Summary
Manor Lordshas caused a lot of buzz since its announcement back in 2020. It’s finally releasing in April 2024, which means now it’s set to compete against some of2024’s biggest releases.
With the game’s initial announcement in 2020, maverick one-man developer Slavic Magic made some big promises. Set to combine city building, RTS gameplay,Frostpunkstyle resource management, open-ended RPG mechanics, and a unique weather system, the richly detailed simulation of feudal lordship immediately stood out. With stunning graphics and constant development, the already impressiveManor Lordslooked better and better with each update. Eventually, the much anticipated city builder went on to become the second most wishlisted game on Steam—rubbing shoulders with games likeHollow Knight: Silksong,Hades 2andUnrecord. However, it faces big competition in gaming this month.
Developer Greg Styczen of Slavic Magic originally anticipated just 14,000 wishlists. The game has now been wishlisted over 2 million times.
Manor Lords Is Competing With Some Of April’s Most High Profile Games
Wishlists are one thing, but sales are another, and with the game’s release date planned for April 26,Manor Lordshas some steep competition if it wants to translate its hype into copies sold. There are several high-profile releases set for April 26. Whiletennis gameTopSpin 2K25and Switch exclusiveDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Boardwill likely appeal to different demographics, there are two other major games releasing on the same day which might provide some competition.
Action RPG Stellar Blade Is Set To Be One of April’s Biggest Games
Already a hotly anticipated game,theStellar Bladedemocaused immediate excitement when it dropped on the PSN store in March of this year. Though sales numbers haven’t come out yet, pre-orders are likely good, as South Korean developer Shift Up is hiring more staff to work on its next project, an unannounced action RPG.Stellar Bladelooks to be one of April’s biggest releases, and could be one of the biggest releases of the year so far, and any game competing against it is undoubtedly in for trouble. Luckily for Slavic Magic,Stellar Blade’s PS5 exclusivity and high-octane action focus doesn’t put it in direct competition withManor Lords,and fans hotly anticipating either game likely won’t abandon one ship for the other.
The Adaptation of Akira Toriyama’s Iconic Manga Sand Land is Set to Release on April 26
The other high profile release on April 26 isSand Land.Based on a lesser knownmanga by the late industry titan Akira Toriyama,Sand Landis an open world RPG with a striking 3D anime art-style and a focus on vehicular combat in a darkly comedic post-apocalyptic wasteland. Bandai Namco have big plans forSand Landand are banking on the game paving the way for the upcomingSand Landanime series.
Gamers Only Have So Much Time and Money
While neitherBandai Namco’sSand Landnor Sony’sStellar Bladeare in direct competition withManor Lords, all three high-profile releases are scheduled to release on the same jam-packed day. Publishers often focus on game release schedules that avoid conflicts in order to avoid competing for attention with other major games, even when those major games are in totally different genres—a release window being packed simply stretches attention too thin. There are a great deal of gamers interested in all of these games, but not everyone has the time or money to play all three.
WithManor Lords’ methodical strategy gameplay and rugged historical accuracy,Sand Land’s anime sensibilities, andStellar Blade’s visceral, high-octane thrills all vying for gamers' attention, only time will tell ifManor Lords’unique medieval simulationwill allow it to stand out against two of 2024’s highest-profile releases. One thing is for certain: April 26 is set to be a big day for gamers, who will have to make some tough decisions about which of these three major games they’re going to pick up and play.
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.
