Kingdom (2015)

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 90 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 90
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 90
  3. Negative: 6 out of 90

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Boras
    Nov 5, 2015
    10
    ok, this game hurts.
    A.I. is painful, it takes a lot to understand how villagers, bowmen, farmers, etc, work,
    but in the end, when you start to understand the mechanics of the game, everything gets easier. whiners will say the game is not well balanced and tweaked, but once you win a game, then you won't say it anymore. Pixel graphic and music are really nice and the game is worthy    ok, this game hurts.
    A.I. is painful, it takes a lot to understand how villagers, bowmen, farmers, etc, work,
    but in the end, when you start to understand the mechanics of the game, everything gets easier.

    whiners will say the game is not well balanced and tweaked, but once you win a game, then you won't say it anymore.

    Pixel graphic and music are really nice and the game is worthy for the great idea of creating a game with complex mechanics with really minimal environment and rules.

    nice job, well done    … Expand
  2. rd1349
    Dec 2, 2015
    7
    I'll admit I had fun with this game but it was suficiently dense that I can't rate it very high.

    The art style is good the pixelated graphics still manage to hold an air of quality and animation is equally good. I'll admit that since I've started writing these reviews I've taken sound into account a lot more than I used to. This games soundtrack is great. While it's not something you    I'll admit I had fun with this game but it was suficiently dense that I can't rate it very high.

    The art style is good the pixelated graphics still manage to hold an air of quality and animation is equally good.

    I'll admit that since I've started writing these reviews I've taken sound into account a lot more than I used to. This games soundtrack is great. While it's not something you can listen to on its' own it follows suit of the games graphics and asthetic. It manages to maintain that retro feel without compromising itself.

    Gameplay is simple with the entire game revolving around two actions, moving left and right and dropping coins. Everything you do in this game will probably be the result of that last simple action but while it sound simple on paper the game complicates it to a ridiculous level. There are no tool tips and while the tutorial is quite well done it doesn't extend nearly long enough to explain anything other than the basics. If you plan to play the game without first reading your way through the entire wiki then you probably won't get far.

    Subjectively this game has a much lower rating than you expect : 5 it's painfully average in comparison to its peers in the genre. While the whole games execution is quite good the lack of enough explanation to how the game works drags it down quite a few points.

    Objectively it scores a 7. It's an enjoyable game that is above average in comparison most other games in the market but doesn't strive to deliver a deep enough gameplay to warrent any higher. The bad explanation of game mechanics drag it down from what could have been an 8.

    In the end this game serves as a harsh reminder that in an Indie game one bad feature can spoil everything because there just isn't that much content than in a larger game.

    Final verdict: 7    … Expand
  3. andrewbrown
    Jun 1, 2016
    5
    The game is hard in late game, but due to bad game mechanics.
    It undos all the fun you have up to the end point.
    1. Half your army will become useless There are 4 portals you need to destroy with 2 on each side. Once a side is clear no more enemies will spawn leaving you to focus on one side. However your army will not move to the other side but will sit useless. And new recruits    The game is hard in late game, but due to bad game mechanics.
    It undos all the fun you have up to the end point.

    1. Half your army will become useless
    There are 4 portals you need to destroy with 2 on each side. Once a side is clear no more enemies will spawn leaving you to focus on one side.

    However your army will not move to the other side but will sit useless. And new recruits will always be spilt on both sides so every 2 people you will recruit one will go to the useless side. It makes matters worst if you have two shield men on the useless side as they will keep your archers together, when they could be used to make you income on your safe side.

    2. Portals will become useless if you build too many
    When you destroy a portal you can build your own portal which lets you transverse large distances. When you clear more brush you'll be able to build portals beside shrines. Your portal will no longer let you pick where and how far but instantly transported to nearest shrine which could spawn very close to your portal, and once a portal is used you can't use it till next day, so then you are running around back on your horse late game.

    Can't stop building production
    Lets say you want to extend your portal, so you build a wall, but you find out you simply can't get builders there in time. If you could cancel the building everything will fall back to your previous line, but you can't so if you overreach its game over.

    How can this game be fixed?
    1. be able to unassigned shields (knight) units to avoid clumping.
    2. don't bother with secondary portals to shrines
    3. should move unused armies to other side to double forces
    4. be able to cancel a building construction
    5. be able to unassign any job    … Expand
  4. Sjalka
    Nov 7, 2015
    5
    What i liked:

    The presentation is well done. The art-style fits and looks good. The animation and colours are gorgeous. What i did not like: The game is too punishing in its ways. The player must not make even smaller mistakes or he risks to loose to the next red moon - which leads to certain steps required to be taken - leaving little to nothing to creative design. So each    What i liked:

    The presentation is well done. The art-style fits and looks good. The animation and colours are gorgeous.

    What i did not like:

    The game is too punishing in its ways. The player must not make even smaller mistakes or he risks to loose to the next red moon - which leads to certain steps required to be taken - leaving little to nothing to creative design. So each play-through kind of follows the same pattern - making it only different in a slightly different random seed level layout.

    Too often it felt like i was loosing to chance rather than my poor decisions.

    So i would only rate this game a 5/10 - its simplicity is its charm but also its limitation.    … Expand
  5. Thilus
    Jan 9, 2016
    7
    Pretty fun game with one big con - most of the time it feels like we're doing chores for no sensible purpose. The problem lies at its very foundation and the fact that the player is left with very little to no info on what to do and why. At the very end of an incredibly scant tutorial you are left with three words "Explore,build, expand". So you do explore, build and expand to the pointPretty fun game with one big con - most of the time it feels like we're doing chores for no sensible purpose. The problem lies at its very foundation and the fact that the player is left with very little to no info on what to do and why. At the very end of an incredibly scant tutorial you are left with three words "Explore,build, expand". So you do explore, build and expand to the point where no wave of monsters can destroy your fortifications. Soon you discover a demon portal, but your archers are too weak and too few to destroy it so you look for something to help you in the woods. There you are ambushed by a horde of demons, because apparently you didn't notice it's getting dark. You die. Again. You have to start from scratch. Another three to five hours of your life wasted and you're not really any closer to solving, how to beat the game. That's when I decided that enough is enough and removed the game from my hard drive. Don't get me wrong, the game itself is fun, but with no clear purpose to aim for it gets boring after several tries. If you got a lot of free time on your hands, have fun. I know I had some for a time.… Expand
  6. ChiyoChan
    Oct 24, 2015
    8
    First off this game is very pretty in the pixel dept. For trying to be old school it play it off well. The music is calming and very well thought out and overall the game is fun. However this game does not have lasting appeal beating the game once is pretty much it and the lag sometimes is unbearable. The reason why it was so laggy I suspect it has to keep track of all units no matter whatFirst off this game is very pretty in the pixel dept. For trying to be old school it play it off well. The music is calming and very well thought out and overall the game is fun. However this game does not have lasting appeal beating the game once is pretty much it and the lag sometimes is unbearable. The reason why it was so laggy I suspect it has to keep track of all units no matter what and the coins on the map. You think it be simple but it slows down to a crawl on red moons and if there is a lot of activity on the map (it crashed once). Overall good game with some minor flaws.… Expand
  7. cotta604
    Oct 31, 2015
    9
    A great little game that is as addicting as it is simple. Nice music and throwback art as well as simplistic controls let me rest my mouse hand for a few hours.
  8. Litmaath
    Nov 1, 2015
    10
    Very awesome, very gorgeous game, starts very calm, then suddenly bursts into action filled game-play.
    environment is so wonderfully done you almost don't believe its al pixel art.
    these guys absolutely did a great job.

    Wonderful game
  9. Binni
    Oct 21, 2015
    10
    Disclosure: Got a pre-release key from the devs.
    Lovely game. Some of the most gorgeous pixel graphics and music you will find. Just having it playing and watching what happens is almost worth the 10 score alone. However it's also a strong game with simple and easy mechanics that will take a while to master. What I like most about it though is that there's no hand holding and the    Disclosure: Got a pre-release key from the devs.
    Lovely game. Some of the most gorgeous pixel graphics and music you will find. Just having it playing and watching what happens is almost worth the 10 score alone. However it's also a strong game with simple and easy mechanics that will take a while to master. What I like most about it though is that there's no hand holding and the whole game is just full of mystery. These mysteries will probably all be discovered when the game becomes (inevitably) wildly popular, but I'd recommend just going in cold and discovering them yourself. Great game and great passionate devs and publisher you should support so that more things like this get made and released.    … Expand
  10. GolovA
    Sep 11, 2017
    8
    Seemingly simplistic, Kingdom: Nothing Lasts (aka Classic) achieves an impressive depth by using its limited components with extreme agility and thought. Surprisingly well designed and superbly balanced, this visually one-dimensional game is a joy to play.

    And if you have a controller – you can play Kingdom with just one hand! Tip: If you're new to Kingdom - begin with New Lands.    Seemingly simplistic, Kingdom: Nothing Lasts (aka Classic) achieves an impressive depth by using its limited components with extreme agility and thought. Surprisingly well designed and superbly balanced, this visually one-dimensional game is a joy to play.

    And if you have a controller – you can play Kingdom with just one hand!

    Tip:
    If you're new to Kingdom - begin with New Lands.

    HIGHLY RECOMMEND.    … Expand
  11. danilka1222
    Feb 25, 2016
    10
    That is probably the best game I have ever played. Good gameplay, cool 2D graphics and so beautiful soundtrack! You will play it for hours and you will not regret
  12. GreenMachineG
    Jan 26, 2016
    9
    In Kingdom you embark on a quest to start a new kingdom in a far off land, but beware the creatures that lurk in the forest. Are you prepared for the Blood Moon? Kingdom is a 2D side-scrolling, tower-defense-esque strategy game. The game is simplistic, yet brutal and demanding, and I loved it.

    In the game you gather coins through hunting or farming to be able to pay for increases in    In Kingdom you embark on a quest to start a new kingdom in a far off land, but beware the creatures that lurk in the forest. Are you prepared for the Blood Moon? Kingdom is a 2D side-scrolling, tower-defense-esque strategy game. The game is simplistic, yet brutal and demanding, and I loved it.

    In the game you gather coins through hunting or farming to be able to pay for increases in population, or defenses. The point of the game is to outlast the nightly onslaught of demons from magic portals in the forest edges. It isn't a very deep strategy game, but the game still manages to be very brutal and exhaustive in what it needs, and if things are completed in a timely fashion, then you have no chance of survival. The one downside on that is that you could argue a lack of replay-ability as certain things must be done to survive, and if they aren't done exactly right you won't win.

    Kingdom features an 8-bit graphical style, with nice overlays and a dark color pallet. The soundtrack is ominous and really sets the mood for what comes out to play every night.

    My knock on the game is it only has a single save file, and the game re-does the intro sequence each time you start over. You do have the option to skip through it, but it seems that could have been avoided entirely with multiple save files, and a game that remembers if you've done the tutorial. Maybe even a check box at the beginning of the game to let you choose to do the tutorial? I feel like I am nitpicking, but it did bother me at every restart.

    The game really hit home with me, and is one of those strategy games that I lose myself in for hours and hours. I would definitely recommend the game to just about anyone. Each night is exciting and anxiety-filled, and the daytime is such a rush of getting as much done as possible and choosing what is most important.

    Oh no...how many days until the Blood Moon? It's tonight? Uh oh.

    8.5/10    … Expand
  13. Balnazzar404
    Jun 30, 2016
    8
    Un juego simple, fresco y con unas muy buenas mecánicas. Gráficos hermosos y muy pulidos.
    Este juego me dio una muy buena sensación, no muchos juegos te dan esa sensación en esos momentos.
  14. 05n1
    Dec 4, 2020
    8
    The pixel art of this game soon stands out, especially in the reflections of the water, which gives a nice look to the game. In short, everything is very beautiful, despite being simple.

    The gameplay is all about walking around with your horse, earning coins to invest in professions, protecting yourself at night from trolls and other enemies, evolving your base to have tougher walls and    The pixel art of this game soon stands out, especially in the reflections of the water, which gives a nice look to the game. In short, everything is very beautiful, despite being simple.

    The gameplay is all about walking around with your horse, earning coins to invest in professions, protecting yourself at night from trolls and other enemies, evolving your base to have tougher walls and freeing up more professions until you manage to destroy the portals and zero the game.

    Some problems are evident when you play, it is normal since it is the first in the Kingdom series. But it is worth listing:

    - It is impossible to cancel an action in the game. If you accidentally put your coins in to build a tower, for example, it is gone. The tower will stay there and you will lose archers as you expand your kingdom.

    - The AI ​​of the archers is not very good. I happened to be attacked on one side, so I desperately try to hire more archers and they go to the opposite side, which is fine.

    - Low variety. Again, it is the first in the series. It is normal to have few variations, but even so, there could be more professions, enemies, buildings, etc. etc.

    In general it is a very cool and addictive game, it is pleasant to explore it too. But when you zero in and go out to get the achievements, it gets very tedious and monotonous the days passing by. I already found myself playing this game and watching a video on youtube or listening to music.

    I recommend that you play this one to learn how the basic mechanics of the successors work or just to pass the time yourself.    … Expand
  15. Claytality
    Jan 16, 2020
    7
    Decent tower defense/management game. Nice pixel graphics, good music, and good management/strategy make it fun.

    As a rogue-like you have to be patient and willing to restart. This can be frustrating because some games can take 2-3 hours, and starting from scratch feels like a waste of time. It's trial and error. AI is stupid, but it just takes some getting used to. A big part    Decent tower defense/management game. Nice pixel graphics, good music, and good management/strategy make it fun.

    As a rogue-like you have to be patient and willing to restart. This can be frustrating because some games can take 2-3 hours, and starting from scratch feels like a waste of time. It's trial and error.

    AI is stupid, but it just takes some getting used to.

    A big part of game is running from one side of the map to the other and checking your walls, archers, and farmers. Your character can't fight. There are only 3 keys to use -- left, right, and down.

    Received for free, played 21 hours, getting most achievements. Estimated value of $2.50. Recommended.    … Expand
  16. RMDsilva
    Oct 1, 2022
    8
    Nice little snack mechanic, very addictive but also gets old quickly. Good for a couple of intense micromanagement sessions, but after a week or two you're done.
  17. DinoBeam
    Apr 10, 2022
    3
    Beautiful art, but the game is convolutely hard, and you have to start over from the beginning which will take hours.
  18. leofravoline
    May 15, 2022
    9
    É um jogo que me pegou de supresa, vc se move ou pra direita ou pra esquerda. Proteja seu reino e cresça. Faça escolhas. É uma delícia de jogar. Poderia ter como salvar o seu progresso em caso de falha pq começar tudo de novo é bem chato.
  19. emre-kumas
    Mar 18, 2023
    8
    I agree with all AI-related reviews. Surely it could have been better. Yet, the game pulls you in so strongly I couldn't just leave it. I started again and again and again, and every time I restarted, my kingdom became stronger. So, that's the point of the game. No tutorial no tips. You're on your own.

    Gameplay is very very simple but it is a good choice. There are various things to do,    I agree with all AI-related reviews. Surely it could have been better. Yet, the game pulls you in so strongly I couldn't just leave it. I started again and again and again, and every time I restarted, my kingdom became stronger. So, that's the point of the game. No tutorial no tips. You're on your own.

    Gameplay is very very simple but it is a good choice. There are various things to do, but I think these things could have been more. Because when I started to get bored, I noticed I've done all the things available and was far away from finishing the game. Heard new kingdom games add new things to do, maybe I will try it someday.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 16, 2016
    80
    The game works surprisingly well despite its simple system. Unfortunately, it has a very short life span - but before it gets tedious, it´s great. [Issue#260]
  2. Eurogamer Italy
    Jan 27, 2016
    70
    Charming and fascinating, Kingdom ultimately lacks depth. With more variables to tinker with, the replayability would simply skyrocket.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Jan 12, 2016
    75
    An RTS disguised as a 2D platformer. Sounds weird but works surprisingly well. [13/2015, p.65]
See all critic reviews »