Welcome to Hinterkeep

Hinterkeep is a medieval strategy game you play in your browser. You start with one province: a small town with a castle, a few mills and a handful of soldiers. From there you grow it into an empire. You build, research, raise an army, take new land and deal with your neighbours, as friends or as enemies.

The world keeps running

Your empire works while you are away. Mills cut wood, people move in, buildings finish and armies march whether you are looking or not. You log in, see what changed, and decide what to do next.

A few short visits a day are enough to play well. More time online helps, and it is never required.

Worlds and eras

Every game happens on a world shared by up to 1,000 players. Everyone on a world starts around the same time. A world runs for one era of 90 days, with the end date announced in advance. When the era ends, the alliance with the most points wins.

Worlds can run at different speeds. A faster world does everything sooner: production, building, marching. See Worlds and speed.

How to read this guide

• The chapters follow the game: your town, the economy, research, the military, the world map, alliances and rewards.
• Every number in this guide comes straight from the game, so it always matches what you see.
• Pick your world's speed at the top of the page. Production, growth and build times across the guide follow it.
• Search with the button at the top of the page, or press Ctrl K.

Where to go next

1. Your first day walks you through your first hour.
2. How the game works explains the ideas every other chapter builds on.
3. The glossary defines the words the game uses.