Hey everyone, it's time for a new update! Weve got some exciting updates coming your way as we get ready to release our new and updated demo close to the Early Access release in Q1 2025. We wanted to take a moment to chat about whats in store and what you can expect in the upcoming updates.

What is Folklands?

A basic question, but one that is easily overlooked - what is Folklands about, and how does it differ from many of the other games out there? At its core, Folklands is a settlement building game trying to stick closely to a well-established formula - but its still a bit different from other games in the same genre. While were not reinventing the wheel, weve set out to blend what we feel is the best parts of classic city-builders like Caesar, Age of Empires, Transport Tycoon, Settlers, and Anno with modern features and mechanics that todays city-building games have to offer. Weve always loved the nostalgia of these games - not just for the gameplay, but for that special feeling they gave you; the satisfaction of building something from the ground up and seeing your people thrive. With Folklands, were aiming to recreate that feeling while at the same time focusing more on the folks in your settlement - their happiness, their desires and how it affects the flow of your settlement.

The Heart of Folklands: Your Folks

The real challenge in Folklands isnt military conquest but rather keeping your people happy as you grow your settlement. Youll need to balance the needs of the common folk with the demands of the upper classes, manage your economy, and make sure your city is thriving in every way. Want to impress the nobles? Youll need guards. Too many guards? That will annoy the commoners! Also, guards are expensive! And while placing that toolmaker smack in the middle of your settlement would be perfect for distribution, doings so could stunt growth as higher class folks don't want to live in cramped industrial areas. Its all about finding that sweet spot where your people are content - with luxuries, leisure, and even the occasional kingdom that comes knocking at your door for peaceful assistance. Whats the harm in denying them a few bags of grain?

New Challenges on the Horizon

Keeping your folks happy is only part of the equation, and some players want more challenges. As we work through the EA period, expect to see optional challenges like floods, earthquakes, crop failures, pests, raiders, and more. The world of Folklands wont always be kind, and youll need to adapt to survive. These random events will keep you on your toes, but with clever planning and management, you can weather any storm (literally).

Bring a Friend, or Seven!

From the very start of Folklands, multiplayer has been a core part of the functionality. As three brothers who love to play games together, we knew it was important to design the game so that we could play even with our different schedules -and we wanted the same flexibility for you. Whether youre playing solo, with one friend, or a whole group, you can easily jump in or out of the game whenever you want. No need to worry if life gets in the way: if someone needs to step away for work, family, or anything else, the game can continue running with the settlement progressing in their absence. If all players go offline, no worries! Just save the game and pick it up again when youre ready to return. Folklands lets you play at your own pace, with your settlement always growing, no matter whos around.

Looking Ahead

As were getting closer and closer to the Early Access release, we're getting more and more excited to see the towns, villages, and kingdoms youll create in Folklands. Your feedback has been invaluable so far, and we cant wait to keep building upon this with the feedback you'll provide as you get to play the early access version. As always, you can follow the development of Folklands on our Discord channel, where we sometimes stream live and chat along with the players. Were looking forward to seeing you all in the world of Folklands very soon!

[ 2025-02-05 07:42:25 CET ] [ Original post ]