About the game

The idea

Alardon takes the best of the games we love: the free party and living kingdoms of Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, the deep settlement building of Manor Lords and Stronghold, and the large tactical battles of Total War.

There is no scripted campaign. Stories are born from the connection of geography, economy and people: a captured pass changes the supply of armies, a burned granary changes the price of bread.

You lead a House

You play a family — a House with a name, a coat of arms, characters, lands, armies, a treasury and a reputation. You personally lead the party of your main character across the map.

Everything else is run by relatives, companions and governors. Each of them can be trusted with work you do not enjoy — at a small cost in efficiency.

Six favorite roles

Builder, traveler, ruler, commander, trader and bandit. Every player has a part of the game where they can spend most of their time without boredom, and a House of six different people is stronger than a House of six copies.

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  BuilderRaise a village into a city: roads, fields, workshops, walls. Watch your people live and work.
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  TravelerLead your own party over the map, find ruins, fords and lands nobody has seen.
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  RulerGather vassals, pass laws, sign treaties and win wars without a single battle.
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  CommanderChoose the hill, flank the enemy and break the line with your cavalry.
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  TraderBuy salt by the sea, sell it in the mountains, and keep your caravans alive.
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  BanditAmbush caravans on the forest road, hide in the hills and live by the law of the blade — until the lords come for your head.

A broken world

Thirteen centuries ago the Alardon Empire ruled the whole continent. Then came the Ashen Year, three springless years, and the empire crumbled. Its roads, aqueducts and ruins still stand.

Now it is the 31st year of the Crownless: the high king died without an heir, the capital burned and the First King’s Crown is lost. Kingdoms, bandits, knightly orders and mercenaries fight for what is left — and new Houses rise from nothing. Who will gather the lands, nobody knows.

Battles

Fight as a commander (real-time strategy view) or as a hero (third person). Archers, infantry, cavalry, siege engines — with orders, formations and terrain that decides the outcome.

On a PC up to five thousand warriors per side can fight on screen; on a phone the battle is scaled down so it stays smooth, and the rest of the army arrives in waves from the rear.

Settlements and economy

Found a village, grow it into a town or a castle: houses, fields, workshops, warehouses, walls and towers. Your people need food, work and festivals; the seasons and the winter matter.

Goods move along roads in caravans between markets. Prices are set by the world — and by the war outside the gates.

Free and fair

The game is free to play. Purchases only change looks and convenience — a House name, a coat of arms, cosmetics. They never give troops, resources, money, speed, protection or stats. Construction is never sped up for money.

The world is safe but not empty: attacking another player needs a legitimate reason, new Houses are protected, and there is no permanent death.

Questions and answers