Gamescom 2025 is right around the corner (August 20–24). Before diving into that, we’re giving one last push to some of the highlights from Gamescom 2024. This time: Nested Lands. A medieval RPG developed by 1M Bits Horde and published by META Publishing.
A warm welcome
When I arrived, I sat down at a table with two controllers. First up was Biped 2, a genuinely fun and well-made game. But of course, I was really here for Nested Lands. I didn’t get to play it myself, but I was guided through the game in a really solid way.
The game
Nested Lands is a medieval RPG that blends settlement-building with social management and combat. You search for survivors to bring into your settlement, but keeping them alive means constantly providing the resources they need. You build a settlement, gather materials, and expand. The game can be played solo or in online co-op. The game takes place in a dark world where the plague has broken out. While exploring, you stumble upon people recently deceased, or even worse, deranged bandits. Survival depends not only on your own skills but also on how well you manage and grow your settlement. Your village supports you in return.
Farmers help gather resources, craft items, and build defenses, while you protect them from outside threats. Each villager can be assigned specific roles, but every choice has consequences. Your town can flourish or collapse entirely. Harsh weather and the looming winter can ruin your plans. A shortage of medicine could wipe out your people even faster. The game also features upgradeable buildings and gear so you can fully customize your settlement.
What excites me
This is exactly what makes me excited for the game. Many titles have attempted this formula but too often they fail to hook players or push you to drop the game before even reaching the 10-hour mark. I also liked that the plague actually plays a meaningful role. You cannot just linger in heavily infected zones, and you need to burn contaminated corpses to protect your people. My only worry is whether NPC balancing will hold up. In many games NPCs end up either too weak or far too overpowered. I am hyped and cannot wait to finally get my hands on it. Interested after reading our preview? The demo is available online now!
A big thank you to the team for the invitation. It was a fantastic experience!
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