Hearth and Hamlet Release Date & Time (2026)
Hearth and Hamlet release date is August 19, 2026 at 17:00 UTC on Steam (Windows & Linux). Full release, not early access. See unlock times.
Hearth and Hamlet launches on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 17:00 UTC on Steam. It is a full 1.0 release — not Early Access — for Windows and Linux, with a native SteamOS/Linux build confirmed.
The short answer
- Release date: August 19, 2026
- Unlock time: 17:00 UTC
- Platforms: Windows + SteamOS/Linux
- Early Access? No — full release
- Price: Not announced yet
When does Hearth and Hamlet come out?
Hearth and Hamlet comes out on August 19, 2026. Developer Phorust Studios announced the date on July 2, 2026, and described it as the full launch rather than the start of an Early Access period. The Steam store page lists the same Planned Release Date of Aug 19, 2026.
The game is published by Runic Forge and Gamersky Games. It is a cozy incremental citybuilder set in a pixel-art medieval world, where you grow a campfire into a kingdom through resource gathering, worker assignment, research, policies, and trade.
What kind of game is Hearth and Hamlet?
Hearth and Hamlet is a cozy incremental citybuilder — sometimes called a “citybuilder clicker.” You start from a single campfire and a small group of villagers, then grow the settlement one decision at a time into markets, town halls, banks, barracks, and magic academies.
The game blends idle/incremental progress with active management. You assign workers to gather resources such as food, wood, stone, and gold, then turn those resources into buildings, research, laws, and trade routes. Later systems add magic, alchemy, soldiers, and town defense, so the scope keeps expanding as your kingdom grows.
Hearth and Hamlet unlock time by timezone
The developer’s “One Week Until Launch” post (August 12) confirms the unlock time as 17:00 UTC. Here is what that means in your region:
| Region | Local unlock time |
|---|---|
| US Pacific (PDT) | 10:00 AM (Aug 19) |
| US Eastern (EDT) | 1:00 PM (Aug 19) |
| United Kingdom (BST) | 6:00 PM (Aug 19) |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 7:00 PM (Aug 19) |
| China (CST) | 1:00 AM (Aug 20) |
| Japan / Korea | 2:00 AM (Aug 20) |
Steam unlock times can still move slightly before the button goes live. 17:00 UTC is the developer-confirmed target, so treat any earlier store metadata as provisional.
Early Access or full release?
Full release. There is no Early Access phase. The July 2 announcement calls August 19 “the full release,” and the Steam store does not describe an Early Access period.
The only publicly playable version before launch was the free demo, which arrived on April 20, 2026 during Steam Medieval Fest. Demo progress will not carry over to the full game.
Hearth and Hamlet release timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| April 20, 2026 | Free demo launches for Steam Medieval Fest |
| June 10, 2026 | Developer announces 70,000 wishlists and Steam Next Fest entry |
| June 15, 2026 | Steam Next Fest (June 15–22) + Demo v1.0.46 patch |
| July 2, 2026 | Release date officially announced: August 19 |
| August 12, 2026 | “One Week Until Launch” — 17:00 UTC confirmed, 150,000+ wishlists |
| August 19, 2026 | Full launch on Steam (Windows + Linux) |
How popular is Hearth and Hamlet before launch?
The game has built unusually strong momentum for a small-team citybuilder. The developer reported over 150,000 Steam wishlists as of August 12, after passing 125,000 wishlists earlier in August and 70,000 back in June. The free demo drew over 100,000 unique players across its lifetime.
Those numbers signal real interest, but they do not guarantee how the full release will run. Pre-launch wishlists are a measure of attention, not of final quality.
Linux, Steam Deck and technical launch details
A native Linux build is confirmed for launch — this is not a Windows-only release. The game lists Windows and SteamOS/Linux on its Steam page, with Linux requirements for Ubuntu 20.04 or newer.
A few technical points remain unconfirmed ahead of launch. Proton support has not been confirmed, Steam Deck support is still unknown, and no frame-rate claims or Vulkan support details have been published. If you plan to play on Steam Deck, treat that as to be confirmed until the developer or Valve comments. See the system requirements for the full spec.
How to play before launch
The only way to play before August 19 was the free demo, which launched April 20, 2026 for Steam Medieval Fest and later returned for Steam Next Fest in June. As of mid-August, the demo’s Steam listing became unavailable, so whether the demo can still be downloaded right now is to be confirmed. See the demo page for the latest status.
If the demo is still accessible, it is a useful preview of the core loop, but demo progress will not carry into the full game. Otherwise, the next opportunity to play is the August 19 launch itself.
What changed in the final demo update (v1.0.46)?
The last demo build before launch (released for Steam Next Fest) added several systems that will carry into the full game:
- Gold became accessible for the first time
- Several new buildings and one more main-story quest were added
- New research options, including “Advisor” quality-of-life research
- Traditional Chinese and Korean localization added
- UI scaling, independent audio sliders, 4K readability, and Shift+F11 to hide the UI
- Multiple launch options to help players with startup crashes
This patch also made older demo saves incompatible, because of large backend changes made to prepare for the full game.
What we still don’t know before launch
A few details remain open as of the latest update:
- Price — no official price or launch discount has been announced. To be confirmed. See the price page.
- Demo availability — whether the free demo stays up after August 19 is not confirmed. See demo details.
- Steam Deck status — not officially confirmed. Linux is supported natively, but Deck verification is to be confirmed.
- Console versions — only Windows and Linux are confirmed at launch. See platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hearth and Hamlet out yet? No. It releases August 19, 2026 at 17:00 UTC.
What platforms is Hearth and Hamlet on? Windows and SteamOS/Linux at launch. A native Linux version is confirmed, not just Proton.
Is Hearth and Hamlet early access? No. August 19 is a full 1.0 release.
Will my demo progress carry over? No. The v1.0.46 patch already broke old demo saves, and demo saves will not transfer to the full game.
How do I get notified at launch? Wishlist the game on Steam to get an email when it unlocks.
Does Hearth and Hamlet have a console release date? No. Only Windows and Linux are confirmed, with no console date announced.
Ready for launch day? Check the system requirements first, then read the beginner guide so you are not lost in the first hour.
Sources: Steam store page · Steam announcements · NeverMore Niche · Linux Game Consortium