New on Steam: This medieval city builder lets players develop entire counties

Anyone who enjoys carefully placing every single building in traditional city builders will have to adjust their approach in County of Fortune. The new medieval strategy game from Czech studio Nepos Games operates on a much larger scale. Instead of building up a single town, players take charge of an entire county.

Most of the actual city building happens automatically. Players choose suitable locations for new settlements, which then gradually grow and develop largely on their own. What matters most is the economic role each settlement plays. One village might focus on farming, while another specializes in timber production or mining valuable resources. Since not every resource is available everywhere, settlements need to work together. Players establish trade routes along roads and navigable rivers to ensure that goods and raw materials reach the places where they're needed.

Beyond the economy, political and social factors also come into play. Mayors bring different abilities and bonuses, while influential noble houses help shape the region's development. Different cultures also have their own characteristics, influencing how individual settlements evolve. However, the overall direction of the county remains largely up to the player. County of Fortune offers an open-ended sandbox experience without combat or significant time pressure.

Early Steam reviews are mostly positive, with 86% of the 43 user reviews so far recommending County of Fortune. Players particularly praise the unusual city-building concept, well-designed production chains and relaxed pace. However, the user interface can feel rather cluttered, and some players believe the trade management system still needs improvement. On the plus side, the developers have already responded to community feedback ahead of the Early Access launch, reworking the culture system and mayors, among other things.

Interest certainly hasn't been lacking. More than 200,000 players had wishlisted the game on Steam, and its demo ranked among the 50 most-played titles during June's Steam Next Fest. The demo is still available, meaning anyone interested can try the game for free. Those who want to keep playing can pick up County of Fortune on Steam with a 10% launch discount until November 15, bringing the price down to $22.49 from just under $25. The game is also rated Playable on the Steam Deck.

For a first look at the game, check out the trailer below: