I’m in love with a forge

As someone who invested countless hours into Untitled Studio’s first project, InnkeeperI knew that the likelihood that I would be excited about a forge-themed sequel was pretty high. I have always loved forge content – from playing The Sims: Medieval to decide to marry Balimund, in any Skyrim Play through to tell everyone within earshot that my goal for 2024 is to make a knife.

I am exactly the target group for Master Blacksmithand even I never imagined how much I would fall in love with this game.

The Master Blacksmith Demo is a snazzy, fast-paced affair with a simple premise: make stuff, sell stuff, prosper. Just like its predecessor, you’re tasked with creating a legacy. As you build everything from metal mugs to wooden pitchforks, players will need to hire fellow blacksmiths, assistants, cashiers, and more. Finally, expanding your shop is crucial as you take on increasingly larger orders.

For a demo, it’s surprisingly comprehensive. The music, ambience, colors, and mood are all spot on, and although the world still feels a little empty – which will no doubt be fixed in Early Access, as Innkeeper goes almost entirely in the opposite direction – it is pleasantly impressive.

Sometimes, when the music and atmosphere are just right, I like to have a game running next to me while I work or write for fun. Master Blacksmith definitely meets these requirements and I have found that I absentmindedly enjoy the atmosphere even when I am not actively playing.

The snippet we saw in this demo is only a fraction of what the game promised. In the announcement trailer from last year, we saw the mining feature as part of Master BlacksmithCore gameplay – an element that didn’t make it into the demo. Instead, we’ll focus primarily on the comings and goings in the store itself. The ore that the assistants laboriously smelt currently comes from a nearby warehouse.

It will be interesting to see how this feature is incorporated, as it seems to be set in a completely different location (unless there are unexpected mines deep beneath the city). Giving players a new place to explore would be a great way to expand the world – something I would have loved in Innkeeper.

In addition, we were only able to explore a fraction of the possible items we can unlock, Master Blacksmith Progression. Higher skills unlock higher quality items and a variety of ores to work with. It already looks like the game will have a breadth that I’m keen to delve into when it’s fully released.

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Games like Master Blacksmith. I very easily find myself falling into an almost lethargic state as I painstakingly complete mini-games in each section of the crafting process (a welcome addition, as simple as they are). As someone who tends to have an all-or-nothing attention span, Master Blacksmith has me completely under control – I’m in.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t some elements that could be polished up – some unrefined ore, if I may. The instructions aren’t always clear, some of the design isn’t particularly intuitive and – as was my main criticism of Innkeeper – there is no way to simply move a wall if you want to move. You have to tear the whole thing down and build a new one.

While I understand that this can add to the realism of the game – you can’t just push a wall back a few feet in the real world – I think that games like The Sims have spoiled players a bit in terms of maneuverability in games like this.

Why did they make the titular blacksmith so hot?

not how Innkeeperwhere you act as an all-knowing ruler, Master Blacksmith you take on the role of a real little guy who takes a much more active part in the forging process. You still control what happens in the workshop – from hiring and firing to deciding which orders to accept – but you also have the opportunity to physically create the items yourself.

This is where I’m going to lose some of you, I know I know. I know this because I’ve lost a lot of friends here ranting about this game. But I’m going to say it anyway because I live my truth: Despite his limited pixels, the default character is a disproportionately hot blacksmith.

With burly arms, rolled-up sleeves, a beard, and a topknot, I’d say it’s clear that developer Luka Glavonjić of Untitled Studio is trying to create a very specific mood—and that mood works.

According to the Tavern & Blacksmith Master Discord server, Glavonjić intends to introduce some level of character customization at some point, but to that I say (at least personally): no thanks. I will persevere with this great blacksmith – just like I persevered with Balimund. In every run, in every life.

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When can we expect Blacksmith Master Early Access?

If you’re as impatient as I am, you’re probably wondering how soon we’ll get more of the game into our grubby little hands. Thankfully, we’re not alone – and others are already wondering this. In Discord, Glavonjić responded to a similar question: “Currently, the plan is to release the Early Access version very soon.”

“For InnkeeperI left the demo in June (called TM – Prologue) straight to the full release in November (no early access),” said Glavonjić. “Then I spent 2 years producing new content and updates, so I feel I should have done early access and properly communicated what I was working on and when.”

“For this game, I am planning an Early Access that will contain more content than TM and then commit to 1-2 more years of development before the proper full release… I think it’s very important to involve the community when you’re a solo developer,” Glavonjić said. “I get really biased over time.”