Chinese Frontiers

About

Chinese Frontiers is a single player role playing game. It was developed by SolidGames and was released on June 19, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Plan, build, and unwind in a first-person city-builder set in medieval China. Start as a humble craftsman and, step by step, plan, produce, and raise monumental structures. Manage villagers, set up production chains, and fine-tune logistics so your village flourishes—at your own pace, without pressure, with the satisfaction of a well-designed system. Explore three distinct regions—mountain pa…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+17

Skip User Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 148 reviews

story9 positive mentions

grinding23 negative mentions

The building mechanics are satisfying and rewarding, allowing players to construct detailed structures piece by piece.
The game features a beautiful and atmospheric environment that enhances the relaxing gameplay experience.
Progression feels purposeful, as players work towards significant construction projects that give a sense of achievement.

The game suffers from various bugs and performance issues, including quest-breaking glitches and inconsistent frame rates.
Villager management and automation systems are underdeveloped, making resource management feel tedious and frustrating.
Lack of clear tutorials and guidance can lead to confusion, especially for new players trying to navigate the game's mechanics.

story
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
85%
4%
The game's story is engaging and features a mix of main quests and side quests that allow for player freedom, though many players report significant bugs and incomplete missions that hinder progression. While the narrative has depth and lovable characters, issues with quest tracking and unclear objectives detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the building mechanics and the sense of accomplishment in completing quests are highlighted as strong points, making the game enjoyable when functioning properly.
- “The story (main quests) leads you through the game, yet lets you have a lot of freedom and does not script every step you do, which is important to me.”
- “I usually don't care about story, but this game has enough of a story to let you like certain NPCs without being overwhelming.”
- “The storyline has depth, and you feel somewhat connected to the main characters.”
- “The main quest is completely broken.”
- “I have been looking forward to this game for a very long time only to get 8 hours into it and realize it should not have been released yet. The game is by no means complete and barely early release capable, where certain actions or quests being completed or started are bugged to where you cannot continue.”
- “Key elements are all there, but you can see as you play further into the missions that it's just incomplete and it is heartbreaking.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
61%
12%
The gameplay is characterized by a relaxed pace that complements its building, cooking, and village management mechanics, which many players find engaging and enjoyable. While the building system is praised for its detail and creativity, some users note issues with NPC behavior, bugs, and unclear mechanics that can detract from the experience. Overall, the game offers a polished atmosphere and unique concepts, but it requires refinement in certain areas to enhance player satisfaction.
- “It’s the kind of world where you don’t feel rushed, which suits the gameplay perfectly.”
- “The atmosphere, the style, the gameplay everything feels polished and made with a lot of care.”
- “The game has some very good mechanics and a beautiful building system that will really keep you busy in a very nice way.”
- “Odd building requirements and mechanics.”
- “Village management mechanics also need refinement: assigning villagers to certain buildings either doesn’t work or is unclear.”
- “I like the premise of the game and the general gameplay, but the amount of bugs is just too high to recommend the game to anyone.”
grinding
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while players appreciate the depth of village management, building mechanics, and the enjoyable puzzle-like elements, many find the overall experience tedious and frustrating due to repetitive tasks and bugs. The initial grind to establish a village can be rewarding, but it often becomes overwhelming, especially with issues like unreliable villagers and resource management. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy grinding in simulation games, but it may not be for everyone due to its potential for frustration.
- “The game feels very grindy; need wood?”
- “As it stands now, it is highly unrewarding and just feels tedious since you can't even rely on villagers.”
- “Super grindy... so tired of chopping trees, but it keeps me going for whatever reason.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game currently suffers from numerous glitches and bugs, significantly impacting gameplay and quest completion, with players reporting issues such as characters getting stuck and quest items not functioning properly. While some users acknowledge improvements since launch, many feel it should not have been released in its current state, describing it as one of the buggiest full releases they've encountered. Overall, the game shows potential but requires substantial stability improvements before it can be recommended.
- “The game is not finished or bug-free and needs a lot of work, but I still enjoyed it very much and hope the developers can make it all happen.”
- “At this point in time, the game has too many glitches.”
- “Way too buggy, and you can't complete a ton of side quests.”
- “I will be perfectly honest, it should not have been released out of early access. As the game stands, it's still quite buggy and unoptimized.”
optimization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
53%
27%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including lag, crashes, and frame drops, particularly in crowded areas. While some players have noted improvements in stability and smoother performance in certain aspects, the consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization work to enhance the overall experience.
- “The visuals are stunning, and performance is now much smoother and more stable than back then.”
- “The main quest runs smoothly and standing on top of the roof of the citadel is breathtaking.”
- “This could point to performance optimization issues that may need addressing.”
- “I would wait for the publisher to fix optimization, lags, and crashes before buying.”
- “Performance on the third and fourth map is terrible when a lot of NPCs are around.”
- “Definitely needs some optimization.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
Overall, the graphics of the game receive high praise for their stunning visuals and immersive landscapes, with many users highlighting the beautiful scenery and detailed environments. However, some players noted issues with performance and unfinished elements that detract from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the graphics are generally considered a strong point of the game, enhancing the enjoyment of gameplay.
- “Graphics are very enjoyable and at all map areas you have beautiful sights into the landscape.”
- “The graphics are awesome with the mountains in the background and I also enjoyed the progression of the storyline.”
- “The visuals are stunning, and performance is now much smoother and more stable than before.”
- “Immersion-breaking graphics and bad AI.”
- “The demo already had its issues with the partly rough graphics; at least it looks a bit like a game from years ago.”
- “I love both games, but honestly, Chinese Frontiere beats them by the visuals in a way I can hardly describe.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The music in the game is generally praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall experience while playing. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive, with similar tracks playing frequently. Overall, it complements the game's chill atmosphere, making it suitable for casual play alongside podcasts or audiobooks.
- “The scenery and the music is just amazing!”
- “Very chill music.”
- “Great music that calms the nerves after a busy day.”
- “The first being the repeating music... it's too similar to one another even if it is different music tracks.”
- “The same Chinese music plays over and over and over.”
- “It's got the usual annoyances for this kind of game (mechanics are either overexplained or not explained at all, NPCs are pretty jank and get stuck on terrain all the time, inventory management is an unnecessarily annoying chore, etc), but put on a podcast or some music and you've got a very relaxing way to wile away a few hours.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, effectively capturing a medieval Chinese aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the polished design and beauty of the environments, which contribute to a sense of tranquility while engaging in gameplay. Despite some minor control issues, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature that resonates deeply with its historical context.
- “It’s calm, atmospheric, and just a nice place to exist in while you’re working on projects.”
- “The atmosphere, the style, the gameplay—everything feels polished and made with a lot of care.”
- “I am impressed by the beauty and atmosphere they managed to create and the outstanding beauty of the buildings you can create when you progress further into the game.”
- “The medieval Chinese atmosphere is very calming.”
- “How is it possible that some Polish people reach such a touching atmosphere that really puts you back into Chinese history and surroundings that fit it? I do not know, but they definitely hit the point, or as we Germans say, they hit the nail!”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of frustration and admiration regarding the emotional impact of the game. While some are disheartened by bugs and incomplete elements that detract from the experience, others praise its ability to evoke deep feelings and effectively immerse players in Chinese history and culture.
- “Key elements are all there, but you can see as you play further and further into the missions that it's just incomplete and it is heartbreaking.”
- “How is it possible that some Polish developers created such a touching atmosphere that really immerses you in Chinese history and its surroundings? I do not know, but they definitely hit the mark, or as we Germans say, they hit the nail on the head!”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that while there are some bugs related to quests and NPCs, many of these glitches are humorous rather than detrimental to gameplay, adding an unexpected comedic element to the experience.
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and hilarious situations that keep me laughing.”
- “I love how the game incorporates humor into its quests; it makes even the most mundane tasks enjoyable.”
- “The quirky characters and their funny interactions add a delightful charm to the overall experience.”