Siracusa (Italy) - September 1st, 2025 - Dragonkin Studios is excited to announce that the first open playtest of its upcoming title Monastery: Ora et Labora is now live on Steam. The playtest is free and open to all users on Steam and will remain open until 5:00 PM on September 15 (CEST).
This playtest is a very important step in the development of Monastery: Ora et Labora. It's the first time that the game has been made available online to the general public, and the development team can't wait to gather feedback that could help them improve it.
This is still an early version of the game, currently in development, so all content may change in the future.
What’s in the Playtest?
- Manage your monks’ daily schedule between prayer, work, and rest.
- Produce goods like wheat, honey, manuscripts, and beer.
- Build up your monastery’s economy and meet the community's requests.
How to Join the Playtest
- Head over to the game's Steam page
- Click the “Request Access” button under the Playtest section.
- Download and play the test build
The team invites all players to:
- Join the playtest by visiting the game’s Steam page and clicking “Request Access” – no key or invite needed.
- Wishlist and follow the game on Steam to stay up to date on its development and support the team.
- Share feedback via online form (link within the game), Discord, and Steam community channels.
- Join the official Discord community to connect with the dev team and fellow fans and stay updated.
- Invite friends to the playtest and spread it to the world.
FAQ
Q: Can I stream or make a video based on this build?
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!
Q: Is progress saved?
A: Progress will not carry over to the final release, but you’re free to play as much as you like during the test.
Q: What languages are available in the playtest?
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, and Simplified Chinese.
Q: Is this playtest build representative of the final version?
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.
Q: Will there be controller support?
A: Currently, the playtest supports keyboard and mouse only. Controller support may be added later.
Dragonkin Studios team is also proud to announce that Monastery: Ora et Labora has been selected for the DevGAMM Awards 2025!
This event is a great opportunity for small teams to showcase their games and compete for a prize pool.
Short Description: Lead your monks in prayer and labor to build a thriving medieval monastery. Manage resources, brew ale, craft manuscripts, and face trials like war and weather. Customize, expand, and guide your brotherhood to achieve spiritual and economic prosperity.
Genre: Management, Colony-sim, Base-building
Audience: Monastery: Ora et Labora is a good fit for all management genre lovers who want to lead a small-sized self-sustaining community and make it prosper while enjoying a colorful and creative experience.
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3179120/Monastery_Ora_et_Labora/?utm_source=press
Epic: https://store.epicgames.com/p/monastery-ora-et-labora-12fabc
Discord: https://discord.gg/U5zRhCuWRC
X: https://x.com/dragonkinstudio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DragonkinStudios
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dragonkin_studios/
Website: https://www.dragonkinstudios.com/monastery-ora-et-labora
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fJKe5x5kiU
Founded in 2015 in Siracusa, Italy, Dragonkin Studios is a game development company specializing in PC, mobile, AR, and VR games. Built by a team of siblings and close friends, we focus on creating engaging interactive experiences. From our first project, Siracusa Living Nature, to collaborations with studios like Broken Arms Games and Memorable Games, we’ve grown through innovation and teamwork. In 2021, we joined Quickload, an Italian acceleration program, expanding our reach in the industry. Today, we continue developing games and providing outsourcing services with the same passion that started it all.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to send us an email: press@dragonkinstudios.com