Hearthlands

About

Hearthlands is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Four White Cats and was released on April 28, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Hearthlands is a medieval/fantasy city-building real time strategy game in which you take a role of a king in a procedurally generated world. You can not control your subjects directly; instead you focus on city-building, resource management, diplomacy, magic and other things a typical king deals with on a daily basis. The game is very flexible: you can build a powerful realm and rule the lands…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 293 reviews

gameplay24 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Charming graphics and enjoyable gameplay reminiscent of classic city builders like Caesar and Pharaoh.
Offers a deep and engaging resource management system with various production chains and logistics challenges.
The game allows for customization in difficulty and gameplay style, catering to both casual and hardcore players.

Combat mechanics are simplistic and lack depth, with battles resolved off-screen without player control.
The game can become frustrating due to unbalanced resource management and the potential for sudden invasions that can devastate progress.
Some UI elements and tutorials are lacking, making it difficult for new players to fully grasp the game's mechanics.

gameplay
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
72%
3%
The gameplay of Hearthlands is a blend of classic city-building mechanics with modern twists, offering a mix of resource management, trading, and combat that can be both rewarding and challenging. While some players appreciate the depth and strategic elements, others criticize the reliance on outdated mechanics and the occasional lack of polish. Overall, the game provides a solid experience for fans of the genre, especially with its engaging tutorial and campaign mode that gradually introduces more complex gameplay elements.
- “This adds another layer of depth to your gameplay, as you can now strategize your growth based on changing supply and demand, and use your trades to turn excess production into money.”
- “Everything together, with the intricate production mechanisms, the tricks you can use to control your supply lines, the trading mechanics, and the simple but fun warfare mechanics, Hearthlands throws a lot of interesting puzzles in your way, which can take you tens or even hundreds of hours to find the most efficient solutions to.”
- “The gameplay is set up in a way such that new concepts are introduced at just the right pace: after you've produced enough food for your townspeople, they start asking for other luxuries like alcohol, furniture, and boots.”
- “The game mechanics can be frustrating at times, especially when trying to figure out where bottlenecks are in the supply chain, but the game is quite rewarding.”
- “There are no guides or wikis to help players figure out the mechanics.”
- “Very shallow gameplay, repetitive... worth maybe $1.99.”
graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
69%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the charming art style and vibrant colors, while others criticize the overall quality and resolution, particularly at maximum zoom. Many appreciate the retro aesthetic and its homage to classic city builders, though some find the visuals lacking and in need of improvement. Overall, while the graphics may not be top-tier, they are functional and contribute to the game's nostalgic appeal.
- “Charming art style, surprising depth to gameplay, and interesting mix of mechanics that I haven't seen much in other games.”
- “Neat city builder with cute graphics and sound gameplay mechanics based on producing and distributing a nice variety of goods.”
- “Of course, being that this is developed by a small team, the graphics aren't as intensive as many modern city builders developed by larger studios, but the art is very well-done in my opinion.”
- “The graphical asset resolutions are bad for maximum zoom; either zoom should be limited (–2 on a 1440p) or the assets should be improved.”
- “The AI is very clunky, resources are not well balanced, the graphics are very poor, and maps are pretty blank.”
- “Ok, so the issue is the graphics; they are awful.”
story
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
88%
6%
The game features a campaign with 12 missions that vary in difficulty, providing players with structured goals and challenges, but it lacks a cohesive overarching story. While the missions are described as interesting and engaging, many players note that the narrative aspect is minimal or non-existent, making it feel more like a series of tasks rather than a story-driven experience. Overall, the game is seen as a solid city builder, but those seeking a rich narrative may be disappointed.
- “I've played through 4 of the campaign missions so far and am looking forward to unlocking the rest of the buildings, magic system, etc. I've really only brushed the surface with research and haven't even got to cast a spell yet - can't wait!”
- “In the second mission of the campaign, you find yourself leading a tribe called 'Westerners' who create both bread and beer, and need furniture.”
- “12 mission campaign, which will guide you through the different aspects of getting started, providing for your population, setting up industry and military, and meeting the different nations and their specific production chains and units.”
- “Unfortunately, there's no proper story, but then again, city building games with a story are pretty rare, while missions are actually pretty interesting.”
- “But in Hearthland, the tutorial and first three missions in the game are basically identical to each other and, as far as I can tell from a quick custom mission, to the rest of the game.”
- “The lack of other features, such as a campaign, missions and quests, and most importantly a multiplayer feature, just pushes me over the line of calling it a very flawed game that fills a gap in an under-represented genre.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the great soundtrack and fitting sound effects, while others find it repetitive and lacking in quality. Although the individual sounds for buildings add a unique touch, certain elements, like the goat sounds, can be annoying. Overall, the music is considered just above average, with some players opting for alternative soundtracks to enhance their experience.
- “The soundtrack is great, the sound effects are retro, and each building has its own individual sounds.”
- “The graphics are nice and the music is also.”
- “Sound is okay, the songs are midi-esque but certainly fitting.”
- “The music becomes a smidgen repetitive after a while, and some of the sounds get quite annoying (like the winery pumps).”
- “The sound design is mediocre at best; the music isn't noticeable and far from good.”
- “The music is a bit lacking, so I put on relaxing video game music and it helps me concentrate too.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
12%
25%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with diverse content and customization options that encourage players to return repeatedly. Different cultures and strategic approaches enhance the experience, allowing for varied gameplay through resource management and political interactions. Overall, players find the replay value to be a significant and enjoyable aspect of the game.
- “Even without these features, the replay value is off the charts, and there will be plenty of content and customization options to keep players coming back for as long as they choose.”
- “It has a really high replayability value, and you always think about a new way to approach the next try and optimize.”
- “Four different cultures offer different production lines and military preferences, which provides replay value through mastering resource management in various ways, as well as the political map that allows the player to trade, do battle, or simply ignore other rulers.”
- “Hearthlands is a casual game with a fair amount of replayability.”
- “Four different cultures offer different production lines and military preferences, which offers some replay value through mastering resource management in other ways, as well as the political map which allows the player to trade, do battle, or simply ignore other rulers. While building a battle-ready settlement can take time and energy, it offers a meta game to an otherwise well-polished city builder.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
80%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and clunky, often requiring additional lives to manage resources effectively. While the transition from farming to battling is well-executed, the cumbersome interface can make resource management feel more laborious than enjoyable. Overall, players are encouraged to balance their farming efforts with the need for efficient storage and resource handling.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying, as it allows you to see tangible progress in your character's development.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “If you do get a surplus of anything, you just sell it off, but the interface is so clunky and tedious that it's usually easier to just toss up more storage as you will eventually need the goods.”
- “So don't just build a farming community and expect to be left in peace.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is praised, with users reporting very few glitches and bugs, primarily minor visual issues that do not hinder gameplay. While most problems have been addressed through updates, some players caution that loading older saves can occasionally introduce new bugs, potentially impacting progress. Recent auto updates have significantly improved performance, leading to a generally smooth experience.
- “After two auto updates, the game now runs great.”
- “The stability of the game has significantly improved with recent patches.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or major bugs since the last update.”
- “Most of the glitches have been ironed out by now, and the designers are very responsive, but sometimes bug fixes create new bugs when you load old games. Some of those loading bugs can cost you half your city if they delete all your peddler tents or whatever, so if you come back to an old game, read the blog before you load it.”
- “No encountered bugs, but there are some visual glitches now and again, though nothing that stops you from playing the game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted through its whimsical scenarios and character interactions, particularly in titles like "Beasts & Bumpkins," which offers a humorous fantasy narrative. However, some players feel that the gameplay mechanics detract from the comedic potential, as the lack of strategic depth limits engaging interactions with the game's humorous elements. Overall, while there are moments of levity, the execution may not fully capitalize on the humor present in the game's setting.
- “There is no strategy besides 'select all your squads (individually, so pause while queuing commands) and click on whatever is looking at you funny.'”
- “We've got ourselves juicy gang wars in Mob Rule (sequel to Constructor, which didn't have a proper campaign in it), we've got a humorous fantasy tale in Beasts & Bumpkins, we've got Settlers with all of its variants and, of course, we've got Impressions Games' Caesar III, Pharaoh, Zeus, and Emperor.”
- “Funny thing”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express disappointment in the character development, noting that while the artwork and character design are impressive, they are undermined by a poorly executed AI that limits the characters' tasks and interactions.
- “It's too bad that the artwork and character design are perfect, but they are ruined by the poor AI and limited tasks assigned to them.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “Despite the impressive visuals, the characters don't evolve in a way that feels rewarding or engaging.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is praised for its excellent performance and well-crafted atmosphere, complemented by charming animations. Players find the gameplay engaging, particularly in strategizing building placements for optimal results.
- “The performance is great, the atmosphere is very well done, and the animations are cute.”
- “It's very fun and makes you think about where to place your buildings for the most optimized result.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, featuring impressive performance and well-executed visuals, complemented by charming animations that enhance the overall experience.
- “The performance is great, the atmosphere is very well done, and the animations are cute.”