A Story in Bronze Ware

660 BCE. The gates of Chaoge, capital of the State of Wei, fall to the cavalry of the Northern Di. Survivors scatter in panic, while the dead lie strewn across the countryside—and you are among those fleeing for their lives. Amid the chaos, fate leads you to rescue a young nobleman in distress: Prince Shen, the last hope of Wei's royal house. In gratitude, he grants you an abandoned courtyard in Bamboo Spring. In these uncertain times, this humble homestead will become more than a place to call home. From here, you will build a new life from the ground up—and lay the first stones on the long and arduous road to restoring a fallen nation.

Start with nothing and transform an abandoned courtyard into a thriving homestead. Chop wood, mine stone, till the soil, raise livestock, fish, and hunt as you gather the resources needed to build a life of your own. Experience the changing seasons, collect blueprints, and craft a wide variety of tools and furnishings. Set against the authentic backdrop of China's Spring and Autumn period, every tree felled and field cultivated brings you one step closer to prosperity—and helps lay a solid foundation for the revival to come.

Every resident of Bamboo Spring has a story to tell. Behind each familiar face lies a web of emotions, secrets, and little-known tales rooted in the Spring and Autumn period. Through everyday interactions and personal quests, you'll form meaningful bonds with the people around you and gradually earn their trust. Peer into their inner worlds, uncover stories hidden among the town's streets and alleyways, and breathe new life into fragments of history long forgotten.

Peace in Bamboo Spring is fragile. Beyond its quiet fields and bustling streets, the threat of invasion draws ever closer. Build workshops, craft weapons, and arm your villagers and soldiers to defend your home against approaching enemies. Command your forces on the strategic campaign map and march to reclaim territories seized by the invaders. In battle, deploy different troop types across three defensive lanes and hold back wave after wave of enemy attacks through careful positioning and strategy. Expanding your territory does more than strengthen your growing domain. New lands unlock additional facilities and blueprints—and may even lead you to important townsfolk separated from Bamboo Spring by the chaos of war. Rebuild what was lost, reunite those scattered by conflict, and help your community flourish once more.

Inspired by real events from China's Spring and Autumn period, A Story in Bronze Ware brings to life an age where war and turmoil existed alongside ritual, culture, and refinement. From period-inspired architecture and ancient workshops to bronze vessels and bamboo manuscripts, the world is filled with details drawn from the character of pre-Qin China. Between days of labor and campaigns of war, wander through lively streets steeped in everyday life. Experience the spirit, resilience, and ideals of the people who lived more than 2,600 years ago—and discover an ancient China not as a distant legend, but as a living world.