Clanfolk

About

Clanfolk is a single player open world role playing game with a business theme. It was developed by MinMax Games Ltd. and was released on July 14, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

"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."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,136 reviews

gameplay35 positive mentions

story8 negative mentions

Challenging gameplay that keeps players engaged, especially during the first winter.
Unique tech tree system that unlocks new ideas through gameplay rather than traditional research.
Active developer with regular updates and responsiveness to community feedback.

AI can be frustrating, with clanfolk sometimes ignoring tasks or making poor decisions.
Limited late-game content, leading to a lack of challenges after surviving the first winter.
Visual identity of characters is lacking, making it hard to distinguish between clanfolk.

gameplay
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
4%
The gameplay of this early access title has drawn comparisons to RimWorld, featuring a blend of survival, base-building, and resource management mechanics, but with its own unique twists. Players appreciate the intuitive mechanics and the organic growth of the tech tree, though many express a desire for more depth and long-term content to maintain engagement beyond the initial learning curve. While the game offers a solid foundation and enjoyable mechanics, some users note that it can become repetitive after a few in-game years, highlighting the need for further updates and enhancements to sustain interest.
- “Gameplay is solid and the UI provides a healthy amount of information back as to what is needed while keeping it simple.”
- “The tech tree is quite fun; I love the organic growth of the tree led by use rather than gamey mechanics, and it lets you learn more about Scottish medieval society.”
- “It's a chill gameplay loop that's easy to learn and interesting to master.”
- “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 just under 30 hours of gameplay, I feel like I've learned the game mechanics and my only complaint is after getting through the first winter, things aren't challenging enough.”
- “At the time of writing this review, I would say that Clanfolk does not have much depth to it; the gameplay becomes very repetitive after the first couple of in-game years, plant crops in the spring and summer, gather mushrooms in the fall, and then hope that you gathered enough to last you through the winter.”
graphics
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, characterized by a charming and simple art style that many players find aesthetically pleasing and immersive. While some comparisons to titles like RimWorld and Prison Architect highlight similarities in visual design, the unique aesthetic and attention to detail set it apart. However, a few users noted that the graphics can be rough around the edges or may require a more powerful computer to fully appreciate, but overall, they contribute positively to the game's relaxing and engaging atmosphere.
- “The graphics are amazing!”
- “The charming aesthetic, coupled with its interesting lore, manages to create an immersive world that sparks curiosity.”
- “Graphics are great within the aesthetic style they're using, the setting fits the gameplay and feels natural.”
- “Hopefully it gets better and the art style becomes less hard to look at.”
- “It doesn't help that the graphics are hard on the eyes, especially the yellow/green grass or whatever it is.”
- “Very bland graphics and very long and dull tutorial, with too many overly cluttered and complicated menus.”
story
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
76%
16%
The game's story aspect is currently underdeveloped, with many players expressing a desire for deeper narrative elements and character development akin to titles like RimWorld. While the game allows for some emergent storytelling through gameplay, it lacks individual character personalities and a robust relationship system, leading to a more survival-focused experience rather than a rich narrative one. Players are hopeful for future updates to enhance the storytelling features, as the potential for a compelling family survival narrative exists.
- “Amazingly deep story generator game with a focus on survival.”
- “I love the story behind it and the ability to continue for generations.”
- “Getting really attached to my peeps and would love to see the story develop more between the characters, but a wonderful start to this.”
- “Currently in development as story features are currently nonexistent (although recently a new patch has been released).”
- “Not sure it is fair to compare this to RimWorld; it doesn't (yet?) have the same depth of storytelling or character building.”
- “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 (there is no 'relationship' system akin to RimWorld in this game).”
music
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
38%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players enjoying the relaxing and atmospheric Scottish folk tracks. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time and suggested a need for more variety. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its charm and immersive gameplay.
- “The music kicks ass.”
- “The sound design is fantastic and the music is really good; they clearly put care into the audio experience and it helps a lot.”
- “The music is fantastic and I hope that if I keep at it, I'll figure out why I keep screwing up.”
- “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.”
- “Only negative I would say is that it needs a bit more music.”
grinding
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it offers a rich and detailed crafting and farming system reminiscent of titles like RimWorld, many feel that the gameplay can become tedious, especially with micromanagement and AI issues. The initial stages are enjoyable and rewarding, but as the game progresses, players often encounter frustrating mechanics that detract from the overall experience, particularly in farming and resource management. Despite these challenges, the game is praised for its depth and unique charm, appealing to fans of the farming colony simulation genre.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The 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.”
- “The crafting has too many steps and is just tedious and annoying.”
replayability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the depth, varied scenarios, and autogenerated maps that enhance replay value, others feel that the experience can become repetitive after the initial playthrough. Some users highlight the potential for different strategies and challenges, particularly with upcoming updates, but there are concerns about a lack of long-term engagement once the first winter is completed. In summary, the game offers a fair amount of replayability, but improvements are needed to sustain interest beyond the initial experience.
- “And while it’s still in early access, it’s already got so much depth and replayability.”
- “Also highly replayable with the different scenarios (family groups) and the different maps with varying resources; you can make your game normal to very hard, if you like.”
- “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.”
- “There's almost no replay value other than seeing if you can survive with just one person instead of two or more.”
- “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 endgame content; once you beat the first winter, there is no challenge left.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, effectively capturing the essence of old Scottish settlements with a medieval flair. Players appreciate the soothing soundtrack and the game's ability to create a comfortable, rural environment, making it ideal for those who enjoy thoughtful building and survival mechanics. However, some reviewers note that the game's early development stage may hinder its atmospheric potential.
- “If you like the visual styling of games like RimWorld but with a totally different atmosphere (and no atrocities, war crimes, or cannibalism lol), I would really suggest giving Clanfolk a try.”
- “Again, I have not played RimWorld because I am not much into sci-fi, but I think this game captures the atmosphere of old Scottish settlements very well, has very nice, relaxing music, and feels very comfortable. My dad was from Scotland, and I'm sure if he were alive, he would approve of this.”
- “If you like quick builds and combat it may not be your cup of tea, but 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.”
- “Love the rural, peaceful yet medievally realistic atmosphere of this game.”
- “A slower, more gradual formula for progression would benefit the atmosphere, the immersion and the flow of gameplay.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its emotional depth, offering a wholesome and heartwarming experience that fosters attachment to the player's clan. Players appreciate the supportive community and the engaging, family-centered gameplay that allows for personal connections and emotional investment, even amidst the challenges of survival. Overall, it is described as a relaxing and enjoyable game suitable for all ages.
- “I've become emotionally attached to my clan and I'm going to make sure they live a grand life.”
- “There's always something to do in this game that is merciful enough to spare you the frustrations of petty people losing their minds and trying to kill each other over a lack of tables whilst giving you the wholesome and heartwarming feeling as you see that despite the cruelty of 1300's Scottish highland life always out to harm, your clanfolk will always remain a supportive family to each other throughout where even cats are helpful...who'd have thought that was possible?”
- “I love the fact that the game is pretty family-centered, feels more personal and heartwarming watching the clan grow from generation to generation.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and no major issues, there are concerns about stuttering and lag as the population grows, particularly in mid-game. Regular updates from the developers show commitment to improving performance, but further refinement is needed for AI and certain base-building tools. The medieval Scottish setting is well-received, and the game is seen as promising with enjoyable details, though some players feel it could benefit from additional performance enhancements.
- “The medieval Scottish setting is fun and really well done, and the game is full of enjoyable details and opportunities for strategic optimization.”
- “The dev also updates regularly, from performance fixes to adding new things to the game.”
- “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 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
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
63%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting a bug-free experience and smooth performance, especially for an early access title. However, some users have noted issues with gameplay mechanics and unclear features that can lead to frustrating experiences, particularly for new players. While the developer is actively updating the game, there are still concerns about balancing and difficulty that may affect overall enjoyment.
- “The developer is constantly updating and refining, and the game has been 100% bug-free for me so far.”
- “I will say for an early access game it runs great; I spent over 30 hours playing it and not one bug or crash so far, and everything in the game works perfectly.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “You start at the beginning of summer... you get 10 days of summer and 10 days of autumn before the winter snow freezes your clanfolk and they all die... you restart and try again and get similar results... you keep restarting and trying again, maybe surviving one day longer each time... once you finally make it past that first 10-day winter, you're able to survive winter after winter with little problem afterwards... so basically the game punches you right in the face with such horrible difficulty, and if you make it past that, you get a small slap on the butt every so often... you barely get anything done before the seasons change, and if you're a beginner player you'll never get everything done that's needed to survive winter (20 days from start)... this game needs a casual player difficulty level before I'll recommend it to anyone... or a setting that at least lets you customize the days per season to your level of gameplay.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate that while "Clanfolk" shows promise in its focus on family and character development, it currently lacks depth in character interactions and customization. Players express a desire for more engaging character dynamics and additional features to enhance the development experience, hoping for future updates to address these aspects. Overall, there is optimism for improvement as the game evolves in early access.
- “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 do 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, and I have high hopes for it. Nonetheless, it's still a very great, fun, laid-back game; I just wish there was more to do, and I know the developers will implement these features in future updates. You guys are doing a great job.”
- “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.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its balance and comedic elements, though some note that it may not deliver the expected lighthearted experience. Instances of bugs can lead to both frustration and unexpected hilarity, adding to the game's charm. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy a mix of humor and challenge.
- “Great game, well made, balanced, and funny; highly recommended.”
- “I ran into a weird bug that caused my clan to fail on my last attempt; it was both equally hilarious and frustrating.”
- “8 people found this review funny.”