Nested Lands News

The winds of Norovellir are shifting, and with them comes a new update for Nested Lands Closed Alpha! This includes some additional features suggested by the community, as well as many bug fixes and an in-game “Report Bug” feature that should help us better understand any and all possible issues players are having!

See the full list below:

• Bug Report Feature by pressing F1;
  
• Players will now drop a bag with their inventory items on death;
  
• Added marker for the player’s death bag on the map;
  
• Improved all fonts in the game;
  
• Added the significant texts for the Daily Messages;
  
• Replaced the chest icon;
  
• Added localized subtitles to the narrative intro cinematic;
  
• Improved quest UI reading;
  
• Improved UI reading font details;
  
• Fixed a bug where the detection bar was displayed even after the NPC was dead;
  
• Fixed a bug where a Garden Bed may have yielded double items if the Player and Farmer harvested at the same time;
  
• Fixed an issue where invisible walls might appear while the player is crouching;
  
• Fixed the player’s animation while climbing stairs;
  
• Fixed an issue where villagers might get stuck in a sitting position;
  
• Fixed an issue with the Chinese font;
  
• Fixed an issue with fonts not changing in the main menu for different languages;
  
• Fixed an issue where the ‘Warming up’ and ‘Cold’ status effects could activate together;
  
• Fixed some localization issues on certain dialogues;
  

The Death Plague may be implacable, but so are you all! Thank you to all survivors who have provided valuable feedback these last few days, and keep it coming! 💀

As the Alpha test of Nested Lands approaches, we’re excited to share more about what awaits you in the first playable version of the game! You'll be among the first adventurers to explore the plague-ravaged wastelands of Norovellir and uncover its hidden mysteries. While you await the start of the journey, take a moment to read through this article to get an understanding of what to expect from the Alpha version.

[h2]How Can I Join the Alpha Test?
[/h2]
The open alpha test begins on February 20th. From that date onwards, you will be able to join the Alpha directly from the game's Steam page!

And don’t worry — once the game is fully released, Nested Lands will also be available on other platforms.

[h2]A Glimpse into the Lore
[/h2]
The kingdom of Norovellir, once prosperous and thriving, has been devastated by a horrific Plague that claimed countless lives and plunged the realm into chaos. The cowardly king and his retinue abandoned the domain, leaving the people to fend for themselves in a broken, lawless world.

As survival became the only priority, faith crumbled and gave way to desperation. Ruthless bandits, mad cultists, and the plague-ridden infected now roam freely, turning the once-peaceful kingdom into a treacherous wasteland.



Amid this chaos, you must fight for your survival. Your ultimate goal is to build a safe haven for the remaining survivors, but before you can accomplish that, you'll need to face the dangers of the cursed island and overcome its numerous threats. The path ahead is perilous, but uncovering the secrets of Norovellir may be the key to securing your future.

[h2]What to Expect in the Alpha Version
[/h2]
The Alpha version of Nested Lands offers around 3-4 hours of gameplay, giving you a first taste of the core mechanics and base questlines.

As you begin your journey in the North Plains biome, you’ll explore the wilderness, gather resources, and start laying the foundations for your village. The game’s survival mechanics require you to monitor essential needs like hunger, cold, and thirst. These needs, if left unsatisfied, can lead to severe debuffs, so it is crucial that you manage your resources strategically.

As you venture further, the threat of the Plague looms large. Dead enemies and NPCs can become deadly Plague foci if left unburnt, and the infection can spread to your village, putting your people at risk.

Building and managing your settlement is another major aspect of the game. You’ll recruit NPCs, each with their own unique skills and traits, to assist in tasks such as crafting and resource gathering, all while ensuring the village's safety against the Plague and enemies.



In addition to fighting for survival, you’ll also delve into the lore of Norovellir through notes and immersive points of interest scattered across the game.

Combat is dynamic, with melee, ranged, and stealth tactics available as you face off against bandits, cultists, and the infected. Expect the unexpected: random events will surprise you while you are exploring or managing your village, testing both your combat prowess and leadership skills.

These are just a few of the features that will shape your Alpha experience, with more content and refinements to come as development progresses.

[h2]More Content to Come
[/h2]
It’s important to remember that Nested Lands is still in the early stages of development, and the Alpha version represents just the first playable iteration of the game. Certain features and content will not yet be available, such as multiplayer mode and several awesome biomes that will be accessible in future updates.

While the current Alpha introduces basic enemy types, more adversaries, like the Rogue Soldiers, are yet to be implemented. You can expect a wide array of new challenges you’ll face later on in the full version of the game.
As development moves forward, expect more content, features, and polish to shape your journey through the plague-ravaged lands of Norovellir.



[h2]Alpha Means Work in Progress
[/h2]As we present the first playable version of Nested Lands, it's important to remember that the game is still in its early development stages. The Alpha release is a glimpse into the world of Norovellir, but many features and content are yet to come or to be fine-tuned.



As is common with any Alpha version, players may experience glitches, bugs, and other technical issues. These occurrences are entirely normal and are a vital part of the testing process. Feedback received from testers will be used to further develop and improve the game.

Stay tuned for updates and news about the upcoming Alpha test, and be sure to keep an eye on our Discord and social media channels for announcements. The adventure is only getting started, and we’re looking forward to seeing you in Norovellir soon!

2024 was an absolutely incredible year for the development of Nested Lands. From design definitions to asset creation to code implementation, the game has come a very long way since we first announced it. We are beyond excited for all of you to finally get the chance to experience it during the upcoming alpha test, which is now just around the corner.

Still, even after how far we’ve come, there is a long way to go. Today, we’d like to draw back the curtains and discuss some of our plans for 2025, including both new additions to the game, as well as some other surprises.



[h2]Alpha Test[/h2]

Before we start, however, we’d like to remind all players to go to our website and leave your email address to sign up for the upcoming alpha test that is right around the corner! The alpha will give you an early preview of the game and let you explore what has already been implemented.


[h2]Islands and Enemies[/h2]

While the alpha version will only include the first island of North Plains, where players will be able to build and customize their very own village, we will soon begin designing and implementing the second and third islands, named Silent Forest and Dark Waters, respectively.

Moreover, each island will bring in a couple of other additions, including other enemy types. While North Plains presents only bandits and wild peasants as its threats, Silent Forest will introduce the Corrupted Priests and Rogue Soldiers, while Dark Waters will be mostly populated by Mad Occultists and Infected Savages.

Each island presents its own themes and threats, with its own local events and loot, as well as new plots and secrets to the overall lore and narrative of Nested Lands.



[h2]Quests
[/h2]
Speaking of narrative, our plans for 2025 also include the development of additional main and side quests, expanding the story of the game through five larger missions. Without spoiling anything, they will include:

• A hunt for the long-lost treasure of the native people of Norovellir.
  
• A fight for survival against enemies who wish only for your destruction.
  
• A search for a mysterious woman who may or may not help you in understanding your true role as a village leader.
• An exploration of all the islands in search of a true cure for the Death Plague.
  
• The construction of a Museum, where you can preserve the history of the old world through cultural relics and ancient artifacts.
  

While all quests will greatly expand the game’s narrative, the last mission will more thoroughly explain a lot of the game’s lore details. It will task players with building a museum and filling it with relics from the world’s past, before the Death Plague’s outbreak. While we won’t spoil all of them now, some will be paintings of noteworthy figures, such as King Roderik the Conqueror.



King Roderik Keylor I, the Conqueror
“Roderik Keylor I might very well be the most significant figure in known history. Originally the lord of but one modest castle and its surrounding areas, Roderik inherited a religious fervor like no other from his parents. From a young age, he had always demonstrated excellent skill at arms, just as much as a willingness to cull the weak and blasphemers.

As he slept on the night before his twentieth name day, Roderik was granted a vision by the Glorious Himself, declaring that he had been chosen to spread the Fiery Canticles of old. When he awoke, Roderik learned that his parents had perished during the night and that the castle and its lands were now his.

So began the most violent series of wars in known history. Roderik was not only a skilled swordsman, but also a tactical genius and a charismatic leader who conquered all his neighbors in quick succession before marrying into an alliance with the Duchess Arabella of Lotvaria and finally founding the true Kingdom of Sacner, which has had dozens of rulers, and yet none were greater than the first.”



[h2]
The Village[/h2]

Both aforementioned additions will do much to develop the game’s exploration and narrative, but we could never forget the true heart of Nested Lands: the player’s Village. And, in 2025, we still have many updates to add to it, including new traits, jobs, and appearance variations for the villagers.

While we will still leave the traits as a secret for you to discover while playing, we can note the new jobs that will be implemented this year:

• The Tavern Keeper, who will work towards improving the other villager’s morale;
  
• The Hunter, who will venture out into the forest in search of food;
  
• The Nurse, who will take care of infected villagers and prevent possible outbreaks;
  
• The Priest, who will care for the tired souls of the people;
  
• The Angler, who will seek to bring in fish to eat.
  

And, as we have mentioned before, these workers will interact among themselves to keep the village going without necessarily needing the player’s input to do so. That means that a Cook may require additional food, prompting Hunters, Anglers, and even Farmers to deliver him specific items, or a Nurse may request extra medicines from an Apothecary, and so on.

After all, the village does belong to the player, and while you might need to do some micromanagement in the beginning, the village will slowly become able to take care of itself, freeing you to explore, craft, and fight as you please.

All in all, the year is stacked with new planned features for the game, big and small. Adding new items, dialogues, visuals, and, of course, balancing it all out will be a challenge in itself, but the team is hard at work to deliver the best possible experience for the game. We are truly excited and cannot wait to see everyone’s reactions!



[h2]Other Surprises
[/h2]
Finally, we also have some other surprises planned, which we can quickly cover here. They include the aforementioned Alpha Test coming soon, as well as a new teaser trailer, the development of a game wiki for Nested Lands, and possibly a second Beta test further along in the year!

As always, if you want to be notified of all these events, remember to wishlist the game on STEAM, join our Discord server, and most importantly, sign up for the upcoming ALPHA!

Hello, Survivors! November was a month of exciting progress in Nested Lands! Here's what our team accomplished:

• The environment animal system expanded to include birds, which now indicate random event locations and add to the immersiveness and ambiance.
  
• Improved audio effects to enhance immersion, including forest sounds, animal calls, and the haunting stillness of nighttime.
  
• Battles just got more brutal with the addition of an enemy dismemberment system! Heads and arms can now be severed depending on your weapon and attack style.
  
• All building visuals were reworked for better performance and to prepare for level 2 upgrades in future builds.
  
• Made a major village system rework, focusing on Villagers' Traits, with animations and dialogues tailored to their personality and body type.
  
• Introduced a bleeding effect! Watch out – injuries now require bandages to heal, with animations to show the damage.
  
• New weapon recipes were added, along with improved tool and weapon behavior.
  
• Improved item spawning across the world for better pacing and less clutter.
  

Which updates are you most excited about? Let us know in #general-chat, and thank you for being part of our journey of building Norovellir! 🌟

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we shared our first Dev Diary with you!

Over the past twelve months, Nestled Lands has started looking like the game we always envisioned — one that blends survival, exploration, and community-building into a truly immersive experience. What began as a simple survival game has evolved into a unique settlement survival journey shaped by dynamic village management, the ever-looming threat of the plague, and memorable NPCs like your first assistant and companion Balder.

With many core mechanics already in place, we’re making steady progress toward the alpha test, shaping a realistic world where every decision counts.

In this special anniversary update, we’re revisiting the heart of Nestled Lands, a rich world of survival, exploration, and community-building.

[h2]The Death Plague
[/h2]
In Nested Lands, the Death Plague cannot be defeated or destroyed. It is an ever-present shadow across the islands, always renewing and reappearing. This relentless disease targets everyone — you, villagers, and enemies alike.

The plague progresses through three stages — spreading, advanced, and dying — each causing worsening symptoms. If untreated, the infected die, leaving behind contagious corpses. To prevent an outbreak, you must build crematoriums to destroy the remains of your former friends.



While you cannot eradicate the Plague, you can subdue and pacify it. Build Infirmaries and Plague Hospitals to slow the infection, and Bath Houses and Plague Masks to help prevent it. Make sure to build the Apothecary’s Hut to make medicine to ease plague victims’ symptoms, extending their lives enabling them to continue contributing to the settlement, and offering fragile hope to others.

Even your enemies aren't safe. Infected foes pose a physical threat as well as a contamination risk, with those too far gone known as Infected Savages.

This constant threat makes vigilance essential during exploration — you need to approach contaminated areas and infected enemies cautiously and keep an eye on your settlement’s hygiene and health to stave off outbreaks. And yet, even in the face of loss, death is not the end in Nested Lands…

[h2]Village Management
[/h2]
Developing and managing your village is more than just your key to survival — it's an important step toward your dream of reviving your native land after the devastating Plague. Within the walls of your village, you prepare for exploration, manage resources, and protect the people who look to you for safety.

Through mechanics such as Protection, Decoration, and Warmth, you create a home where your fellow villagers can feel secure, flourish, and build a thriving society together.



Your villagers are your responsibility. Assign them the profession that’s right for them, and they’ll do the rest. If an NPC with a certain crafting profession needs resources, another NPC with the appropriate gathering profession will bring them what they need. You could always do it yourself, but why would you if there’s someone to help?

This option adds automation elements of the automation genre, known to players from Factorio to traditional survival mechanics. If you take advantage of it, your village will thrive, but as it grows, it will attract envious enemies ready to strike.

Raids, scenarios where enemies attack your village, are a constant threat. Strong defenses are crucial to surviving these unpredictable events. If you’re away from the village, an alarm will call you back to defend your home.

[h2]Enemies[/h2]

You’ll encounter a variety of enemies in Norovellir, including Rogue Soldiers, Corrupted Priests, Mad Occultists, Infected Savages, Bandits, and Wild Peasants. Some, like you, are just trying to survive, while others have more sinister goals.

In the alpha, you'll primarily encounter Bandits and Wild Peasants.



Bandits are opportunistic thieves who often attack in groups. While weak on their own, they will call for reinforcements if they spot you.

Wild Peasants defend their land fiercely, attacking any trespassers on sight.

Both factions occupy the North Plains, but they'll appear in other regions too. As you progress, expect more complex challenges from these and other enemies in the full release.

[h2]Villagers[/h2]

Villagers are the heart of your settlement. They gather resources, craft items, care for the sick, and defend the village. To recruit and keep them, you have to meet their basic needs — food, warmth, hygiene, and happiness — or risk losing their loyalty.

Each villager brings unique skills and traits that make them ideal for specific roles. For example, a skilled cook will be a perfect fit for your Cookhouse, and a talented forester will make an excellent gatherer. Since our earlier diaries, we’ve streamlined and enhanced how these mechanics work, making them more intuitive and impactful. Matching tasks to villagers’ strengths is essential for your settlement’s success and growth.




What sets Nested Lands apart is dynamic interactions among villagers. They collaborate, communicate, and even solve challenges independently. For example, if a Builder needs planks, they’ll request them from a Carpenter, who in turn may rely on a Wood Chopper for logs. This teamwork ensures that your village will run smoothly even while you’re away.

However, if one link in this chain falters, it can disrupt the entire village. A well-oiled system thrives only when all your villagers are well fed, clothed, and content. You’ll guide them more actively at first, but as your settlement grows, maintaining their wellbeing and teamwork will be crucial to your success.

With over 60 unique traits influencing behavior and events, your village feels alive. It’s a thriving, interconnected community where every character plays a role.


Our team is working hard to make village management in Nested Lands the most lifelike and immersive survival experience possible. To stay up to date, join our Discord server, wishlist the game on Steam, and don't forget to sign up for the upcoming alpha, which is coming soon!