Jarl – Norse Fantasy Colony Builder Game

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Discord Community Screenshots from Playtest 1

What is Jarl?

Jarl is a fantasy colony simulator game that combines open-world exploration with the management of a Viking settlement in a harsh, mythical land. Inspired by games like Valheim, RimWorld, Terraria, The Majesty, and The Kingdom, it features open-world exploration, base building, resource management, crafting, boss fights, interactions with autonomous NPCs, combat, trading, and more.

Does Jarl have a Steam page?

Steam page is coming soon. I'm aiming for the end of 2024 or early 2025.

Will there be demo versions available?

Jarl will offer three demo versions, one for each playtest phase. The first tech demo will be available to the Discord community in 2024, with a public demo planned for the second half of 2025.

When will Jarl be released?

Currently in pre-alpha, Jarl is targeted for a 2025-2026 release. Three playtests are scheduled to focus on various mechanics, with a public alpha set for H2 2025.

How can I participate in Playtests?

Please join our Discord for the instructions.

What engine or framework does Jarl use?

Jarl is built with the Bevy game engine (v0.11.x) using Rust. It utilizes Bevy’s ECS, Asset Manager, UI, Input, Winit, Text, Render Graph, and other core plugins, along with community plugins like Hanabi, ECS Tilemap, Tweening, and Rapier. The custom renderer uses Bevy’s render graph with a custom lighting system and 2D pipeline.

Is Jarl open source?

While Jarl is not open source, some components of the lighting system are available on GitHub under the Apache-2.0 license. More core system components may be open-sourced in the future.

How many people work on Jarl?

Jarl is currently developed by a solo developer responsible for programming, design, art, sound, and marketing, with occasional support from external freelancers for tasks like music, sound effects, and pixel art.

What platforms will Jarl be released on?

Jarl will initially launch on Windows, macOS, Steam Deck, and Linux. Console ports may be considered based on release numbers. There are currently no plans for mobile or web versions.

Will Jarl have multiplayer?

Multiplayer is not currently planned, but it will be considered based on community interest after the core mechanics are finalized.

Where can I follow Jarl on social media?

You can stay updated on Jarl’s progress on these platforms:

Discord: https://www.jarl-game.com/discord
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jarl_game
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/jarlgame
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jarl-Game-com

What software do you use for making Jarl?

Most of Jarl is developed using Aseprite, FMOD, and Visual Studio Code or Zed. I also use LDTk and TileSetter occasionally.

I have an idea for Jarl! Where can I suggest it?

Join the Discord channel #your-ideas-and-suggestions to share ideas and feedback; all suggestions are reviewed.

How can I help with Jarl's development?

Currently, I'm looking for help with:

Steam page artwork (not pixel art).
Steam page copywriting.

In the future, I’ll also be seeking community management support.

Please contact me at jarl@jarl-game.com if you want to help.

How can I support the game’s development?

You can support Jarl by:

Joining the Discord community.
Following Jarl on social media.
Sharing the game with friends.
Participating in playtests.

I’m not accepting donations at the moment, but since the game is self-funded, I will consider it in the future.Please contact me at jarl@jarl-game.com if you have questions.

What are the minimum and recommended system requirements?

Jarl has been tested to work on:

Steam Deck
Apple M1 Pro and newer
Any modern PC with a GTX 1060 or better supporting Vulkan
Windows 11 or Ubuntu 24.04+ with X11

How long has Jarl been in development?

Development of Jarl began in early 2023, with initial experiments in Bevy starting in July 2022.

Roadmap

⚔️ Playtest 1

v0.1.4 Bug fixes & quality-of-life (QoL) improvements. <- We are here
v0.1.5 Potential additional QoL updates and fixes.
v0.2.0 New content + preview of the crafting system. Buildings and items will require materials, giving purpose to resource harvesting. Adding a crafting preview with a basic gameplay loop that includes harvesting and construction. Activating AI for monsters/animals, with periodic spawns for dynamic encounters. v0.2.1 QoL improvements + introduction of containers for storage.

🌍 Playtest 2

v0.3.x Steam Page launch. Steam Deck controller support. Vendor NPCs, preview of open-world exploration, more content, and an additional biome.
v0.4.x Save/Load system. Game menu + world generation.
v0.5.x Advanced crafting system. Introduction of ships for exploration.
v0.6.x - Colony management preview.

🏰 Playtest 3

v0.7.x More colony management features.
v0.8.x Character customization & progression preview.
v0.9.x Party management preview.

Jarl – Fantasy Colony Simulator

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