King of the Bridge

About

King of the Bridge is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Finn Schuuring and was released on March 8, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"King of the Bridge" is a unique spin on chess, where you must defeat a troll in his twisted version of the game, with over 20 unusual rules, to cross his bridge. The game features a lengthy rulebook to decipher, and the troll will stop at nothing to cheat and taunt you. With multiple endings, speedrun mode, and numerous achievements, this is not your typical chess game.

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Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,058 reviews

humor84 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

Creative twist on chess with humorous and unique rules that keep gameplay fresh and engaging.
Great value for the price, offering several hours of fun and replayability through achievements and different endings.
Charming art style and witty dialogue that enhance the overall experience.

Very short gameplay, with many players finishing the game in under two hours, leading to a lack of content.
The AI can be predictable and not very challenging once players learn the rules, reducing replay value.
Some players experience frustration due to the troll's cheating mechanics and the inability to skip cutscenes after winning.

humor
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is widely praised, with players highlighting its clever and whimsical twists on traditional chess mechanics, often delivered through funny dialogue and charming visuals. Many reviews note the game's ability to elicit genuine laughter, particularly through its quirky rules and the antics of a humorous troll character. Overall, the game is described as a delightful and entertaining experience, making it a recommended choice for those looking for a lighthearted puzzle game.
- “Adorable and hilarious, just so much fun and worth the price.”
- “The gameplay was hilarious.”
- “King of the Bridge is a charming chess experience featuring a humorous troll, a wacky rule book, and a king which doesn’t quit.”
gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
54%
7%
The gameplay is characterized by its innovative mechanics that encourage players to learn rules mid-game, creating a fun and engaging experience reminiscent of a puzzle. Players appreciate the depth and creativity of the rule-bending elements, which add layers of strategy and humor, making it accessible even to those unfamiliar with chess. While the game is relatively short, lasting around 2-5 hours, it offers a satisfying loop of discovery and experimentation that keeps players entertained.
- “The mechanics and concept of the game feel very fleshed out and have a lot of depth.”
- “It's a simple yet genius idea, and discovering all the hidden mechanics within the first hour feels like solving a small puzzle box.”
- “The rules of 'advanced troll chess' aren’t handed to you upfront—they’re revealed mid-match as you accidentally break them (which the game cheekily calls 'cheating') or encounter new mechanics.”
- “I think the potential could have been better realized by adding multiple levels where the rules become increasingly bizarre, or at least by introducing more unconventional mechanics to truly set it apart from classic chess.”
- “Since you can't cheat, there's no point in calling out the computer when it cheats, so the core mechanic of the game is just gone.”
- “Basically they never bothered to test that the game worked on Mac; turns out the dialogue boxes don't work. If you are on Mac, the game will just softlock at the first dialogue, right before gameplay starts, but they have it listed as though it works on Mac, so Steam will let you buy it on Mac, and all of a sudden the devs messed you over.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed among reviewers. While some appreciate the multiple endings and achievement hunting that add replay value, others find it lacking after the initial playthrough, citing a short duration and limited content. Many suggest that additional modes or content could enhance replayability, but the game remains enjoyable for a brief experience.
- “The ambient sounds and lack of music in the game makes it kinda soothing too to be honest and the different endings give it some replayability.”
- “Has a ton of replayability and loads of fun easter eggs.”
- “Even when you've beaten the game, there is plenty of replayability - different speed modes to play, trying to get all 30+ achievements, and even every normal game is different.”
- “Zero replayability.”
- “The only negative thing about this game is the low replay value; after beating the troll and finishing all the achievements, there's little to do.”
- “Very fun game, albeit not very replayable.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
30%
15%
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming pixel-art visuals that evoke a nostalgic Game Boy aesthetic, with simple yet appealing designs that enhance the overall experience. While some reviews note that the graphics are basic and not groundbreaking, they are considered functional and contribute positively to the game's unique mechanics and engaging gameplay. Overall, the art style is praised for its originality and aesthetic appeal, making it a delightful aspect of the game.
- “Everything is well done, from gameplay and story to the artwork and animation.”
- “The art style is lovely and the gameplay is challenging and innovative.”
- “I also think the visuals are very charming and the goblin is funny.”
- “The graphics are very simple and basic, made with pixel art and a color scheme that reminds me of the first Game Boys with tones of green and low screen resolution, but this isn’t a deal breaker because the gameplay is what the game is all about.”
- “Graphics are not very important for a game like this, but in this case they are just too crappy.”
- “King of the Bridge is a short indie, low-budget chess game with simple graphics but that has a creative and original gameplay.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly when pursuing achievements and completing the game to 100%. While some enjoy the challenges and the sense of accomplishment from achievements, many feel that the grind can detract from the overall enjoyment, with repetitive tasks and lengthy waits between actions contributing to a sense of monotony. Overall, while the game is fun, the grind for completion can be a significant drawback for some players.
- “Having to chase down every enemy pawn to kill the king is pretty tedious endgame.”
- “There's probably an hour or two of great fun, with the rest of my playtime being spent grinding out achievements.”
- “Getting to any ending at all is a frustrating task, and is just grindy, even after unlocking all the rules.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's story is described as short, simple, and effective, with a focus on concise gameplay and multiple endings that provide a satisfying experience. While some players appreciate the witty lore and cute presentation, others criticize the lack of depth and replay value, noting that it ultimately feels more like a chess game than a narrative-driven experience. Overall, the story is engaging enough for a brief playthrough, but may not satisfy those seeking a more elaborate plot.
- “The story is concise, the endings satisfying, and the snippets of lore (while not extensive) are witty and cohesive.”
- “Cute with fun gameplay and simple but effective story/conflict.”
- “At the end of the day though...still a chess game and no real story.”
- “This is a simple game that will take hours at most to play through its small story and multiple endings.”
- “The only thing I would say is a downside is that there isn't much replay value since there is no further path/story to complete.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective sound design and immersive dialogue, which successfully evoke the intended fantasy setting. Reviewers appreciate the combination of pacing and background noise, likening it to the atmospheric qualities of "Return of the Obra Dinn," and note that it enhances the overall experience of strategic gameplay.
- “The sound design, atmosphere, and pacing of dialogue are really good; it reminds me a bit of Return of the Obra Dinn.”
- “The dialogue and background noise give the game a nice atmosphere that reproduces the fantasy setting the developer was aiming for.”
- “Overall, it's a really good concept with an awesome atmosphere; I really like the sound design—simple but quite effective.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is praised for its soothing ambient sounds, enhancing the overall experience and replayability through different endings. Reviewers highlight the quality of the soundtrack, comparing it to the vibe of "Return of the Obra Dinn," and consistently describe it as incredible, contributing to the game's overall appeal.
- “Incredible gameplay, incredible art, incredible music, incredible game, buy it now.”
- “It's also funny that it has a 'Return of the Obra Dinn' vibe in the music.”
- “The ambient sounds and lack of music in the game make it kind of soothing, to be honest, and the different endings give it some replayability.”
- “It's also funny that there's a 'Return of the Obra Dinn' vibe in the music.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players' strong attachment to their pieces, indicating a deep investment in the gameplay experience and a desire for respect and personal space within the game.

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

King of the Bridge is a role playing game.

King of the Bridge is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing King of the Bridge.

King of the Bridge was released on March 8, 2024.

King of the Bridge was developed by Finn Schuuring.

King of the Bridge has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its humor but disliked it for its grinding.

King of the Bridge is a single player game.

Similar games include Storyteller, Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate, (the) Gnorp Apologue, Reventure, Handshakes and others.

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