Monastery: Ora et Labora News

[p]Hello Abbesses and Abbots,[/p][p]Our very first public playtest has officially come to an end, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. A huge thank you to everyone who joined, played, and shared feedback with us!🙏[/p][p]📊 Here’s a look at the playtest in numbers:[/p]

• [p]380+ players joined the playtest.[/p]

• [p]Our most dedicated testers logged 200+ minutes of gameplay (some couldn’t stop playing 😅)[/p]
• [p]The game received an average rating of 4/5—a strong start, with plenty of room to grow.[/p]

• [p]20+ feature requests were submitted, many of which are already in our backlog[/p]

[p]💡 Some of your most-requested ideas included:[/p]

• [p]Automating dirt cleaning 🧹[/p]
• [p]Adjusting balance—currently it’s a little too easy to make money (our generous worshippers make big donations!).[/p]
• [p]Expanding ties with the local community through events, requests, and more.[/p]

[h3]What’s next?[/h3][p]Over the coming months, we’ll be focusing on:[/p]

• [p]Refining balance and progression[/p]
• [p]Improving tutorials for a smoother onboarding[/p]
• [p]Adding quality-of-life improvements[/p]
• [p]Developing exciting new features 👀[/p]

[p]Once again, thank you for your incredible support. Keep following our journey—and if you haven’t already, don’t forget to add us to your Steam wishlist to stay updated on the next big milestones![/p][p]Dragonkin Studios[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]Great news Abbots and Abbesses![/p][p]Our game Monastery: Ora et Labora has been selected for the DevGAMM Awards 2025 – Community Vote![/p][p]Help us win! Voting is quick and simple:[/p]

1. [p]Go to https://devgamm.fillout.com/community-vote2025[/p]
2. [p]Log in with your email.[/p]
3. [p]Find Monastery: Ora et Labora in the list and submit your vote.[/p]

[p]You can also share the link with friends to help spread the word.[/p][p]Please note: one vote per email, and voting closes on October 5.[/p][p]In the meanwhile our public playtest is going on and will remain open until 5:00 PM on September 15 (CEST). Don’t miss the chance to try the game for free before it closes![/p][p]Thank you very much for every vote. It means a lot! 🙏[/p][p][/p][p]Dragonkin Studios team,[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]Dear Abbots and Abbesses,[/p][p]The wait is over – our public playtest is now LIVE![/p][p]This is your chance to step inside your very own medieval monastery, manage the monks, and experience life in a world where prayer and labor go hand in hand.[/p][p][/p][h3]🎮What’s in the Playtest?[/h3]

• [p]Manage your monks’ daily schedule between prayer, work, and rest. [/p]
• [p]Produce goods like wheat, honey, manuscripts and beer.[/p]
• [p]Build up your monastery’s economy and meet the community's requests.[/p][p][/p]

[h3]🛠️ How to Join the Playtest[/h3][p]For information on how to join the playtest, follow the instructions in our previous article:[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p][/p][p]Dear Abbots and Abbesses,[/p][p]We are excited to announce that the first public playtest for Monastery: Ora et Labora is almost here!
Starting today, you can request access directly on our Steam page using the green “Request Access” button. Access will be granted in one week, so make sure to sign up early![/p][p][/p][h3]🛠️ How to Join the Playtest[/h3]

1. [p]Head over to our steam page[/p]
2. [p]Click the “Request Access” button under the Playtest section.[/p]
3. [p]Wait until we approve access (in about a week).[/p]
4. [p]Once approved, you’ll be able to download and play the test build![/p]

[hr][/hr][h3]💬 How to Share Feedback[/h3][p]Your thoughts are vital in shaping the monastery’s future! After playing, you can:[/p]

• [p]Post in the Playtest Feedback section of our Steam Community.[/p]
• [p]Join our Discord Community[/p]
• [p]Fill out our playtest feedback form (the link is within the game)[/p]

[hr][/hr][h3]🙏 Wishlist & Support[/h3][p]If you enjoy what you play, the best way to support us is to:[/p]

• [p]Wishlist Monastery: Ora et Labora on Steam – it really helps spread the word.[/p]
• [p]Share the playtest with friends who enjoy strategy/management games.[/p]
• [p]Join our Discord to be part of our growing community of faithful testers![/p]

[hr][/hr][h3]❓ FAQ[/h3][p]Q: When will the playtest start?[/p][p]A: You can request access now. Access will be granted in one week.[/p][p]Q: How long will the playtest last?[/p][p]A: We’ll keep it open for a limited time (details will be shared once it starts).[/p][p]Q: Is progress saved?[/p][p]A: Progress will not carry over to the final release, but you’re free to play as much as you like during the test.[/p][p]Q: What languages are available in the playtest?[/p][p]A: During the playtest, only English and Italian will be available. The final release of the game will also include: German, French, Spanish, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese.[/p][p]Q: Can I stream or make a video based on this build?[/p][p]A: Of course, you are free to stream or make videos about the game, but please mention that it is a playtest version and still a work in progress. Feel free to tag us on social media, we would be happy to share your work![/p][p]Q: Is this playtest build representative of the final version?[/p][p]A: This playtest is an early look at Monastery: Ora et Labora. While it already contains the core gameplay, it’s not fully representative of the final game. Some features, balance, and content will evolve as we continue development. One of the main goals of this playtest is to gather your feedback, so your experience and suggestions can directly help shape the final version.[/p][p]Q: Will there be controller support?[/p][p]A: Currently, the playtest supports keyboard and mouse only. Controller support may be added later.[/p][hr][/hr][p]We can’t wait to welcome you inside the monastery walls.[/p][p]Thank you for helping us shape the future of Monastery: Ora et Labora![/p][p]Dragonkin Studios Team[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]Greetings, Abbesses and Abbots![/p][p]We’re excited to announce that Monastery: Ora et Labora is officially featured in Debut Festival 2025 thanks to the team of Gamedev.ist! 🥳[/p][p]It’s a huge honor to be showcased alongside so many incredible games, and we can’t wait for more players to discover the peaceful (and sometimes unpredictable) life inside a medieval monastery.[/p][p]But that’s not all, we’re also preparing something special for you...[/p][p][/p][h3]🔔 A public playtest will open in about two weeks! 🔔[/h3][p]You’ll soon have the chance to step into the sandals of an abbot, guide your monks through prayer and labor, and oversee the production of goods like honey, barley, and sacred texts.[/p][p]This playtest will be your first hands-on experience with the game, and your feedback will help shape its development as we move toward release.[/p][p][/p][h3]📅 Stay tuned — we’ll announce the exact date very soon![/h3][p]In the meantime, don’t forget to wishlist and follow the game to stay updated.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Thank you for your support![/p][p]Dragonkin Studios Team[/p]