King of the Bridge
- March 8, 2024
- Finn Schuuring
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and humorous twist on chess, making it accessible even for those unfamiliar with traditional chess rules.
- Players enjoy the charming art style and witty dialogue, which adds to the overall fun and engaging atmosphere of the game.
- The game provides a good amount of replay value through achievements and multiple endings, making it worth the low price.
- The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under two hours, leading to concerns about its overall content and replayability.
- Some players find the troll's cheating mechanics frustrating, as they can lead to unfair losses and confusion regarding the rules.
- There are requests for quality of life improvements, such as a quick restart feature and better navigation of the rulebook.
- humor65 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it hilarious and charming, particularly through its clever twists on traditional chess rules and engaging dialogue. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter and create memorable moments, making it an enjoyable experience that encourages creative thinking. Overall, the combination of funny mechanics and adorable visuals contributes to its appeal as a lighthearted and entertaining game.
“It's so funny when the troll does something egregious like jump your rook over four chess pieces and you call him out on it and he's like 'who, me???'”
“Hilarious and adorable, full of fun tricks and secrets to discover!”
“It's clever, it's very funny, and it's a genuinely fun chess variant that will require you to think outside the box.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique and enjoyable loop that involves mastering mechanics and uncovering rules, providing a satisfying experience despite its short duration of 2-2.5 hours. Players appreciate the innovative design and humor, although some mechanics, like tracking a character's suspicion, feel underdeveloped. However, technical issues on Mac systems have been reported, impacting the overall experience for some users.
“It was a pleasure to master mechanics and get all achievements.”
“The art style is lovely and the gameplay is challenging and innovative.”
“Humor is good, gameplay is fun and it actually feels satisfying.”
“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.”
“There's no mechanic, for example, to track the troll's building suspicion.”
“Basically they never bothered to test that the game worked on Mac; it 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. 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.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and unique art style that many players find appealing, despite some noting that they are not technically impressive. While the visuals are functional and contribute positively to the overall experience, a few reviews mention that they fall short in quality. Overall, the aesthetics are praised for enhancing the game's innovative gameplay and engaging premise.
“It's a very original idea and the art style is simple but unique.”
“The art style is lovely and the gameplay is challenging and innovative.”
“And if all of that wasn't enough, it is so charming, from the funny dialogue to the charming visuals; this game is genuinely cream of the crop, major props to whoever designed this masterpiece.”
“Graphics are not very important for a game like this, but in this case they are just too crappy.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers moderate replayability through multiple endings and a variety of achievements, though some players feel it lacks depth after completing the main content. While the experience is enjoyable and relatively short, many hope for additional game modes or content to enhance replay value. Despite its limitations, the game's low price and fun mechanics make it worth trying for those interested in achievement hunting.
“I beat the troll for the first time in about an hour, and there's multiple endings and some fun achievements to add some replay value.”
“This is a silly fun type of game that's short enough to finish but has replayability and different endings to explore, and a pretty low price as well - definitely worth a try.”
“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.”
“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. I hope the developers will add something like a game mode with random rules every match, or even some different types of enemies with their own rules. I would gladly pay for a well-crafted DLC that provides this.”
“The only thing I would say is a downside is that there isn't much replay value since there is no further path or story to complete.”
“Very fun game, albeit not very replayable.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling that the time spent on repetitive tasks detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many report that while there are moments of fun, the lengthy wait times and the grind for achievements can lead to boredom and a sense of burnout, especially after extended play sessions. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant drawback that overshadows the game's more enjoyable elements.
“Getting to any ending at all is a frustrating task, and is just grindy, even after unlocking all the rules.”
“There were a lot of other achievements and maybe I would have had more fun going for those, but after grinding for like 3 hours to beat the 'no cheat' run, I was just done with the game.”
“The troll keeps making the same mistakes and the loop gets boring and grindy after an hour.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective sound design and immersive dialogue, which successfully evoke a fantasy setting. Reviewers appreciate the blend of "puzzle chess" and "challenge chess" elements, contributing to a captivating and engaging experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both simple and efficient, enhancing the overall concept of the game.
“The dialogue and background noise give the game a nice atmosphere that reproduces the fantasy setting the developer was aiming for.”
“Overall, a really good concept with an awesome atmosphere; I really like the sound design—simple but quite effective.”
“It creates a great atmosphere of a sort of 'puzzle chess' and 'challenge chess'.”
- story6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as short and entertaining, taking approximately 40 minutes to complete, with a humorous narrative and charming visuals. However, players note a lack of replay value due to the absence of additional paths or storylines, making it less engaging for those seeking extended gameplay.
“Sprites are cute, the story is funny, and the effects are well-made.”
“Short but fun game; it took around 40 minutes to finish the story.”
“The only downside is that there isn't much replay value since there is no further path or story to complete.”
“The only thing I would say is a downside is that there isn't much replay value since there is no further path or story to complete.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players' strong attachment to their pieces, indicating a deep investment in the gameplay experience. This sentiment reflects a sense of personal connection and frustration when others interfere, showcasing the game's ability to evoke passionate reactions.
