For the King

One of the most enjoyable roguelikes of recent years, with the heavy emphasis on RNG saved by some fun co-op options.

It effortlessly blends tabletop and video games into an enjoyable experience that claws at what both can excel at. Creating characters, exploring overworlds, battling through dungeons, and doing it all with a friend or two is a fun time. The roguelike design also helps make it a little more varied, making this great to break out at a game night. In a way, it’s like a tabletop campaign without a dungeon master. In the ideal circumstances, it’s electric and even just as a solo game, it’s a good ride.

If you have two board game friends who are hungry for their dice roll fix, For the King may be for you. Cleverly blending its roots with the Rogue-Like genre, it offers substantial content for those who are adept at tactical combat and cooperative board games. Don't go there thinking of playing it alone, because the whole thing loses interest dramatically. Board game buffs will see For the King as a good palliative to their usual activities.

The randomization in For the King is enough to make the replay value quite high, but whether bought physically or through the eShop, the game also comes with all previously released expansions. For the King has been out on Steam for a couple of years now, so that’s a lot of extra content to bite into. For the King might lean slightly too much on overused fantasy tropes, but it still manages to squeeze something new and creative out of them. I’m obsessed with how cool the visual design is in For the King, I love taking on its challenges with a friend, and I sincerely hope that there’s more to come from IronOak Games. This is a delightful first outing.

Although far simpler on a conceptual level than it lets on, For The King is a charming, addictive blend of rogue-like and tabletop RPG elements, culminating in an experience that is far more than the sum of its parts. With multiple campaigns to choose from, a fully customizable party, surprisingly engaging cooperative play, and a currency system that encourages replayability, it's hard not to lose track of playtime. Of course, the rogue-like isn't without its flaws, relying a bit too much on an arguably underdeveloped combat system, but For The King offers an adventure more than worth embarking on in spite of its few flaws.

All in all, For the King is a seamless port to the Switch and fun experience! You are going to die and you will probably grumble about it. But then you will spend your well-earned lore points on a new event, encounter, item or class and hit that new game button one more time to start a new adventure all over again. I encourage anyone who enjoys RPG’s or rogue-likes to get a copy and see just how far you can get! Until next time, good gaming.