D&D Stronghold: Kingdom Simulator
- March 29, 2022
- Stormfront Studios
- 7h median play time
"D&D Stronghold: Kingdom Simulator" is a game where you build and manage your own kingdom in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Choose your path to emperor status through lawful, chaotic, or neutral actions, while handling various aspects of kingdom management and fending off monsters. The game offers pre-created worlds and random scenarios, with an intuitive mouse-driven interface for easy control.
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic titles from the 90s, appealing to fans of retro games.
- Gameplay is engaging and addictive, with a satisfying kingdom-building mechanic that keeps players invested for hours.
- The developers continue to provide updates, including UI improvements and cloud saves, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game suffers from bugs and technical issues, including a significant error that can result in lost progress.
- The AI is limited and predictable, making the game relatively easy once players understand the mechanics.
- Lack of modern quality-of-life features, such as volume control for music and excessive notifications during battles, detracts from the experience.
- graphics6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game evoke nostalgia, reminiscent of classic titles like "Drakkhen," featuring dated aesthetics that may appeal to fans of old-school SSI games. While some players wish for a graphical upgrade, many appreciate the charm of the original visuals and find the overall experience enjoyable despite their age.
“I would have loved to get a graphic upgrade and achievements, but the games are good enough with the quality of life improvements they added that I am still happy with my purchase, especially the original Pool of Radiance, Curse of the Azure Bonds, and Eye of the Beholder series.”
“If dated graphics and the old SSI aesthetics sound appealing, this might be a game for you.”
“Yes, it's old; the graphics are what they are, but if you can look past that, this game is a good time.”
“The graphics remind me of a rare gem I played in my childhood called 'Drakkhen'.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed feedback; while some praise the demo intro as one of the best in gaming history for its top-notch presentation and composition, others find the lack of volume control frustrating, leading them to lower their system volume to avoid annoyance.
“First off, the demo intro of this game on startup is absolutely one of the best I've ever seen in any game, including the modern era. Both the music and presentation were absolutely top-notch.”
“The best music for sure from a DOS game is this.”
“There is no volume control for the annoying music, so I just have to lower the system volume to save my ears and sanity.”
“The music is repetitive and quickly becomes grating, making it hard to enjoy the gameplay.”
“While the soundtrack has potential, it often feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay is noted for its modern and technologically impressive design, though it remains basic for a city builder, primarily revolving around a limited selection of buildings, with most players relying heavily on farms, houses, and a few additional structures like inns and bazaars.
“Cool gameplay; a modern version without all of the limitations imposed by the era would be pretty amazing. With that said, it's surprisingly detailed and I'd say technologically impressive!”
“The gameplay is engaging and offers a unique blend of strategy and creativity, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players.”
“The mechanics are intuitive and allow for a smooth learning curve, which makes it easy to get into the game and start building your city.”
“The gameplay is very basic for a city builder, with only a handful of buildings that you will actually use. Probably 95% of your buildings will be farms, houses, and later inns and bazaars.”
“The mechanics feel repetitive and lack depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
“There are significant limitations in gameplay variety, which makes the experience feel monotonous after a short time.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its poor stability, with users labeling it a "buggy mess" that detracts significantly from the overall experience.
“Don't even bother with this buggy mess.”
“The game crashes constantly, making it unplayable.”
“I experienced frequent freezes and glitches that ruined my experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game particularly entertaining, especially when witnessing unexpected scenarios, such as a low-level character defeating a powerful enemy, which adds a comedic twist to gameplay.
“The entertainment value from spawning them on opposite sides and watching a single level 1 elf kill a fire giant is absolutely hilarious.”
“The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud throughout the entire game.”
“The humor is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making even the most mundane tasks feel entertaining.”