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Manor Lords is set in 14th-century Franconia, and it lets you build your own medieval settlement, scratching the ever-present itch that can only be relieved by management sims. You have to construct buildings, trade goods, take care of your citizens, manage supply chains, and also defend your community against threats in real-time battles.
Compared to some city-builders, where the focus is purely on production and efficiency, Manor Lords emphasises the well-being and happiness of citizens. On top of that, the freedom of organic town planning and taking part in real-time battles is something you won’t find in most games. However, if you’ve finished playing Manor Lords and want something similar with its a unique twist, here are a few games you should try.
- Farthest Frontier
- Anno 1800
- Foundation
- Ostriv
- Medieval Dynasty
- Lands of the Vikings
- Life is Feudal: Forest Village
Farthest Frontier
- Available on: PC
- Rating: 12+
- Buy / Download at: Steam
Settlement and town sims are a dime a dozen, and you can find plenty of what’s good about Manor Lords in Farthest Frontier. You will construct buildings, manage resources, and ensure your citizens have everything they need to grow and prosper. Expect plenty of micro-managing in Farthest Frontier, getting into the efficacy of food production and the quality of housing for your town. While Farthest Frontier has a weather system with different conditions to contend with, the emphasis is not on survival mechanics. More than anything, this is a chill game about economy management. The farming and other town systems are deeply complex, which is only a good thing.
Anno 1800
- Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
- Rating: 12+
- Buy / Download at: Amazon, Steam, Epic Games, Ubisoft Store, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store
Anno 1800 throws you into the heart of the Industrial Revolution, where your main goal is to manage your resources to build a global empire. Where Manor Lords focuses on medieval life, Anno 1800 is set in the 19th century. This might be a dealbreaker if you only want a medieval settlement sim, but Anno 1800 offers plenty of systems you know and love from Manor Lords.
When you start, you choose from a list of factions, each with advantages and disadvantages. Once you’ve chosen your faction, you must construct buildings, transform raw materials into complex goods, get into the trading business, and focus on growing to dominate the industry. Anno throws another layer of challenge into the mix, with natural disasters and political issues to challenge your skills at running a town.
Foundation
- Available on: PC
- Rating: PEGI 7
- Buy / Download at: Steam
Just like Manor Lords, Foundation sees you build a medieval town from scratch. This comes with all the trappings you might expect, where you must manage everything and use resources to grow your settlement. Foundation does a great job at letting you customise your town and buildings, allowing for much more freedom and expression than Manor Lords currently allows. Your taverns, monuments, and churches can all have additional details added to them, giving your town some personality. Other than that, everything is pretty much the same; gather raw materials, establish production chains, and ensure a steady flow of resources to fuel your city’s growth.
Ostriv
- Available on: PC, Mac
- Rating: 12+
- Buy/ Download at: Steam
Ostriv is a city-builder that offers a more intimate experience than Manor Lords. Where Manor Lords focuses on a range of towns, Ostriv restricts you to a single island. Thanks to this, you can establish a more focused and personal connection with your citizens. However, while your construction is limited to a single island, you can establish relations with neighbouring towns and exchange goods with them. Overall, Ostriv is a great choice for those who want to focus on building something small instead of establishing town after town. While smaller in scale, it still has plenty of offer.
Medieval Dynasty
- Available on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Rating: 16+
- Buy/ Download at: Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store
If you’re looking for something that offers more depth, you need to try Medieval Dynasty. Unlike Manor Lords, which comes with established towns, Medieval Dynasty is much more of a sandbox, requiring you to do everything from scratch. You have to gather resources, hunt for food, and build basic shelters to ensure your initial survival. Once that’s out of the way, you embark on a journey that involves building a settlement, attracting villages, establishing trade routers, building castles, and forming alliances. On top of that, you’ll also need to find a spouse, raise children, and pass down everything you have learned to them.
Land of the Vikings
- Available on: PC
- Rating: 12+
- Buy/ Download at: Steam, Epic Games
In Land of the Vikings, you play the role of a Viking Jarl, and your main goal is to guide your people from poverty to greatness. The world is also huge, letting you explore the seas and lands to discover new resources and settlements. You can also take part in raids, which can help you increase your clan’s wealth and power. If you crave exploration, raiding, and living the life of a Viking legend, then Land of the Vikings is one to try out.
Life is Feudal: Forest Village
- Available on: PC
- Rating: 12+
- Buy/ Download at: Steam
Life is Feudal: Forest Village also focuses on the world of medieval survival. While it is similar to Manor Lords regarding settlement building and resource management, Life is Feudal offers a much harsher and more detailed experience. Establishing a town is just one par, you then have to push through unpredictable weather, rely on limited resources, and protect your villagers from constant threats.
On top of that, you also have to manage thirst, hunger, sleep deprivation, temperature regulation, and even the mental health of your villagers. You will also directly control them by assigning them tasks and making sure they are properly equipped. Combat, check. Town building and management, check. Survival elements, check. Anyone who enjoyed Manor Lords will surely get a kick out of Life is Feudal.
