A Labor of Love
Hello, my name is Dom, and for close to a year now, I’ve been working on Knight Estate, a game where you play as a medieval knight in 1300s–1400s Europe. Through a hilarious bureaucratic blunder, your character accidentally becomes a lord. From there, you’ll manage land, make friends and foes, start a family, and build a dynasty that (hopefully) lasts more than a century.
Addressing the Elephant in the Room
Okay, yes Knight Estate is a mobile game still in development. And I get it, that combination might make some people skeptical. Most mobile games don’t exactly have the best reputation, even when they’re “finished.”
And presently, Knight Estate may still feel rough around the edges.
But here’s the thing: I didn’t make this game just to throw another half-baked title onto the Google Play Store or App Store. I made it to solve two problems I know a lot of strategy game players have faced: the lack of portable, high-quality, quickly accessible strategy games.
I wanted to capture the spark of games like Crusader Kings and Stronghold Crusader, and bring that experience to mobile. That’s no small task, and I knew it wouldn’t be easy. But I also knew it would be worth it.
From Artist to Game Developer
Before Knight Estate, I was just an artist (and still am). Some of you might even recognize me from one of Hive’s finest projects. If you dig deep enough, you’ll figure it out.
When I started last year, I had zero coding experience. But over the past 11 months, I’ve taught myself most of the skills I needed to bring this game to life. It’s been a long journey, and the game is still a work in progress. That’s why the loading screen clearly states: “This game is still under development.” I won’t call it finished until players are genuinely satisfied.
You can try Knight Estate now on the Play Store, with an iOS version coming soon.
Your Chance to Leave a Mark
A few months ago, I introduced “Become a Champion”, a way for players to permanently join the world of Knight Estate as in-game characters. I reserved 100 slots, and some have already been claimed.
It’s a paid feature, but as part of this giveaway, here’s how it works for you:
- Follow this blog (it’s only a few days old).
- Email me your Hive username at knightestategame@gmail.com.
The deadline is on 16th May.
The selection will be completely random. If you’re picked, I’ll personally illustrate your character, either based on your description or your likeness (your choice). You’ll appear in the game’s tournament section as one of the “Champions”, formidable AI(game AI) opponents with your chosen name and character design displayed proudly.
Just so you know: all 100 Champions will remain in the game forever, no matter what platform we release on in the future.
Why Hive?
Hive is where my art career truly began almost five years ago. I’ve met incredible people here, including the company I still work with today. I probably would have never made *Knight Estate* or gotten into game development if the stars hadn’t aligned the way they did.
That’s why I’m giving three people from this community a free chance to leave a permanent mark in Knight Estate. This is a world I plan to expand for years and I want you to be a part of it.
Join the Community
Want to be part of our growing community?
Join the Discord here.
See you there!