Blocks: Richard III

About

Blocks: Richard III is a single player and multiplayer strategy game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by Avalon Digital and was released on October 9, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Richard the Third is an epic two-player wargame that recreates the 15th century, bloody dynastic struggle between the royal houses of Lancaster and York for the throne of England.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+16

Skip User Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The game is a faithful adaptation of the original board game, capturing its strategic depth and mechanics well.
It is easy to learn and play, making it accessible for both new and experienced players.
The graphics and interface are generally well-received, providing a smooth gameplay experience.

The AI is poorly designed, making it easy to defeat and lacking challenge for experienced players.
There are numerous bugs and technical issues that hinder gameplay, including freezing and crashes.
The tutorial is inadequate, relying on an external PDF that is difficult to navigate, leaving new players confused.

graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the attractive and smooth visuals that complement the gameplay, while others find them simplistic and lacking sharpness compared to other titles. The portrayal of combat is particularly praised, though some elements, like the graphical dice roll, are considered cheesy. Overall, while the graphics are generally deemed acceptable, they do not stand out as exceptional in the gaming landscape.
- “The graphics are nice--and I love the way that combat is portrayed.”
- “Still, it's a good game, good graphics, perfect music, and the feeling playing it is quite similar to that when playing the board game version.”
- “The engine is very smooth with excellent graphics.”
- “The computer version is a little too simplistic in terms of graphics and gameplay to compete with other computer games.”
- “While I appreciate the developers trying to be faithful to the tabletop experience, the graphical dice roll was cheesy.”
- “Graphics are not sharp and the zoom is at an awkward angle.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The gameplay is noted for its interesting mechanics, particularly in block-based interactions, but it lacks clear explanations of key features such as the charge and treachery mechanics, movement, and battle systems. While some players appreciate the unique approach to a rarely explored topic, the absence of detailed guidance may hinder the overall experience.
- “I liked the mechanics of the blocks (my first block game) and I'm more inclined to purchase the tabletop version because I know it would be a different (traditional) type of experience.”
- “A game of thoughtful and interesting mechanics covering a topic rarely touched by video games.”
- “It doesn't explain the charge and treachery mechanic, detailed movement mechanics, or provide a full succinct explanation of battles.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised for enhancing the thematic experience, effectively setting the tone for gameplay and evoking the feel of the tabletop version. Users appreciate the combination of good graphics and perfect music, with the intro track particularly noted for building anticipation for the game's action.
- “Still, it's a good game, good graphics, perfect music, and the feeling playing it is quite similar to that when playing the board game version.”
- “The music is what makes it really ooze theme (compared to playing the tabletop version).”
- “The intro music gets you ready for the big war.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the multiplayer experience is criticized for being highly buggy, with users noting a lack of improvement in AI performance and overall game reliability. This has led to frustration among players, particularly in comparison to other titles.
- “Finally, multiplayer is very buggy.”
- “Other than SGS (and possibly the carrier game, which I do not own), their games have been released buggy, with little visibility and a failure to improve at all on the AI, which is atrocious.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The atmosphere is characterized by minimal sound effects and less-than-stunning graphics, which some players feel could be improved for a more immersive experience. However, the overall vibe of the game is described as peaceful, maintaining a consistent atmosphere despite its unique gameplay.
- “The gameplay is quite different here, but the atmosphere is the same: 'peace!'”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to get immersed in the game.”
- “Despite the interesting premise, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the replayability of the game, noting that the distinct playstyles of the two factions, along with the variety introduced by the cards, encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “The two factions play differently, given their starting assets, and the cards add variety and replayability.”
- “Each playthrough feels unique due to the diverse strategies and choices available.”
- “The random elements and multiple paths ensure that no two games are ever the same.”