Manor Lords

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Very Positive

Total: 30.2 ThousandPositive: 27.1 ThousandNegative: 3.1 Thousand
90%
10%
Steam review score: 8

AI Review

Manor Lords scored 84.63 % rating
Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game that combines in-depth city-building, tactical battles, and complex economic simulations. With an AI Community Rating of 82.86%, players praise its stunning graphics, historical accuracy, and engaging gameplay. Build your village into a thriving city, manage resources, and lead your people into battle. However, some players note issues like unbalanced combat mechanics, limited replayability, and occasional bugs. Despite these flaws, Manor Lords offers a unique and immersive experience for fans of strategy and simulation games. Dive into this medieval world and see if you have what it takes to rule!
SimulationStrategyEarly Access
Single-playerSteam AchievementsSteam CloudFamily Sharing
Manor Lords
Timeline
  • April 26, 202410 months

    Game was released

  • November 23, 20243 months

    Statistics

    Game stats 3 months ago

  • December 23, 20242 months

    Statistics

    Game stats 2 months ago

  • January 23, 2025about 1 month

    Statistics

    Game stats 1 months ago

  • February 23, 2025

    Today

AI Community game rating

84.63 %

Manor Lords is placed at number 234 under 246 analysed games!
AI Community toxicity rating

10.3 %

The Community toxicity rating was calculated by evaluating the most 100 impactful steam game reviews
Currently playing

provided by steam

What the community loves

We collected 298 positive keywords in total. This are the top 10
fun
15
potential
14
good
9
graphics
9
great
7
beautiful
6
updates
4
fantastic
4
interesting
4
concept
4

What the community dislikes

We collected 301 negative keywords in total. This are the top 10
bugs
23
unfinished
11
price
9
broken
7
frustrating
5
expensive
5
empty
4
raiders
4
lacking
4
slow
4
Most relevant voices from the community
great mechanisms inmost fun Ivery good gamefantastic game readygreat city buildingexceeded my expectationsfarming is completelyvery little toearly access gamedeliberate slow-paced gameplayrelaxed slow-paced experiencemissing a lotnot worth $40gorgeous ambiance isextremely hardworking and attentivevery promising sowait for morereally listens tolove this game

What the community wishes

We analysed the 15 most impactful community reviews and collected 20 ideas and suggestions on how the game could be better.
Improve military balance and mechanics
Military units, especially archers and knights, are underpowered and poorly balanced. Archers cannot shoot over troops, and knights are too weak for their cost. Combat mechanics need reworking to make battles more strategic and less frustrating.
Add more content and replayability
The game lacks depth and variety after 20 hours of play. More buildings, manors, town guards, and AI town-building mechanics are needed to enhance replayability and long-term engagement.
Fix farming and resource management
Farming mechanics are broken, with AI planting crops at the wrong time, leading to crop failure. Resource management is unbalanced, with finite resources like iron being too scarce for sustained gameplay.
Introduce a layout view for buildings
A layout view is needed to help players track production buildings and their quantities. This would reduce confusion and improve city management efficiency.
Balance raiding and economy mechanics
Raids are too frequent and devastating, making the game overly difficult. The economy is unbalanced, with finite resources and high costs for rebuilding after raids.
Expand trade and specialization options
Specializing cities is not effective due to limited trade options and lack of variety in products. More trade routes and specialization mechanics are needed to make city-building more engaging.
Add more UI and QoL improvements
The UI lacks features like a lock formation for units and real-time building management. These quality-of-life improvements would enhance gameplay and reduce micromanagement.
Fix marketplace and resource distribution
Market stalls are poorly designed, stocking only enough goods for immediate demand. A buffer system is needed to prevent shortages and improve resource distribution.
Address game-breaking bugs
Several game-breaking bugs, such as homelessness penalties persisting and inability to build manors, need urgent fixes to ensure a smooth gameplay experience.
Add more progression and tech options
The tech tree is incomplete, and progression feels limited after a few hours. More development points and policies are needed to keep players engaged.
Improve AI opponent behavior
AI opponents are unimaginative and do not build their own towns. More dynamic and reactive AI behavior would make the game more challenging and immersive.
Add more customization and building options
The game needs more buildings, resources, and world events to enhance city-building and management. More customization options would also improve replayability.
Fix territory claim UI issues
Territory claims sometimes fail to flag on the UI, requiring reloads. This bug needs fixing to improve the user experience.
Add multiplayer or co-op mode
A multiplayer or co-op mode would add significant value, allowing players to build, trade, and conquer with friends.
Lower price or add more value
The game is overpriced for its current state. Lowering the price or adding more content would make it more appealing to players.
Improve combat formations and controls
Combat formations like shield walls and lock formations are needed to improve tactical control during battles.
Add more detailed tutorials
The game lacks tutorials for key mechanics like military and trading. More detailed tutorials would help new players understand the game better.
Fix royal debt and protection mechanics
Royal debt mechanics are unclear and unfair, especially when villages are attacked. Protection mechanics need to be more transparent and balanced.
Add more variety to village development
Villages often end up looking the same due to limited development options. More variety in building and resource management would make each playthrough unique.
Improve resource transportation mechanics
If oxen die, resource transportation becomes impossible. Adding alternative methods, like catching wild oxen, would prevent game-over scenarios.

In-depth analysis of most impactful community reviews

Persons who wrote a Manor Lords review on Steam have written on average 12.31 gaming reviews in total.
Positive

1. -Launched the game for the first Time 2. -Started a new save and played for 2 Hours. -got raided. -rebuild everything. -Didn't know what to do after 2 hours. -Didn't want to continue anymore. 3. -Created a new save. -played for 30 minutes. -spent all my money on backyard expansions. -Didn't know how I could get money now. -also got raided aigan. -Gave up. 4. -Created a new save. -Played and actually found out how trading works and that's the way to get money. -Raid countdown started. -Had no weapons for an army. -Tried to trade them. -I didn't make enough money to buy them. -Last hope is a mercenary group. -Can only pay them with money from the treasury. -Everything burned down. -Gave up. 5. -Started a new save. -found out I can build weapons with backyard expansions. -made a small army. -Sacred the raid. -I won. -Game passes on, and I gave all my money to the village. -Had no money in the treasury. -Got a second land. -Still had no money in the treasury. -couldn't start a new Village. -Didn't realize I can build a manor for money. -Gave up. 6. -Started a new game. -Did everything aigan. -Found out what a manor does. -Got money in the treasury. -Game passes on for like 4 hours. -War started 5 minutes ago because someone wants my land. -I do not have enough army to fight. -Hired 2 mercenary groups. -Currently fighting and can't hire any more mercenary groups. -I lost 7. -I am starting a new save. -wish me luck this time. Very good game.

  • Sentiments

    • I launched the game for the first time and felt excited to start a new adventure.
    • After playing for 2 hours, I got raided and had to rebuild everything, which made me feel frustrated and unsure of what to do next.
    • I created a new save and spent all my money on backyard expansions, only to realize I didn’t know how to earn more money, leaving me stuck and disappointed.
    • I discovered how trading works and felt a sense of progress, but the raid countdown started, and I couldn’t afford weapons, which made me feel helpless.
    • I finally built a small army and successfully scared off a raid, which gave me a sense of accomplishment and victory.
    • I gave all my money to the village and got a second land, but I didn’t realize I could build a manor for money, leading to frustration and giving up again.
    • I started a new game, figured out what a manor does, and felt a renewed sense of hope and progress.
    • A war started, and I didn’t have enough army to fight, which made me feel overwhelmed and defeated.
    • Despite the challenges, I found the game very good and worth playing, showing my overall appreciation for the experience.
    • I am starting a new save and wishing myself luck, indicating a mix of determination and optimism despite previous setbacks.

Positive

The developer Greg is extremely hardworking and attentive. While the game is still in beta, it's the most fun I've had in a long time. Greg really listens to his community. I can't wait for the future of this game. The bugs I had experienced that made me put down the game when it released got fixed within 2/3 weeks. So it's nice knowing if something is affecting all players or a lot of players it will be attended to. Thank you for all you do Greg. You deserve everything that's coming to you. Congrats man

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the developer Greg is extremely hardworking and attentive, which makes me appreciate his dedication to the game.
    • I find the game to be the most fun I've had in a long time, even though it is still in beta.
    • I appreciate that Greg really listens to his community, which makes me feel valued as a player.
    • I am excited about the future of this game and can't wait to see how it develops.
    • I experienced bugs when the game was first released, which made me put it down temporarily.
    • I am pleased that the bugs I encountered were fixed within 2/3 weeks, showing the developer's responsiveness.
    • I feel reassured knowing that if something affects all or many players, it will be addressed promptly.
    • I want to thank Greg for all his hard work and dedication, as I believe he deserves all the success coming his way.
    • I congratulate Greg on his achievements and the progress he has made with the game.

Positive

I missed the Northern Lights being visible in the UK trying to get the perfect food production system on the go... 10/10 would miss it again. This game has a wonderful charm to it that is very addictive, yes there are some issues that are being ironed out but quite frankly the quality of this early access game I think is staggering. My partner and I cannot get enough of it, sometimes now I look at fields nearby and think "I wonder what crop rotation hes running".

  • Sentiments

    • I missed the Northern Lights being visible in the UK because I was so engrossed in the game, and I would do it again because the game is that enjoyable.
    • The game has a wonderful charm that is very addictive, making it hard to put down.
    • There are some issues with the game, but they are being addressed and improved over time.
    • The quality of this early access game is staggering, which is impressive for its development stage.
    • My partner and I cannot get enough of the game, showing how engaging and enjoyable it is for us.
    • I now look at real-life fields and think about crop rotation, which shows how immersive and thought-provoking the game is.

Positive

Manor Lords is a relaxed, slow-paced experience about creating the perfect town. This is one of Manor Lords’ most striking features from the get-go: its deliberate slow-paced gameplay, which expertly captures the slow and steady rhythm of medieval life. Buildings take time to construct, as your villagers need to transport the necessary materials to the building’s location, and some other villagers need to go there and work on it. More complex buildings take longer to build because more material needs to be carried over and a lot more manpower is necessary to complete the task. In this vein of keeping things slow, but steady, the construction tab might seem rather underwhelming at first, with little more than a couple dozen buildings. No not- I repeat- do not be fooled by this. You see, in Manor Lords, things work a bit differently than other games of the genre. While Anno and Frostpunk have specific buildings for each step of the production chain, Manor Lords’ buildings can serve several purposes. This game is different. It scratches an itch I haven’t had scratched in a long time, just sitting and watching the progression of my village, the construction, the survival of my people just feels so…real. It may sound cheesy but I can’t help but feel like a real Lord managing a real town, in a time that happened long ago. The relaxing nature and organic feel of the city building, coupled with the realism of it all makes me feel very, full. Like I can see myself putting hours into this game in this mode alone. My honest review is that this Early Access game, feels so complete despite being incomplete. Graphics are gorgeous. Ambiance is fantastic. Music is excellent! Overall for an early access it exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend it to all city builders. P .S. They just announced more updates and game will be running on UE5 soon!

  • Sentiments

    • I find Manor Lords to be a relaxed and slow-paced experience, which perfectly captures the rhythm of medieval life, making it unique and enjoyable.
    • The deliberate slow-paced gameplay, where buildings take time to construct and require villagers to transport materials, adds a sense of realism and immersion.
    • I appreciate how the construction tab, though seemingly underwhelming at first, offers buildings that serve multiple purposes, adding depth to the gameplay.
    • The game feels different and scratches an itch I haven’t felt in a long time, as I enjoy watching the progression of my village and the survival of my people.
    • I feel like a real Lord managing a real town, which is both relaxing and fulfilling, making the experience feel organic and immersive.
    • The graphics are gorgeous, the ambiance is fantastic, and the music is excellent, all contributing to a highly enjoyable experience.
    • For an Early Access game, Manor Lords feels surprisingly complete and has exceeded my expectations, making it highly recommendable to city builders.
    • The announcement of more updates and the game running on UE5 soon adds to my excitement and anticipation for the future of the game.

Positive

Good foundation! The game is missing a lot of planned content. I found about 20 hours worth of content. At this point I feel like the game needs to be developed more before I will play it again. Very promising so far.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the game has a good foundation, which is a positive aspect.
    • I noticed that the game is missing a lot of planned content, which is disappointing.
    • I found about 20 hours worth of content, which feels limited for a full gaming experience.
    • I believe the game needs to be developed more before I will play it again, indicating it feels incomplete.
    • I think the game is very promising so far, which gives me hope for its future development.

Negative

Interesting concept. I enjoyed the first 20 hours, but there is very little to do. I would love better castles, more manors, town guards, watching other AI build their towns and trying to keep up, etc... Wait for more content before purchasing.

  • Sentiments

    • I found the concept of the game interesting and enjoyed the initial 20 hours of gameplay.
    • I feel there is very little to do in the game after the initial 20 hours, which is disappointing.
    • I would love to see better castles and more manors in the game to enhance the experience.
    • I wish there were town guards and more dynamic interactions with AI building their towns.
    • I think the game lacks sufficient content and would recommend waiting for updates before purchasing.

Negative

Tired of people reviewing games based on what is could become if development goes exactly as planned... Is this game worth $40 rn??? Not even close... It feels like a shell of a finished game. More of a public testing branch than early release even... I mean some of the mechanics that ARE implemented don't even seem to work properly. Farming is completely broken with the AI often planting at the end of the year right before winter proceeding to kill all crops and ruin the fertility of the land. This means the only reasonable way to feed your people is to make mile long carrot and cabbage house farms XD... I understand this is a one man dev team if I am not mistaken but that only explains why it is so unfinished it doesn't justify charging so much for so little... Perhaps consider using all of this money to hire some employees? Start your own little dev team maybe? Or just lower the price... Because I honetly don't see this game becoming worth $40 for a long time otherwise...

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the game is not worth $40 in its current state, as it feels more like a public testing branch than an early release.
    • I am frustrated that some of the implemented mechanics, like farming, do not work properly, making the game feel unfinished.
    • I find it unreasonable that the AI in the game plants crops at the end of the year right before winter, ruining the fertility of the land and making farming broken.
    • I feel that the only viable way to feed people in the game is by creating excessively long carrot and cabbage house farms, which seems unbalanced.
    • I understand that the game is developed by a one-man team, but I believe this does not justify charging $40 for such an incomplete product.
    • I suggest that the developer use the money earned to hire employees or start a small dev team to improve the game's quality.
    • I think the game's price should be lowered to better reflect its current state and lack of content.
    • I am skeptical that the game will become worth $40 anytime soon unless significant improvements are made.
    • I feel that the game is more of a shell of a finished product rather than a complete experience.
    • I am disappointed that the game does not meet my expectations for an early release, as it lacks polish and functionality.

Negative

It's nice, but falls flat on its face in a few areas. I understand that it's an early access game, but the price tag shouldn't be set at $40 for what you're getting right now. Any in depth customization or optimization of the finer details of running your town is either buggy, obscured by a lack of details/understanding on how to navigate the game's systems, or is greyed out with a note stating we can expect said feature in a future update. There have been quite a few frustrating moments where things just don't work the way they should or how I expected them to based on the way these kinds of games typically progress. It felt to me that once I had learned how to play the game well, the game lost a lot of its replayability. There wasn't anything else left for me to explore within the game, there's a pretty straightforward way to success in a playthrough that doesn't leave too much room for variation. If you're a fan of this genre, you'll probably think about the other games you've played that have done what this one does more successfully as you're playing it. If you're new to the genre, it might be fun, but you might also do better by introducing yourself via a more polished offering from another studio. Stranded: Alien Dawn feels pretty similar to this game to me. I got about 20 hours of enjoyment out of this game. I'm glad I bought it on sale, because while I did enjoy it, I don't think I'll be picking it up again for awhile thanks to the issues I mentioned above. I don't feel super good leaving a negative review on an indie dev's passion project, but felt that the wall of glowing magazine reviews could use a realistic note somewhere, and again, it's a little strange how high the price tag is for what's on offer. I would love to see this game grow into a much more well rounded experience in the future.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game nice overall, but it falls short in several areas, which is disappointing.
    • I feel the price tag of $40 is too high for the current state of the game, especially since it's in early access.
    • I encountered frustrating moments where game mechanics didn't work as expected or were unclear, which hindered my enjoyment.
    • I think the game lacks depth in customization and optimization, with many features either buggy or unavailable until future updates.
    • I found the game's replayability to be limited once I mastered its systems, as there wasn't much left to explore or vary in playthroughs.
    • I enjoyed the game for about 20 hours, which I consider a decent amount of playtime, but I don't plan to revisit it soon due to its issues.
    • I feel conflicted about leaving a negative review for an indie developer's passion project, but I believe it's important to provide honest feedback.
    • I think the game could grow into a more well-rounded experience in the future, which gives me some hope for its potential.
    • I recommend that fans of the genre might find better alternatives, while newcomers might still enjoy it but could benefit from starting with more polished games.
    • I feel the glowing magazine reviews could use a more realistic perspective, as the game has notable flaws despite its potential.

Negative

No, its too empty in its current state, and given the size of the dev team and the scale and scope of the project its going to be a long time before its worth its current price. even on sale. That said, the foundation is really strong and everything made so far is really well done. If they execute the rest of their game like they've done so far they'll probably win awards. Put it on your wishlist and check back in 2-4 years.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel the game is too empty in its current state, which makes it hard to justify its current price.
    • I believe the size of the development team and the scale of the project mean it will take a long time for the game to be worth its price.
    • I think the foundation of the game is really strong, which is a positive aspect.
    • I feel everything made so far in the game is really well done, which is a good sign.
    • I believe if the developers execute the rest of the game as well as they have so far, they could win awards.
    • I suggest putting the game on a wishlist and checking back in 2-4 years, which implies a neutral stance on its current state.

Negative

Can't recommend this yet. 3 different playthroughs and each time I encountered a game breaking bug that halted my progress. first time, if you don't build burgs fast enough at the start, your homeless camp will disappear and despite all 5 families living in burgs, your homelessness penalty never goes away, resulting in 0% pop growth forever. the last 2 times, I was unable to build the Manor despite having the resources and being both at and far beyond the village size requirement. It's an interesting game though and I'd like to try it again when it is finished.

  • Sentiments

    • I cannot recommend this game yet due to encountering game-breaking bugs that halted my progress multiple times.
    • I experienced a bug where my homeless camp disappeared if I didn't build burgs fast enough, leading to a permanent homelessness penalty and 0% population growth.
    • I was unable to build the Manor despite having the required resources and meeting the village size requirement, which frustrated me.
    • I find the game interesting and would like to try it again when it is finished, indicating some potential enjoyment.
    • I encountered game-breaking bugs in all three of my playthroughs, which significantly impacted my experience.
    • The homelessness penalty never went away even after all families were housed, which felt unfair and broken.
    • I appreciate the game's concept and mechanics, as it seems engaging despite the issues.
    • The inability to progress due to bugs made me feel like my time was wasted.
    • I am hopeful that the game will improve and be playable in the future.
    • The game-breaking bugs overshadowed the potential enjoyment I could have had.

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