Bellwright Review: A Promising Medieval City-Builder with Room to Grow

Bellwright is a refreshingly fun blend of medieval survival and city-building mechanics. Right out of the gate, the game runs impressively smooth. A rare gem for an early-access title. Whether you’re building up your village from scratch or gathering resources in the wild, the survival elements are well-integrated and satisfying.

The city-building aspect is where Bellwright truly shines. Designing your settlement, managing resources, and watching your village thrive feels rewarding. Add in the PvE element and you've got a solid core gameplay loop that keeps things engaging.

However, Bellwright isn’t without its flaws. The lack of horses is definitely noticeable - especially when you find yourself trekking across the map on foot. The combat system, while functional, feels underdeveloped, particularly when it comes to commanding your troops. A system similar to Mount & Blade: Bannerlord would elevate the tactical depth significantly, offering more precise control and formation management during battles.

The AI could also use some polish. Villagers and companions don’t always respond or behave as efficiently as you'd expect, occasionally getting stuck or acting unpredictably. Improving their logic would go a long way in smoothing out gameplay.

Another area ripe for enhancement is troop training. Currently, you're limited to recruiting characters with the right stats, which can be tedious. Introducing dedicated training grounds like an archery range or combat post would be a great quality-of-life improvement and add more immersion to the experience.

Graphically, the game is solid but not groundbreaking, a respectable 7/10. The environments are nicely detailed, but character animations and textures could use a touch more refinement to match the rest of the experience.

On the bright side, Bellwright is well-priced for the amount of content it offers. Mods expand the possibilities even further, and the co-op gameplay is where it truly comes alive. Playing with a group adds a whole new layer of fun and strategic coordination.

Final Thoughts:
Bellwright is already a strong entry into the medieval survival-builder genre, and with a few key updates - especially to AI, combat tactics, and troop progression. It has the potential to be a standout title. It’s a solid buy for fans of city-building and cooperative gameplay, especially if you're looking for something with long-term potential.

Rating: 7.8/10 – A medieval sandbox with heart, waiting for its final polish.