For The King

A sometimes tricky RPG with gorgeous art that's perfect for co-op.

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"For The King" is a strategic RPG adventure that blends tabletop and roguelike elements. Players can undertake quests solo or co-op, traversing varied landscapes and facing challenges that require strategic thinking. The game features turn-based combat, decision-making events, and a procedurally generated world for high replayability.

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Play Modes

Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 21,612 reviews

gameplay792 positive mentions

grinding300 negative mentions

gameplay
2,408 mentions
33 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "For the King" is a blend of turn-based combat and strategic decision-making, heavily influenced by RNG mechanics that can lead to both exciting moments and frustrating experiences. While many players appreciate the depth and variety of mechanics, including the focus system and unique character classes, others criticize the reliance on luck and the punishing chaos mechanic that can hinder exploration and progression. Overall, the game offers a rich cooperative experience with engaging visuals, but its balance and clarity in mechanics can be inconsistent, making it a mixed bag for players.
- “The altered mechanics in the different campaigns add interesting challenges.”
- “The variety in the game through characters you can play or lore you can unlock gives added mechanics for every playthrough.”
- “The combat mechanics feel like the good old RPG, with an added mechanic to improve your chance to hit or to do max damage/effects.”
- “Most of the game mechanics are not even explained to you unless you experience it by yourself (which in this case is very bad).”
- “The reliance on RNG (random number generation) for many of its systems can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences where progress feels more dependent on luck than on skill or strategy.”
- “After 30 hours of gameplay, my friends and I only managed to beat 1 campaign, and we were forced to do save scumming and use obscure mechanics to stall the final boss into skipping all of his turns.”
story
1,568 mentions
18 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story in "For the King" is often described as minimal and generic, serving primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Players note that while the game features a variety of quests and a procedurally generated world, the overarching plot lacks depth and can feel repetitive across playthroughs. Many reviewers suggest that the focus is more on mechanics and cooperative gameplay, making it enjoyable for those who prioritize strategy and combat over a rich story experience.
- “For starters, I think when you start this game the world and the story seem intriguing and make you want to beat it and try new characters as well as try the harder difficulties.”
- “The quests were compelling and reminded me of the tabletop D&D sessions I enjoyed in my youth.”
- “For the king weaves a compelling story of heroes, sacrifices, and the fight against darkness.”
- “The story elements often feel secondary to the gameplay and can be somewhat thin and disjointed.”
- “Players looking for a compelling or immersive story might find 'For the King' lacking in this aspect.”
- “The story is basically non-existent so this is more like a roguelite dungeon-crawler rather than an RPG.”
graphics
1,370 mentions
51 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming low-poly art style, which combines a nostalgic feel with modern polish, making it visually appealing and accessible on lower-end hardware. Players appreciate the cute and colorful aesthetics, along with the humorous animations, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. However, some critiques mention occasional graphical glitches and a simplistic design that may not appeal to everyone, particularly those seeking high-end visuals.
- “The art style of 'For the King' is also noteworthy, featuring charming, low-poly graphics that are both colorful and visually appealing, giving the game a distinct and memorable look.”
- “The stylized graphics and an immersive soundtrack create an unforgettable medieval fantasy atmosphere in 'For the King'.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly high quality and the game mechanics are easy to understand.”
- “☐ worst graphic ever”
- “Bland graphics, poor map camera controls, level up your character and you don't pick skills or attributes????”
- “The graphics are also, to be frank, ugly.”
replayability
852 mentions
55 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its procedurally generated maps, diverse character classes, and numerous unlockable items and campaigns. Players appreciate the variability in gameplay, which encourages different strategies and team compositions, making each session feel unique. While some critiques mention potential repetitiveness and balance issues, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to provide a fresh experience with high replay value, especially in cooperative play.
- “This game captures the hilarious chaotic energy of tabletop games perfectly in a beautiful art style and with nearly endless replayability.”
- “The replayability is fantastic, the gameplay is great.”
- “The amount of strategy involved in this game is amazing, with endless replayability.”
- “Unfortunately, the game actually doesn't have a lot of replayability.”
- “Overall, this is a game plagued with many design flaws and a gameplay that can rapidly bore the players with no meaningful way of differentiation between runs and close to none replay value.”
- “Loses replayability quickly, and can prove frustrating and unfun due to a shallow and heavily chance-dependent gameplay loop, that requires you to meta-game much too often.”
humor
344 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its hilarious ragdoll physics, witty narration, and the unpredictable nature of RNG that leads to comical moments, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews note that the game's lighthearted tone and funny animations enhance the overall experience, making it a great choice for social gaming sessions. Overall, the humor is described as a key element that contributes to the game's charm and replayability, providing countless laughs and memorable moments.
- “The game is fun, challenging and takes unsuspecting and funny turns; for example, you travel through lands, a master thief appears, starts a fight with you and steals all your coins, then for his next attack he flees with your money never to be seen again.”
- “The ragdoll mechanics when enemies die are hilarious.”
- “The rng creates funny moments where you absolutely fail or clutch up for the win.”
- “Playing solo is just fun, but not as funny as when you're in co-op with friends. That's when you really get the greatest laughs.”
- “The humor in this game shines when you're playing with friends; solo play is enjoyable but lacks the comedic moments that come from co-op.”
- “While solo play is entertaining, it doesn't compare to the hilarious experiences you have with friends in co-op mode.”
grinding
328 mentions
2 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly due to slow movement mechanics and the need to manage multiple characters individually. While some appreciate the challenge and the sense of progression that grinding can provide, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially in solo play where the experience can become monotonous. The game's design often punishes exploration and encourages grinding, leading to frustration for those who prefer a more balanced pacing.
- “This is good, not too grindy and always gives you something to work towards.”
- “Fun game, not very grindy, nice spell effects and interesting mechanics.”
- “I find the premise of the game to be unique to the rogue-like genre, it isn't too grindy, and the multiplayer is fun, too!”
- “Game feels too hard to win and too hard to lose so you try to grind but the shops don't replenish so you end up running back and forth for healing services which becomes tedious especially because each party member has their own turn and movement rolls, which also ruins exploration, along with some random events being too harsh.”
- “The game feels very long and tedious which is fine in a classic RPG adventure, but not in a game you have to restart when you die.”
- “Moving the party across the world map is tedious at best.”
music
328 mentions
47 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the medieval fantasy setting with a mix of whimsical and tense compositions. While many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to set the mood and contribute to immersion, some criticize it for being repetitive over extended play sessions, leading to a desire for more variety. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, though opinions vary on its memorability and engagement during gameplay.
- “The atmospheric soundtrack of For the King sets the mood for your adventure, enhancing the sense of exploration, danger, and triumph.”
- “The musical score, a herald of your heroic exploits, is a melodious medley that escorts your every move with a touch of orchestral opulence.”
- “From the whimsical tunes in towns to the tense battle music, the soundtrack sets the tone for each situation.”
- “Yes, there are the boss themes, but having regular combat with no variation makes it boring really fast to the point where my friends and I started playing Darkest Dungeon music instead of listening to this.”
- “The sound and music in this game are very repetitive, and if you are like me, you will want to turn off the game sounds and music and listen to your own music after a while.”
- “My only small quibble is that the music is a bit repetitive.”
stability
148 mentions
8 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
The game is frequently described as "buggy," with players reporting various issues such as game freezes, crashes, and unresponsive user interfaces, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users find the gameplay enjoyable despite these glitches, others express frustration over the frequency and severity of the bugs, which can lead to lost progress and corrupted save files. Overall, while the game shows potential and is fun to play, its stability remains a significant concern for many players.
- “Runs great!”
- “I like the art style, and it runs great even on less powerful PCs.”
- “Good mechanics, fun style, and runs great even on a Surface Pro.”
- “Unfortunately, this buggy mess of a game keeps disconnecting you mid-fight and after that your save file is corrupt and you will be unable to play it again.”
- “This game is a buggy mess.”
- “The main problem I've had is when playing with friends sometimes the game just freezes and we lose literally hours of progress.”
optimization
76 mentions
29 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and short loading times, many others experience significant technical issues, including crashes and poor performance even on low settings. The game is described as system-intensive, with calls for better optimization, especially given its visual style. As it is still in early access, players are hopeful for future updates to address these concerns.
- “For the king runs smoothly overall, with short loading times and stable performance during gameplay.”
- “Performance on low settings is butter-smooth even on integrated or low-budget graphics cards.”
- “Was 5/10, now I think it is an 8.5/10, very well optimized.”
- “This is a fun game to play, but it has some serious performance issues and the UI needs to be reconsidered.”
- “I could forgive all of that with no hesitation if the game wasn't so badly optimized; the game chugs at lowest settings while trying to maneuver the map, it's unbelievably bad.”
- “On the more major side, the game seems very poorly optimized - enough so that my fans have to crank at full-blast from the first look at the overworld; I can't play for more than about 90 minutes without starting to suffer GPU-related crashes.”
atmosphere
50 mentions
80 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in *For the King* is widely praised for its stunning low-poly graphics and immersive soundtrack, which together create a captivating medieval fantasy setting. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke tension and adventure, particularly in co-op mode, while the unique art style and atmospheric lighting enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack complements various environments, making each playthrough feel distinct and engaging, although some players note a lack of deep lore.
- “The atmospheric soundtrack of 'For the King' sets the mood for your adventure, enhancing the sense of exploration, danger, and triumph.”
- “The combination of the music and graphics gives the game a great atmosphere.”
- “The dungeons feel atmospheric, the armors and weapons feel authentic, and the color palette is soothing.”
- “The stylized graphics and an immersive soundtrack create an unforgettable medieval fantasy atmosphere in [i]for the king[/i].”
- “Unique art style: the game's visually appealing low-poly art style creates a charming and distinctive atmosphere that complements the fantasy setting.”
- “It's never the same from run to run, and I think it captures the intended atmosphere well.”
emotional
40 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging characters, moral dilemmas, and the impactful consequences of player choices, which evoke a range of feelings from joy to heartbreak. Many players report deep emotional investment, with some experiencing tears during pivotal moments, while others find the gameplay both frustrating and exhilarating due to its challenging mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its wholesome and heartwarming qualities, making it a unique experience that fosters connections and memorable moments.
- “As you progress, you'll encounter intriguing characters, face challenging moral dilemmas, and witness the consequences of your choices, adding depth and emotional weight to your quest.”
- “I haven't been this emotionally invested in a video game in a while.”
- “It was a nice Dungeons and Dragons type game and the ending for the main story actually made me cry.”
monetization
34 mentions
12 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
35 % negative mentions
Overall, the monetization aspect of the game is viewed positively, with many users appreciating the absence of microtransactions and the presence of an in-game currency system that rewards players for their performance. However, there are concerns about potential cash grabs through DLC and the quality of console ports, leading to mixed feelings about the developers' intentions. While some players enjoy the gameplay and unlockable content, others express disappointment over perceived limitations in replayability and community engagement.
- “A variety of character classes and campaigns to choose from, as well as various unlockable content which can show up in your games once 'purchased' for lore points (acquired through gameplay only--no microtransactions here!) keep the game interesting even for multiple playthroughs.”
- “There are no microtransactions, and 'For the King' has instead created what they call a 'lore store' where you can redeem credits you earn in-game for rewards that will potentially give you an edge in your next playthrough.”
- “It's challenging, wickedly fun to play with friends and has a very good in-game currency system to unlock new classes (no pay to win or microtransactions).”
- “It's a shame really the developers are in it for the easy cash grab of DLC rather than letting people mod and generating a larger community.”
- “The switch port is awful and a quick cash grab.”
- “Too strange and exciting to see more content... I literally just deleted my original upvote to leave no opinion at all because I was very disappointed this game seemed to 'die' after release except the perceived cash grab at consoles, instead of continuing a game that honestly has limited replayability once everything is unlocked.”
character development
22 mentions
27 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally perceived as limited, focusing more on player choices and progression rather than deep individual narratives. While the art style and character designs are appreciated, the gameplay emphasizes combat and leveling up over storytelling, leading to a more casual and less immersive character experience. The fast-paced mechanics can detract from meaningful development, making it feel somewhat superficial.
- “Character development, though somewhat limited in terms of individual narratives, is driven by player choices and the progression system.”
- “Beautiful scenery, D&D-like playstyle, fun turn-based combat, and satisfying character development and personalization.”
- “But it sure is fun with two friends, and it strikes that perfect balance of pacing and character development.”
- “While playing with other players, it has a similar feel to playing a Dungeons and Dragons campaign with your friends, but with the focus entirely on combat and powering up your characters, and zero focus on story or character development.”
- “If you are arriving for some wordy adventure or character development, you can move right on; it's a point-and-click math simulator in a fantasy world.”
- “The chaos mechanic forces a pace that is way too fast for character development, thereby creating an artificial cheesiness to the 'challenge.'”