Under The Yoke
- March 28, 2024
- Priory Games
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Under the Yoke" is a historical simulation game set in Medieval England, where you start as a serf with a small plot of land and must guide your family through generations. Each character has distinct traits, personalities, and skills, and it's your responsibility to manage their livelihoods, social circles, and daily needs. The game's mechanics are based on three core traits: Mind, Body, and Spirit, which impact each character's abilities and interactions. Your ultimate goal is to ensure your family's contentment and productivity while navigating the challenges of the Middle Ages.
Reviews
- The game has a charming art style and atmosphere, making it enjoyable to play.
- The developer is responsive and actively working on updates and bug fixes, showing commitment to improving the game.
- The gameplay offers a unique and engaging experience with a focus on historical accuracy and micromanagement.
- The tutorial is poorly designed, leaving players confused about game mechanics and objectives.
- The user interface is buggy and unintuitive, leading to frustrating experiences while navigating the game.
- The game frequently crashes, making it difficult for players to enjoy the experience without losing progress.
- graphics10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their appealing art style, which many players find beautiful and fitting for the genre. However, some users report significant performance issues, including frequent crashes and bugs that detract from the overall experience, despite the graphics being described as simple yet effective. Overall, while the visual design is a highlight, technical stability remains a concern for many players.
“The art style is also good.”
“This game looks beautiful, the art style is one of the main reasons I purchased it on day one.”
“Having a lot of fun building out my character, the music draws you in and the graphics are spot on for the genre.”
“While the game is graphically simple, the systems are quite complex.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Gameplay is generally considered solid, with mechanics that make sense and a rewarding long-term experience, though it may not be the most thrilling. However, players may face challenges due to frequent crashes on various systems, and the lack of a tutorial could leave newcomers confused about basic mechanics and character management. Overall, while the gameplay has its merits, improvements in stability and onboarding could enhance the experience.
“The gameplay is not the most exciting, but I like it.”
“This mechanic makes perfect sense and they are good in my opinion; however, players will have to be warned because a lot of games have foods that are kind of indestructible, so a new player picking this game up will get caught off guard.”
“A tutorial would walk you through each menu and make you assign your character to do things, helping you understand basic needs and mechanics.”
“A tutorial would walk you through each menu and help you assign your character to perform tasks, aiding in understanding basic needs and mechanics.”
“I'm a big fan of the long-term gameplay, though I was able to progress quite far in just a decade with my first single peasant.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is engaging, as it evolves from basic survival to complex social dynamics, including political ambitions and family matters. Players appreciate the RPG elements that provide ongoing purpose beyond initial goals, though many express a desire for more quests, social consequences, and items to enhance the narrative experience.
“You reach a point where you have a surplus of goods, but then you must consider how to not just survive, but thrive. You think about getting an elected position, marrying off your children, etc. I enjoy the RPG aspect because it gives me a sense of purpose even after meeting basic needs, and there are little story breaks every now and then.”
“You reach a point where you have a surplus of goods, but then you have to consider how to not just live, but thrive. You have to think about getting an elected position, marrying off your children, etc. I like the RPG aspect because it makes me feel like there's still a purpose to playing after you've met those basic needs, but there are only little story breaks every now and then.”
“I would love to see more in the game: more quests or missions, more social consequences and objectives, and more items and equipment to aim for!”
“The game lacks depth in its storytelling; it feels like there are missed opportunities for richer narratives and character development.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is generally praised for being engaging and well-conceived, contributing to an enjoyable learning experience. Reviewers appreciate the overall ambiance, highlighting its appeal and creativity.
“The atmosphere is nice, and it's interesting to learn.”
“Nice concept, nice atmosphere.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game's user interface is plagued by bugs and lacks intuitiveness, negatively impacting overall stability.
“The UI is buggy and unintuitive.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops during gameplay.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the historical accuracy and complexity of the game's mechanics, particularly in farming and medieval production chains, which adds depth to the grinding experience.
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is engaging and enhances the overall experience, complementing the impressive graphics and contributing to the enjoyment of character customization.
“Having a lot of fun building out my character; the music draws you in, and the graphics are spot on for the genre.”
