Mandate Order

Mandate Order is an Early Access city builder and strategy game set in ancient China, drawing heavy inspiration from Manor Lords, with many players noting near-identical mechanics and UI. While some criticize it as a clone, others appreciate its unique Chinese aesthetic and distinct military focus, portraying a large military camp rather than a traditional city. The game emphasizes managing a population that doubles as soldiers and workers, with resource gathering tied closely to map locations and a complex economy involving logistics and crafting.

Players praise the game's scale, atmosphere, and music, highlighting the developers' commitment to the setting and ongoing improvements. However, common concerns include slow pacing, lack of building upgrades, UI and pathfinding quirks, limited building variety, and balance issues. Combat is more developed than Manor Lords but still feels somewhat basic. Despite bugs and optimization problems, many see strong potential if the developers continue polishing and expanding the game.

Highlights

Players particularly praise the unique ancient Chinese art style and setting, which offers a refreshing alternative to European medieval themes. The game's large-scale military mechanics and army customization stand out as deeper than comparable titles. Many enjoy the immersive atmosphere created by detailed visuals, massive trees, and a soothing, culturally inspired soundtrack. The logistics system and resource management receive positive notes for complexity, and the developers' responsiveness and roadmap inspire optimism about future content and polish.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the game feeling like a less polished clone of Manor Lords, with many mechanics lacking depth or progression. Players find the building system tedious due to manual rotation and lack of upgrades, and the UI can be hard to navigate. The population and resource gathering pace is slow, sometimes leading to frustration. Combat, while more detailed, lacks tactical nuance and can feel repetitive. Bugs, optimization issues, and an underdeveloped tutorial system further detract from the experience. Some players also note a lack of variety in buildings and an overall absence of city atmosphere.