Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts

Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts is a 2D simulation game from Polish developer Yaza Games and publisher Mythwright. Players take on the role of a medieval scribe, accepting commissions from wealthy patrons to create handcrafted manuscripts. The game was first revealed on August 15, 2024, and launched on Steam on April 17, 2026.

In gameplay, the player manages a manuscript workshop, choosing between two modes. Story Mode involves building a career by completing specific commissions for illustrations, maps, letters, and other artwork. Sandbox Mode offers unlimited creative freedom with no clients or set tasks. Earnings from commissions can be used to decorate the workshop or purchase new images for the canvas.

Drawing is done by selecting from thousands of pre-made medieval-style pictures stored in the game’s library, then placing them anywhere on a canvas made from different types of vellum. Images are grouped by themes such as "nature," "Hell," "Heaven," or "weapons." Players can also add text in period-appropriate fonts. Finished creations can be exported as PNG files.

The game’s development followed Yaza Games’ earlier title, Inkulinati, a turn-based medieval strategy. Player feedback requesting more creative freedom led the studio to shift direction. Developers later cited Kingdom Come: Deliverance as a major influence, while the relaxed gameplay style was inspired by titles like Tiny Glade and Animal Crossing. The studio jokingly described Scriptorium as "700 years in the making."

Critics praised the game as a unique entry in its genre, calling it a "breath of fresh air in the medieval space" for its relaxing, cozy atmosphere—a rarity for medieval-set games. Reviewers noted the absence of AI-generated content, with all in-game images created by human artists. Ivy Santiago of Happy Gamer wrote: "You're not just making pretty pictures; you're continuing a tradition that stretches back over a thousand years."