Building an empire isn’t easy—especially when you start with nothing but a stick and a vendetta. Bellwright, an open-world survival RPG from Donkey Crew, puts players in the role of an outlawed rebel fighting to reclaim their homeland. With an intricate settlement system, large-scale battles, and deep automation mechanics, Bellwright feels like a natural evolution of Mount & Blade and Valheim, with a bit of RimWorld strategy thrown in for good measure.
From Outlaw to Leader
The core premise of Bellwright revolves around reclaiming the land from an oppressive regime. As a fugitive framed for a crime you didn’t commit, you must gather allies, build a settlement, and wage war against the Queen’s forces. The game starts small—chopping wood, scavenging supplies, and slowly erecting your first structures—but quickly escalates into managing a bustling village with specialized workers, supply chains, and defensive strategies.
Every action feels meaningful. As you gain trust from nearby towns, their villagers will defect to your side, swelling your ranks and expanding your operations. Automation plays a key role here: once you set up foraging camps, farms, and blacksmiths, your settlers will handle production, freeing you up to focus on grander strategies. The end goal? To raise an army, overthrow the Queen’s rule, and restore freedom to the land.
Hands-On With a Living, Breathing World
Bellwright’s world is dynamic, reacting to your actions in real-time. Bandit raids increase in frequency if you leave their camps unchecked, while liberated towns bolster your militia and economy. The game’s tech tree is surprisingly deep, spanning multiple tiers of settlement growth. Starting with basic shelters and workshops, you’ll eventually construct sprawling fortresses, complete with trade routes and outposts.
Combat feels deliberate and skill-based, with a directional melee system akin to Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Whether you’re storming enemy encampments or defending your town from an onslaught, the game lets you directly lead troops into battle. Squad commands allow for strategic positioning, and outfitting your recruits with proper gear can mean the difference between victory and disaster.
With co-op support for up to four players, Bellwright also lets friends drop in to assist with settlement management, raids, and exploration. It’s the kind of game where teamwork can lead to massive, satisfying payoffs—like coordinating defenses during a large-scale enemy siege or orchestrating trade routes across multiple villages.
Final Thoughts
After spending time with Bellwright, it’s clear that it has the potential to be a standout in the survival RPG genre. Its blend of settlement management, tactical combat, and emergent storytelling gives it a depth rarely seen in similar games. The upcoming updates, including animal husbandry, expanded questlines, and an eventual modding toolkit, promise even more reasons to dive in.
If you’ve ever wanted to lead a rebellion, build a kingdom from scratch, or just watch a small village evolve into a thriving empire, Bellwright should be on your radar.
