Hooded Horse Announces Train Roguelike Fogpiercer

Hooded Horse, known for publishing Manor Lords and the upcoming Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, has announced its next game: Fogpiercer. This train-based roguelike adds yet another genre to their expanding catalog.

So far, details about Fogpiercer are limited. However, this announcement shows Hooded Horse’s commitment to supporting mid-tier games across various genres. They’ve successfully backed everything from the medieval city-builder Manor Lords to turn-based fantasy strategy games, and now they’re venturing into roguelikes. Hooded Horse has earned a reputation for betting on smaller studios and allowing them to pursue ambitious ideas.

Manor Lords, created by solo developer Slavic Magic, launched in Early Access on April 26, 2024. It acts as Hooded Horse’s flagship title. The game made a splash at launch, achieving one of the biggest Early Access debuts in recent memory. Currently, it boasts an impressive 87% positive rating from 43,277 Steam reviews, priced at $39.99. Yet, player numbers have dropped significantly — now around 3,600 concurrent players, down from launch peaks.

This decline in player count coincides with rising community dissatisfaction. Recent negative reviews highlight balance problems and a perceived lack of emphasis on core gameplay. Some critics within the community argue that development efforts have prioritized visual polish over gameplay mechanics. One reviewer noted that very few players have actually finished a full game. Whether Slavic Magic can address these issues in future updates will be crucial for reviving Manor Lords’ active player base before interest dwindles.

For Hooded Horse, launching Fogpiercer is a forward-thinking move, regardless of Manor Lords’ current situation. The roguelike genre has shown lasting commercial success — games like Slay the Spire and Hades continue to sell well years after their release. Plus, a train-based setting provides a unique angle in a crowded market. No release date or developer credits for Fogpiercer have been announced yet.

By The Numbers — Manor Lords on Steam

Steam Review Score	87% Positive
Total Reviews	43,277
Current Price	$39.99
Current Concurrent Players	3,633
Early Access Launch Date	April 26, 2024

Community feelings about Manor Lords have noticeably changed since its launch. One Steam reviewer expressed: “Janky as hell. Unbalanced bc the dev is not focusing on making a fun game, the focus is placed on vanity. Such a small amount of players have won any game lol. DO NOT BUY, at least until a major patch.” This sentiment reflects a wider trend in recent reviews, where players recognize the game’s visual ambition but question if its systems are keeping up.

What To Watch

• Fogpiercer reveal details: Keep an eye out for a developer announcement, Steam page, or trailer that reveals the studio behind the project and a target release window. These will be key to understanding if this aligns with Hooded Horse’s usual mid-tier publishing approach.
• Manor Lords patch cadence: The next major update from Slavic Magic is crucial. If they don’t address balance and progression issues, the game could lose traction before it fully launches.
• Hooded Horse’s broader slate: With Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era and Fogpiercer in the works alongside Manor Lords, the publisher is expanding its portfolio across diverse genres. As that list grows, execution risks also increase.