Research system overview
Research is the long-term progression layer in Hearth and Hamlet. The official Steam description says upgrades feed into a research tree that permanently unlocks new technologies, including buildings, policies, magic, and other upgrades as your civilization advances.
That makes research different from a short-lived production boost. An unlock expands what the settlement can do for the rest of the run, so the best early choices are the ones that remove a current economic bottleneck or open a system you can use immediately.
Plan around outcomes, not tier labels. The public sources confirm a multi-branch research system, but they do not document a complete launch-version node list, exact costs, or a universal numbered tier order.
Recommended unlock order
There is no single fixed order that fits every town. A safe roadmap is to strengthen the resource loop first, solve the settlement's immediate constraint second, and only then spend toward specialized late-game systems. An Into Indie Games early-game guide likewise recommends prioritizing early research that improves tools and gathering speed.
| Priority | Research focus | Why it comes here | Move on when |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gathering and core production | More reliable inputs support every later building and unlock. | Your essential resource queues stay supplied. |
| 2 | Your active bottleneck | Choose the branch that fixes the resource, capacity, or service currently holding growth back. | The constraint no longer stalls expansion. |
| 3 | Policies and settlement control | Policy options matter more once the town has an economy worth tuning. | You can absorb a policy's trade-off without destabilizing supplies. |
| 4 | Specialized and military branches | Invest when that system supports a real goal instead of unlocking it speculatively. | The supporting production chain is ready. |
| Later | Alchemy and magical academies | The official description presents these as advanced additions to a developed kingdom. | Your core settlement can fund expansion without neglecting essentials. |
Treat this as a decision framework rather than a list of named nodes. Before buying an upgrade, identify what it unlocks, confirm that you can use it now, and check that the purchase will not empty resources needed for food, housing, or the next essential building.
Kingdom Policies
Research also connects to laws and policies that shape how the kingdom operates. The official description specifically mentions taxation rules. In the Keep interface, the visible tax choices trade greater income against citizen happiness, so the strongest option is not automatically the highest rate.
| Check | Question to ask | Safer response |
|---|---|---|
| Income | Does the town need more coin for a specific next purchase? | Raise pressure only for a clear, affordable objective. |
| Happiness | Can residents absorb the policy's downside? | Keep a buffer instead of tuning to the edge of failure. |
| Timing | Is the economy stable enough to judge the effect? | Change one policy at a time, then observe the result. |
Alchemical labs and magical academies are also confirmed parts of the game's advanced building system. Public material does not establish their exact prerequisites or costs, so use the in-game research panel as the authority for the current version.
FAQ
Is research permanent in Hearth and Hamlet?
Yes. The official Steam description says the research tree permanently unlocks new technologies as your civilization advances.
What should I research first?
Start with research that improves the core resource loop or solves the bottleneck currently stopping your town. Early gathering improvements are a strong default, but the best next choice depends on your settlement's actual shortage.
When should I pursue alchemy or magic?
Treat alchemical labs and magical academies as later goals. Build toward them after food, housing, and core production are stable; confirm their current prerequisites in the in-game tree before committing resources.