After three years in early access, Farthest Frontier has officially launched, ready to immerse players in its stunning world. Developed by Crate Entertainment, known for the dark-fantasy ARPG Grim Dawn, this city builder brings a remarkable level of depth and polish. It offers an experience reminiscent of Banished, combined with a detailed farming system that could rival even Stardew Valley, making it a strong contender among top medieval simulation games.
While other popular titles like Manor Lords are still navigating their early access journey, the full release of Farthest Frontier positions it as a prime candidate for countless hours of engaging gameplay. The game’s name itself, ‘Farthest Frontier,’ perfectly encapsulates its core premise: establishing a newly forged bastion at the very edge of the known world. Here, you’re just barely connected to society, constantly interacting with an unfamiliar and untamed wilderness brimming with both opportunities and dangers.
The game demands mastery of foraging, farming, fishing, and hunting, all simulated with an impressive level of detail. Each crop has specific growth requirements, necessitating careful rotations to maintain soil fertility and adapt to seasonal weather changes, all while fending off potential diseases. Succeed in this delicate balance, and your villagers will enjoy bountiful harvests; fail, and survival becomes a harsh struggle as winter approaches.
A trailer for the game effectively showcases various aspects of the simulation, from constructing intricate structures to managing resources and interacting with the dynamic environment, highlighting the strategic depth of gameplay.
Your townsfolk are equally meticulously simulated. Each individual lives their life and performs their daily tasks, whether tilling fields or transporting essential goods from remote facilities to town factories for processing and crafting. Developing robust infrastructure is crucial for the smooth operation of your burgeoning settlement. Well-planned roads significantly increase throughput, transport wagons expedite supply lines, and optimized storage options allow for greater loads to be moved efficiently.
Maps are dynamically generated for every new game, presenting a diverse array of biomes and themes that directly influence the challenges you’ll face. You must adapt to what the world provides, strategically utilizing trade to acquire any resources your settlement might lack. Will you dedicate vast swathes of land to crop fields, erecting fences to deter wildlife, or will you strive to maintain a delicate natural balance to leverage more fragile resources like wild medicinal plants? An in-game image shows a small village, covered in a pristine blanket of snow, its rustic buildings standing strong against the cold.
Of course, no medieval simulation would be complete without the threat of disease. Illnesses are rampant, requiring diligent efforts to maintain clean water sources and even consider the dietary needs of your residents. A lack of essential greens could lead to widespread scurvy outbreaks. Furthermore, poverty and unsanitary conditions, such as villagers trudging through rat-infested cellars in worn-out shoes, can result in everything from frostbite to the dreaded bubonic plague. Another captivating image portrays a lively town thriving at the water’s edge, with boats dotting the rivers, indicative of a prosperous and well-managed settlement.
Farthest Frontier also boasts extensive customization options to tailor the experience to your preferences. Crate Games offers a spectrum of difficulty settings, from ‘Idyllic’ to ‘Brutal,’ with individual toggles that allow you to adjust or disable specific features. You can determine the severity of bandits and raiders, ranging from small groups of troublemakers to formidable invading hordes, or simply activate pacifist mode to focus entirely on overcoming the natural environmental threats of the era.
Farthest Frontier 1.0 is available now for players eager to build a thriving society on the fringes of the wilderness.