Ancient Savo

Ancient Savo is an open-ended survival and resource-management game about raising a family in the woodlands of Savo, in Eastern Finland in 1200 CE. You farm, hunt, fish and forage to feed your family, build a cabin for the cold winters, and teach skills to your children. As they grow up, they can start homesteads of their own, expanding your clan.

Establish a homestead

A young family rows up local waterways into remote woodland, carrying essential tools in search of a peaceful place to settle. Fishing, hunting and foraging provide food, while clearing trees and burning them leaves ash that makes the soil fertile. Agriculture takes work, but a good harvest can feed the family through the long, dark winter. Children need more food, learn skills from their parents as they grow, and eventually can marry and start families of their own.

Manage time and work

Time passes in weeks, with years flowing smoothly enough to show building projects advancing and the family growing. Harsh weather can ruin crops, and accidents can cause injuries. There is no combat: cold, hunger and accidents are the only enemies. You manage the family's time, balancing long workdays that can finish a house sooner against the greater risk of accidents from working while tired. A slower pace can leave the family at risk of cold when autumn arrives.

Family members handle many tasks routinely. You can adjust how many hours they spend on household chores, basic maintenance, parenting, resting and foraging; the remaining time is available for tasks you assign, including crafting, building, farming and hunting. You can grow linen, spin yarn, weave textiles and make clothes; dig clay for pottery; fire a kiln to make charcoal; and gather bog iron to produce ingots and forge spearheads and other essential tools.

Family and trade

Once a year, you can choose to attend a market and barter for tools and farm animals. When children grow up, you can continue as one of your offspring, either staying to support the older generation or leaving to establish a new homestead. As the clan grows, you can choose which family to play as, or play as the spirits of deceased ancestors.

Stories and maps

Some events are presented as short, text-based stories with choices that affect how they unfold. You can view the game map in either 2D or 3D and switch between the views while playing.

Modding

The flexible modding system uses XML text files. You can modify or add items, animals, ailments, crafting recipes and tasks, as well as write custom stories. Graphics and UI appearances can also be modded, and you can add 3D models in GLB or GLTF format.