Empirestead

Empirestead is a cozy medieval farming life sim in the village of Ashford. You take on Grey Croft, a tired holding in the shadow of the lord's castle, and the year unfolds at its own pace.

A year on the croft

• Till, plant, and bring the harvest in as the seasons turn

• Keep cows, sheep, pigs, hens, and a horse, each in its own pen

• Fish the river, and cut through the ice when winter closes the water

• Fell timber, work the mine, and turn what you gather into goods to sell

• Walk to the Sunday market, then home before dark

Ashford around you

The village has its own calendar. Market day, the river, the old mill, Shepherd's Lea, and the castle gate. Festivals mark the turn of the year. Neighbors ask for a hand, and the way you answer stays with them.

Grey Croft becomes home in small ways: a dog at the gate, a cat by the hearth, mornings that wait for you.

The autumn tax

Once a year the lord's ledger comes due. Settle it in full, carry a debt, or put something toward the village. The croft goes on. What changes is your standing in Ashford, and how much the place feels like yours.