Bellwright is a medieval survival RPG that combines elements of action, strategy, and simulation in an open-world setting. Released in early access on PC, this game casts you as a framed exile leading a rebellion against a tyrannical crown, all while managing settlements and commanding forces in a harsh, unforgiving kingdom.
Gameplay
In Bellwright, the core loop revolves around survival mechanics where you gather resources, hunt for food, build structures, and craft items to endure the environment. Exploration plays a key role, as you travel across the land to uncover secrets and face threats beyond just the royal army, such as brigands. Combat is skill-based and directional, allowing you to wield medieval weapons like swords, axes, polearms, and bows, with an emphasis on timing and positioning.
Settlement management adds depth, letting you establish and expand outposts by assigning workers, upgrading buildings, and organizing resources. As you liberate villages from the crown's control, you recruit followers who bring unique skills, enhancing your rebellion's capabilities in crafting, technology, and military strength. Army command involves leading squads in battles, using tactics to outmaneuver enemies and grow your influence.
Progression is tied to skill improvements in combat, survival, and crafting, alongside training recruits to become master craftsmen or elite soldiers. The story unfolds through RPG elements, where you investigate your family's secrets and the prince's murder, blending narrative quests with open-ended gameplay.
Game Modes
Bellwright supports single-player mode, where you handle the rebellion solo, managing all aspects from resource collection to large-scale battles. It also features co-op play for up to four players, enabling friends to join in building settlements, exploring the world, and fighting together against common foes.
No competitive modes like PvP are present; the focus remains on cooperative survival and strategic conquest against AI-controlled enemies, such as the crown's forces and roaming brigands.
Current State and Updates
As of early 2026, Bellwright remains in early access, with developers releasing updates to refine mechanics and add content. A new update in January 2026 introduced fresh adventures and improvements, addressing player feedback on underdeveloped aspects like time pressure in gameplay.
These updates have expanded settlement options and combat tactics, keeping the game evolving based on community input from platforms like Reddit.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player reception highlights Bellwright's strengths in blending survival building with RPG storytelling, with one user logging 500 hours and praising its enjoyment despite some areas feeling underdeveloped. Another with over 130 hours calls it worth buying for fans of games like Mount & Blade mixed with settlement sims.
If you enjoy strategic rebellion-building, medieval combat, and co-op survival in an open world, Bellwright offers solid value in its current early access form, especially with ongoing updates. However, those seeking high time pressure or fully polished features might wait for further refinements. It's a strong pick for patient players who like deep progression systems and tactical army management.
