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"Clanfolk is a single-player business open world game with stunning graphics and emotional gameplay. Build and manage your multi-generational clan's homestead in the Scottish Highlands, facing challenges of survival, nature, and harsh winters. Craft your family's story and legacy across generations, with options for creating your precise lineage or choosing from existing clans."

Clanfolk screenshot
Clanfolk screenshot
Clanfolk screenshot
Clanfolk screenshot
Clanfolk screenshot
Clanfolk screenshot
Clanfolk screenshot
Clanfolk screenshot
Clanfolk screenshot
Clanfolk screenshot
Clanfolk screenshot
+8

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,992 reviews
gameplay96 positive mentions
story24 negative mentions

  • Challenging yet rewarding gameplay that emphasizes survival and resource management.
  • Charming art style and immersive atmosphere set in medieval Scotland.
  • Active developer engagement with regular updates and community feedback.
  • AI can be frustrating, often ignoring priorities and leading to clan members starving or freezing.
  • Limited content after the first winter, leading to a lack of long-term goals.
  • UI can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to manage tasks and resources effectively.
  • gameplay
    418 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Clanfolk" is a blend of colony management and survival mechanics, drawing comparisons to games like RimWorld and The Sims, but with a unique focus on family dynamics and resource management. While the game offers a steep learning curve and engaging mechanics, players note that it can become repetitive after the initial years, with a need for more depth and long-term content. Despite being in early access, the gameplay is generally smooth and enjoyable, with regular updates promising to enhance its complexity and replayability.

    • “The gameplay is a cross between the building and supply chains of RimWorld and the family legacy aspects of The Sims.”
    • “Perfect mix of challenging and rewarding, and surprisingly fleshed out gameplay despite being early access.”
    • “The game is in a working, balanced state with a lot of replayability even in early access, and every update has added really interesting gameplay elements/mechanics.”
    • “This game is awful with the menu, awful with the intuitiveness of gameplay, awful with balance of work and speed of peasants.”
    • “It's extremely tedious and unfun to continue to monitor for things that broke and try to figure out how to work around the broken gameplay from the third winter on.”
    • “After getting through the first winter, things aren't challenging enough.”
  • graphics
    224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming art style and vibrant aesthetics, which contribute to an immersive experience. While some players note that the animations can be simplistic and the visuals may not be the most advanced, many appreciate the unique character designs and the overall visual appeal, especially in comparison to similar titles like RimWorld. However, there are mixed opinions regarding the clarity and detail of the graphics, with some finding them a bit rough around the edges or difficult to discern on lower-end systems.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, the mechanics easy to learn but challenging to master.”
    • “The charming aesthetic, coupled with its interesting lore, manages to create an immersive world that sparks curiosity.”
    • “The graphics are amazing!”
    • “The art style is messy and it's very difficult for me to determine what is what.”
    • “It doesn't help that the graphics are hard on the eyes, especially the yellow/green grass or whatever it is.”
    • “When I first looked at Clanfolk, the graphics of the characters astonished me, in a not-so-good way.”
  • story
    138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is currently minimal, with many players expressing a desire for deeper narrative elements and character development. While it offers a sandbox environment for players to create their own stories through gameplay, the lack of structured storylines, character personalities, and dynamic relationships has left some feeling that it falls short compared to similar titles like RimWorld. However, ongoing updates promise to enhance storytelling features, and the potential for creativity in crafting personal narratives is appreciated by the community.

    • “With consistent game improving updates, in a world where you can make your own story - it ticks all the boxes.”
    • “I love all of the potential for creativity and storytelling in this game!”
    • “I love the story behind it and the ability to continue for generations.”
    • “Same story on repeat is no fun; I am aware there are different endings, but I don't care for it.”
    • “As of now, you can't travel anywhere, barring visitors you randomly receive with certain items. You can't purposefully meet people from other clans, can't develop interesting relationships between characters, and there's very little storytelling other than what you imagine in your own mind.”
    • “It wants to be more story-driven, but right now it's a 'get ready to live through winter' sim that wants the story elements of RimWorld, but doesn't really have it.”
  • music
    128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, described as relaxing and atmospheric, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. However, many players note that it can become repetitive over time, with some tracks feeling generic rather than unique to the game. Despite this, the soundtrack is appreciated for its quality and contribution to the game's charm, with hopes for more variety in future updates.

    • “The music adds to the good atmosphere the game has.”
    • “The music is a meditation.”
    • “The music and atmosphere is awesome and gameplay is addictive.”
    • “The music gets a bit repetitive, and some tracks feel more 'generically medieval' than game-specific, but the soundtrack remains very good.”
    • “The stock music is annoying and they should hire someone for an actual soundtrack.”
    • “The music is repetitive to the point you will turn it off.”
  • grinding
    96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding the farming system simple yet engaging, while others describe it as tedious and overly time-consuming. Many recommend avoiding farming in the first year to focus on gathering and building, as the game becomes more enjoyable after overcoming initial challenges. Overall, while the game offers a rich variety of tasks and a unique simulation experience, the farming mechanics could benefit from improvements to reduce repetitiveness and enhance sustainability.

    • “The game is a little grindy.”
    • “Entire farming system is a joke and a total waste of time.”
    • “It's extremely tedious and unfun to continue to monitor for things that broke and try to figure out how to work around the broken gameplay from the third winter on.”
  • replayability
    78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the unique challenges and engaging gameplay that updates bring, others express concerns about limited replay value after completing core objectives. Some players find the game highly replayable due to adjustable difficulty and varied scenarios, while others feel that once the initial challenges are overcome, the experience becomes repetitive. Overall, the game shows potential for increased replayability as it continues to develop, but current feedback suggests it may need more content and challenges to sustain long-term interest.

    • “Every playthrough feels unique and presents different challenges, so it's incredibly replayable.”
    • “A great amount of content for the cost of the game, tremendously replayable, well thought out and planned.”
    • “Highly replayable, maps are autogenerated, you can build your own family that you'll be playing with, and pick out the livestock you'll begin with.”
    • “The replayability is lacking, because you will do exactly the same things in the same order, only a little faster so that you squeeze over the line.”
    • “It has potential, needs more replayability and end game content; once you beat the first winter, there is no challenge left.”
    • “A single playthrough to reach endgame without replayability is what I'm expecting after my first session.”
  • atmosphere
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its peaceful, immersive qualities, combining heartwarming elements of survival with a medieval Scottish setting. Players appreciate the relaxing music, atmospheric effects, and the slow-paced gameplay that allows them to enjoy the environment and the sense of community among colonists. Overall, the game successfully creates a comforting and engaging atmosphere that appeals to fans of immersive building and planning, though some note that it is still in early development and could benefit from further refinement.

    • “The slow nature of the game, plus the atmosphere, lighting, and sound design, are great in supporting that: seeing your colonists huddle around a lit fireplace in the tavern they built over multiple days is a great feeling, knowing they made everything from scratch with each person fulfilling a role, and every day of hard work finally paying off in comfort and a safe haven.”
    • “If you like immersive building, careful planning, a medieval atmosphere, and survival, as well as being able to relax and be creative, it's perfect.”
    • “A slower, more gradual formula for progression would benefit the atmosphere, the immersion, and the flow of gameplay.”
    • “It really scratches that medieval itch and the soundtrack (whilst limited right now) really adds atmosphere.”
    • “Love the rural, peaceful yet medievally realistic atmosphere of this game.”
  • emotional
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its emotional depth and wholesome storytelling, allowing players to form strong attachments to their clan as they navigate the challenges of life in the Scottish Highlands. Reviewers appreciate the focus on generational play and the supportive dynamics within the clan, which create a heartwarming experience despite the historical backdrop of hardship. Overall, it is described as a relaxing and engaging game that fosters a sense of family and community.

    • “This isn't RimWorld, but there is really something special and heartwarming about seeing three generations of your family hunting wolves that have ventured a little too close to your homestead.”
    • “I've become emotionally attached to my clan and I'm going to make sure they live a grand life.”
    • “I love the fact that the game is pretty family-centered; it feels more personal and heartwarming watching the clan grow from generation to generation.”
  • optimization
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with smooth performance and no major issues reported, although some players note occasional slowdowns and stuttering as the population increases. Continued refinement is needed, particularly for AI and certain gameplay mechanics, but regular updates from the developers show promise for future improvements. The medieval Scottish setting is well-executed, adding to the game's appeal despite minor optimization concerns.

    • “Everything runs smoothly, and the game is obviously exceptionally well-coded and exceptionally well-designed.”
    • “No performance issues at all, music is great, and the dev is very active in the forums.”
    • “This Scottish medieval colony sim runs smoothly and is very promising so far!”
    • “Continued refinement and optimization are needed to ensure a smoother gameplay experience.”
    • “The AI needs optimization and tweaking; some standard base-building tools (like marking plans on the map you want to save space for later in the game) are absent, and the art could use refinement even if I like the style.”
    • “I have found that the game starts to chug a bit at the start of the day once your population hits double digits - so it could use some optimization there.”
  • stability
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, particularly on Linux, with many players reporting a bug-free experience and smooth performance even after extensive playtime. However, some users have noted occasional bugs and glitches, particularly related to gameplay mechanics and difficulty, which can hinder the overall experience. While the developer is actively updating the game, there are calls for clearer features and a more accessible difficulty level for casual players.

    • “The developer is constantly updating and refining, and the game has been 100% bug free for me so far.”
    • “I will say for an EA game it runs great, I spent over 30 hours so far playing it and not one bug or crash so far and everything in the game works perfectly.”
    • “Game runs great on Linux out of the box. Well and truly recommended.”
    • “Then, everyone freezes and dies of thirst because nobody will light a fire regardless of how many resources you have and what their priorities are set to.”
    • “Personally, I did enjoy my playtime, but for now it's a bit riddled with bugs and glitches and often unclear or not well explained features and techs.”
    • “You start at the beginning of summer... you get 10 days of summer and 10 days of autumn before the winter snow freezes your clan folk and they all die... you restart and try again and get similar results... this game needs a casual player difficulty level before I'll recommend it to anyone.”
  • humor
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's humor is characterized by a mix of light-hearted and quirky elements, often showcased in update logs that players find amusing. While it may not deliver traditional slapstick comedy, it incorporates mild humor that appeals to a broad audience, with some players finding humor in both the game's design and unexpected bugs. Overall, the humor is well-received, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “The updates are frequent, and the creator keeps bringing more interesting aspects into the game. I love reading their update logs and how they came about because they're usually funny, like the rabbit hole the beaver update became.”
    • “I ran into a weird bug that caused my clan to fail on my last attempt; it was both equally hilarious and frustrating.”
    • “They may have even more broad appeal, managing to avoid darker subject matter in lieu of some mild humor.”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that while "Clanfolk" shows promise in character development, it currently lacks depth and meaningful interactions among characters. Players express a desire for more customization options and dynamic character interactions, hoping future updates will enhance these aspects. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but in need of refinement to fully realize its potential in family and character development.

    • “Although I was initially disappointed by Clanfolk, I can see the potential for a great game that centers on family and character development.”
    • “I just wish during later updates they add plagues and maybe more character customization and add a little bit of character development. I would love to see the developers add character interactions; I want to know what they're thinking and what they're saying to one another.”
    • “A surviving the first winter, but that's really about it. After the first winter, maybe the second one, the game is a breeze. You've discovered everything; not much else to do other than making your base look pretty and having your folks make tons of babies to the point you have them all starve to death because you can't produce enough food for them. I just wish during later updates they would add plagues and maybe more character customization and a little bit of character development. I would love to see the developers add character interactions; I want to know what they're thinking and what they're saying to one another. Again, the game is still in early access; I have high hopes for it. Nonetheless, it's still a very fun, laid-back game; I just wish there was more to do, and I know the developers will implement these features in future updates.”
    • “While it may not be perfect in its current state, I believe that with some tweaking and refinement, it has the potential to be a great game that truly centers on family and character development.”
    • “In that vein, the first thing I did with RimWorld was get a character designer mod.”

Buy Clanfolk

37h Median play time
86h Average play time
16-76h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 56 analyzed playthroughs

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