Clanfolk

Somewhere in the Scottish Highlands, a small family is trying to survive in a harsh land. Clanfolk begins with clearing a piece of land, and then it turns out that the settlers need food, warmth, tools and a roof over their heads - and all this must be obtained with their own hands. Studio MinMax Games released the game in Early Access in July 2022, and since then it has grown into a full-fledged colony simulator with a long history. First, several people fish, collect berries and brushwood, hunt deer and wild boar, and make simple tools. Then there appear beds, cattle pens, craft workshops and an inn, where traders from other clans drop in. Exchange of goods is a separate headache: you can exchange with your neighbors something that you cannot find in the area, but it is better not to give away your goods for free. The key to the Clanfolk is timing. Autumn is short, winter is merciless, and each resident has a mood, relationships with family and personal desires. People get tired, get sick, quarrel, fall in love, have children, grow old, and then a new generation takes their place - and this is how the clan settles down from generation to generation. There are also a lot of little things: you need warm clothes for winter, food spoils, and supplies have to be stored so that rats and wild animals don’t get to them. One resident gets along better with animals, another learns the craft faster - so the distribution of responsibilities turns into a separate puzzle, where a mistake costs a week of hunger. Cozy presentation and soft colors make even the harsh life in the mountains something attractive. For those who love leisurely stories about a tiny household, where every detail is important, the game will keep you engaged for a long time. There are no global battles here, but there is a quiet joy that the clan has survived another winter.