Field of Glory: Kingdoms

About

Field of Glory: Kingdoms is a grand strategy game set in 1054-1250, encompassing European, African, and Middle Eastern history. With 450 factions, 400 units, and 14 religions, players can administer their domain, manage dynasties, and engage in diplomacy or warfare. The new Authority concept and religious tensions add depth to the gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 346 reviews

gameplay32 positive mentions

music6 negative mentions

Field of Glory: Kingdoms builds upon the solid foundation of its predecessor, offering deeper mechanics, a more engaging trade system, and a variety of unique factions to play.
The game features a rich and immersive medieval setting with complex systems for authority, trade, and character management, providing a rewarding challenge for players.
The ability to export battles to Field of Glory II: Medieval adds a tactical layer that enhances the overall gameplay experience.

The user interface can be cumbersome and unintuitive, making it difficult for players to access important information and manage their kingdoms effectively.
The game suffers from pacing issues, with long wait times between turns and a slow progression that can detract from the overall enjoyment.
Some mechanics, such as the authority system and the randomization of building options, can feel frustrating and may lead to a lack of meaningful choices during gameplay.

gameplay
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, allowing for both intensive micro-management and more casual playstyles, catering to a wide range of players. While many reviewers appreciate the intricate systems that simulate historical empire-building and strategic planning, some criticize certain mechanics, like the authority system, as unfun or poorly integrated. Overall, the game offers a rich medieval strategy experience with a focus on continuous learning and adaptation, though it suffers from a cumbersome user interface and slow pacing.
- “Took me over 150 hours to truly grasp most of the mechanics, but even after 250 hours I am still learning new things. I guess that is what makes good games stand on top: constant learning while enjoying the game. This is not your typical paint-the-map game; it has so many different mechanics constantly interacting that you, as a player, need to be on your toes most of the time.”
- “With its addictive gameplay mechanics, rich setting, and focus on building a lasting legacy, this game is an absolute must-play for fans of grand strategy and historical simulation.”
- “The mechanics are intelligently designed, with historical background perfectly blended with fun and realistic gameplay.”
- “I thought I bought a historical game, not a fictional/pseudo-historical one, where small players are helped a lot by an unrealistic mechanic that did not exist in real history.”
- “All the gameplay is based on waiting for some regional decision's event to eventually do something that will be RNG again.”
- “The turn calculation takes long and the gameplay is also very slow.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the period artwork and medieval aesthetic, particularly the illuminated manuscript-like drawings. However, some players criticize the user interface and overall visual quality as substandard and dated, suggesting that these issues detract from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, the game's depth and strategic elements are noted as redeeming factors for those who appreciate its historical focus.
- “Graphics with that medieval 'look'...fantastic!”
- “Looks even better than the original, both gameplay and graphics-wise - lots of cool illuminated manuscript-like drawings.”
- “This game, with all the possible building combinations and the fun of playing with the Field of Glory game for the tactical battles, the really neat artwork, the interesting AI power plays...it's a very refreshing take on its competitors.”
- “Well, there are a number of parts of the game that I found to be a letdown. Most of them are simply superficial and a few can be fixed - the UI is pretty substandard, the graphics leave a lot to be desired, the sound design is very poor, with a lack of music and incompetently mixed audio levels.”
- “Indeed, there's a certain shoddiness that is usually forgiven of one-man indie devs and even, if one is feeling charitable, excused as being 'charming' or 'quaint'. However, since this is a grand strategy game and essentially a UI click-fest with all of the character being provided by the graphics and the sound design, it can be difficult to find the magnanimity within oneself to do so.”
- “UX vs any other game post-2010: I think the UI (graphics/sounds) are the worst offenders here.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the quality of the tracks while expressing disappointment over the overall scarcity and repetitiveness of the sound design. Many users highlight a lack of background music, poor audio mixing, and intrusive sound effects that detract from the experience, suggesting that the game would benefit from a more robust and varied musical score. Overall, while the music has potential, its implementation falls short, leaving players wanting more.
- “I love the period artwork, and most of the music is good.”
- “You know it's good when the quick reference guide is 163 pages lol, but for the love of god, add more music (though the track is excellent and enjoyable).”
- “They don't help, but there is a solid strategy game here and by golly if you're the type of person who purchases obscure titles with a heavy focus on historicity that only come with a tactical layer if you buy a separate, equally obscure, equally history-focused game, then you probably aren't that bothered by naff graphics and a scarcity in background music.”
- “The sound design is very poor, with a lack of music and incompetently mixed audio levels.”
- “I am really disappointed with the sound and the lack of music for a grand strategy game.”
- “The music and sound design is pretty bad, very repetitive and bugged out; you'll hear the same songs over and over and then silence, and then out of nowhere you'll hear some really loud sound effect from a building in a province, like bees buzzing or pigs oinking for no real reason.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
18%
19%
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse factions, unique mechanics, and immersive city-building elements, which encourage players to explore different regions and strategies. The potential for future expansions and modding further enhances its replay value, making it a compelling choice for strategy enthusiasts. Overall, players find the combination of challenging gameplay and varied content ensures that replaying the game remains engaging and enjoyable.
- “Brilliant strategy game, very enjoyable and with tons of replayability.”
- “Unique traits and mechanics for major factions ensure great replayability if you are willing to switch regions from time to time (playing in the Caucasus is definitely different compared to playing in Iberia or Italy).”
- “The addition of a deeper kingdom management layer, with tons of regional decisions (think Shadow Empire's stratagems), adds so much more flavor and replayability.”
- “The manual (325-page PDF) says the files are fully moddable, so I look forward to more campaigns and such to come... but with 3 smaller campaigns and a main campaign spanning the British Isles in the northwest, Northern Africa through to just off the Horn of Africa in the south, Southern Scandinavia in the north-central, out to Rus (maybe just west of the Ural Mountains) --- with plenty of playable factions, replayability will not be a problem.”
- “I find it very challenging with a tremendous amount of immersion and replayability.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers extensive opportunities for micro-management and optimization, allowing players to engage deeply with mechanics for various playstyles, including challenge runs and speedruns. However, it also accommodates more casual players who can enjoy the game without delving into its complexities. While the combat system is notably intricate compared to similar games, some users express a desire for improved overall optimization.
- “There is the opportunity for intensive micro and optimization which, if you want to do goofy stuff like big migrations, 'funny' nations, alternate religions, challenge runs, speedruns, etc., you can get super deep into it if you want to. Importantly, there are ways of basically ignoring those micro mechanics, playing a standard nation in a more normal way, and having a good time without needing to understand how complex everything is.”
- “Combat compared to EU4 is much more in-depth here. You have per-unit modifiers and traits, buildings that affect combat and unit performance based on terrain type, and each unit has its own cost depending on many factors. You also have 'special units' per province and multiple types of units (levy, mercenaries, standing frontline, archers, skirmishers).”
- “There is the opportunity for intensive micro and optimization which, if you want to do goofy stuff like big migrations, 'funny' nations, alternate religions, challenge runs, speedruns, etc., you can get super deep into it if you want to. Importantly, there are ways of basically ignoring those micro mechanics, playing a standard nation in a more normal way, and having a good time without needing to understand how complex everything is.”
- “I might buy this game again if they are able to improve the optimization.”
- “There is the opportunity for intensive micro and optimization which, if you want to do goofy stuff like big migrations, 'funny' nations, alternate religions, challenge runs, speedruns, etc., you can get super deep into it. However, there are ways to basically ignore those micro mechanics, play a standard nation in a more normal way, and still have a good time without needing to understand how complex everything is.”
- “Combat vs. EU4: here it's much more in-depth. You have per-unit modifiers and traits, buildings that affect combat and unit performance based on terrain type, each unit has its own cost depending on many factors, you have 'special units' per province, and multiple types of units (levy, mercenaries, standing - frontline, archers, skirmishers).”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The humor in the game is largely derived from the ability to engage in whimsical and unconventional gameplay, such as creating "funny" nations or undertaking challenge runs. Players can choose to dive deep into complex mechanics for a more intricate experience or opt for a simpler approach, allowing for enjoyment without the need to master every detail.
- “The game offers a chance for intensive micro and optimization, allowing players to engage in goofy activities like big migrations, 'funny' nations, alternate religions, challenge runs, and speedruns. You can dive deep into these aspects if you want, but there are also ways to enjoy the game by playing a standard nation without needing to grasp all the complex mechanics.”
- “The humor in the game shines through the various options for silly gameplay, from creating 'funny' nations to embarking on challenge runs. It's great that you can choose to engage deeply or just enjoy a more straightforward experience.”
- “Whether you're into complex strategies or just want to have a laugh with quirky nations and challenges, the game provides a flexible approach that caters to both serious and lighthearted playstyles.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, leading to a negative overall experience despite enjoying other titles in the genre.
- “I enjoyed Field of Glory Empires, but this game just doesn't work for me; it's just too tedious and frustrating.”
- “I enjoyed Field of Glory Empires, but this game just doesn't work for me; it's just too tedious and frustrating.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers note that while the option to engage in battles under fog adds a significant layer to gameplay, the lack of corresponding character development diminishes its overall impact and meaning.
- “The option to play the battles out in fog is huge, but without related character development from the battles, this is less meaningful than it should be.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is praised for its depth, allowing smaller nations to achieve victory without the need for territorial expansion, which adds a unique layer of strategy and engagement beyond typical "map painting" quests.