponds and fishing may be frustrating for some, what Slavic Magic has been able to pull off alone is truly impressive. The gameplay of Manor Lords may not be for everyone, but the historical realism and immersive city-building that the game allows is a promising peek at what else is to come.

Manor Lords Tag Page Cover Art

Strategy
City Builder
Systems
Top Critic Rating: 72/100 Critics Recommend: 43%
Released
April 26, 2024
Developer(s)
Slavic Magic
Publisher(s)
Hooded Horse
Engine
Unreal Engine 4