Norland vs. Clanfolk: Which Medieval Strategy Game is Right for You?
If you’re a fan of medieval strategy games, you’ve probably come across both Norland vs Clanfolk. On the surface, these games might seem quite similar—both set in historical, survival-focused worlds with a heavy emphasis on family management.
But once you dive deeper, you’ll notice that each game brings its own unique twist to the genre. Having spent considerable time in both, I’m here to break down what sets Norland and Clanfolk apart, and help you figure out which game might be the better fit for you.
A Tale of Two Approaches: Politics vs. Survival
The first major difference between Norland and Clanfolk lies in their core focus. While both games put you in control of a family trying to make it through difficult circumstances, the challenges you face are quite different.
Norland: Family Drama Meets Political Power
In Norland, you are the head of a noble family tasked with not only managing your dynasty but also running a medieval kingdom. Your decisions affect both your family and the broader kingdom, from building armies to forging alliances or even committing political assassinations. It’s a game that blends strategy with diplomacy and personal politics.
Each of your family members has their own unique personality traits, ambitions, and relationships, and how you manage them can either stabilize or completely destabilize your rule.
One of the most memorable moments I had in Norland involved an internal family dispute. I had assigned my eldest son to handle military affairs, but his younger brother, jealous and ambitious, began to plot behind his back.
When I didn’t intervene in time, the kingdom was thrown into chaos. It’s moments like these that make Norland feel less like a simple strategy game and more like a dynamic story generator.
Norland is for players who enjoy political intrigue, managing relationships, and balancing the pressures of ruling a kingdom. It’s a game where your actions have consequences, and those consequences are felt not just within your family, but across your entire realm.
Clanfolk: Survival in the Scottish Highlands
Clanfolk, on the other hand, is much more focused on survival. Set in the rugged Scottish Highlands, the game revolves around ensuring your family has enough food, shelter, and resources to survive the changing seasons. It’s all about small-scale management—building homes, farming, hunting, and crafting tools to keep your family alive through the harsh winters.
Unlike Norland, which throws you into the chaos of medieval politics, Clanfolk is all about survival and resource management. It’s incredibly rewarding to see your family thrive after months of careful planning and hard work.
However, if you’re not careful, one bad winter can wipe out all your progress. I’ve had more than a few runs where I forgot to stockpile enough food or firewood, and come winter, my entire clan was shivering (and starving) in their poorly built house.
Clanfolk is for players who enjoy slow, methodical gameplay, focused more on crafting and survival than managing political or personal power struggles. If you’re someone who loves games like Banished or RimWorld—where the primary focus is on the day-to-day survival of your people—then Clanfolk will scratch that itch.
Family Dynamics: Control vs. Chaos
Both games put a strong emphasis on managing family dynamics, but they approach it in different ways.
In Norland, your family members often have their own agendas, ambitions, and secrets, which can lead to complex internal politics. You have some control over them, but not complete. They might marry into rival families, betray you, or scheme behind your back, and how you handle these situations will affect your reign. This makes Norland feel unpredictable, but also incredibly immersive. The family drama isn’t just flavor—it’s a key part of the gameplay.
In contrast, Clanfolk is more straightforward. You’re in control of every member of your family, and while they may have different skills and personalities, they’re not actively plotting against each other. The focus is more on keeping them fed, warm, and healthy. It’s less about navigating family rivalries and more about making sure your family survives the next harsh winter.
Family Management in Norland:
Internal Politics and Betrayal: Your family members have their own ambitions, and managing their relationships is crucial.
Strategic Marriages and Alliances: Marry into other noble families to secure alliances or gain power, but beware of betrayals.
Long-Term Storytelling: Every decision ripples through the generations, creating a narrative that feels personal and unpredictable.
Family Management in Clanfolk:
Survival is Key: Your focus is on keeping your family members alive and healthy, with a strong emphasis on resource management.
Straightforward Control: You’re the one making decisions, and while your family’s well-being depends on those decisions, there’s no underlying ambition or betrayal to worry about.
Crafting and Building: Family members help with tasks like farming, hunting, and building, which are crucial for long-term survival.
Gameplay Focus: Storytelling vs. Resource Management
Norland and Clanfolk are both about managing families, but how you do that is very different. In Norland, you’re constantly balancing story-driven gameplay. The drama within your family and kingdom often leads to emergent narratives where things can spiral out of control, or you can scheme and plot your way to power.
For example, one decision to execute a nobleman might lead to a revolt, or promoting the wrong family member could cost you your kingdom.
In Clanfolk, the story takes a backseat to survival and resource management. Your goal is to ensure that your family has enough food, shelter, and resources to last through each season. There’s a lot of satisfaction in building up a small settlement and watching it thrive, but it’s more about efficiency and careful planning than creating complex narratives.
The game leans heavily into the crafting aspect, where you need to make tools, hunt for food, and ensure that you’ve prepared adequately for winter.
Visuals and Atmosphere: Realism vs. Charm
The visual styles of Norland and Clanfolk reflect their core gameplay mechanics.
Norland goes for a more gritty, realistic tone. The art style is detailed, bringing to life the harsh reality of medieval life. The mood is serious, reflecting the game's themes of power, betrayal, and political intrigue. If you’re looking for a game that immerses you in the brutal world of medieval politics, Norland does a great job of capturing that tone.
Clanfolk, on the other hand, has a more charming, rustic feel. Its art style is softer, more cartoonish, and cozy, which pairs nicely with the slower-paced, survival-based gameplay. It’s not that the game is easy—survival can be punishing—but the visual style makes it feel a little more welcoming, even when your family is facing dire straits.
Conclusion: Norland vs. Clanfolk
So, which game should you pick? It all depends on what you’re looking for.
If you enjoy deep political strategy, complex family dynamics, and emergent storytelling, then Norland is your game.
It’s perfect for players who love games like Crusader Kings III, where power struggles and political machinations take center stage. The unpredictability and drama of your noble family’s rise—or fall—makes every playthrough different.
On the other hand, if you prefer a more methodical, survival-focused game where resource management and planning are key, then Clanfolk is a better fit. It’s ideal for fans of RimWorld or Banished, where the challenge lies in keeping your family alive and thriving in a harsh environment.
The satisfaction of building a working, self-sustaining homestead is what makes Clanfolk shine.
Either way, both games offer something special for strategy fans, and if you’re a lover of medieval settings, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in either one.
