King under the Mountain
- January 26, 2019
- Rocket Jump Technology
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam"King under the Mountain" is an Early Access settlement-building strategy game set in a simulated fantasy world. In this game, players manage a settlement and its inhabitants, who have personal needs and social interactions that are influenced by the changing environment and seasons. The game's development is actively shaped by player feedback, with an emphasis on a living, breathing world.
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Reviews
- The game has great potential and a solid foundation, with an active developer who is responsive to community feedback.
- It offers a unique blend of gameplay elements from Dwarf Fortress and Rimworld, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The art style is appealing, and the game runs smoothly, providing a fun sandbox experience despite its early access status.
- The AI can be frustratingly poor, leading to issues like colonists starving despite having access to food and water.
- The game is currently lacking in content and features, making it feel more like an extended demo than a fully fleshed-out game.
- There are numerous bugs and quality of life issues, including a convoluted UI and a lack of meaningful gameplay progression.
- gameplay28 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is still in its early stages, featuring a mix of interesting mechanics like room/zone management, water piping, and power distribution, but many players feel that these systems lack depth and clarity. While the core gameplay functions well and offers enjoyable moments, such as unique events and challenges, the mechanics are considered simple and the interface needs improvement. Overall, there is potential for growth, especially for fans of games like Dwarf Fortress and RimWorld.
“The room/zone mechanic is an interesting variation on familiar colony builders.”
“A few bugs here and there, but the core gameplay works very well.”
“If you love the theme and gameplay of Dwarf Fortress and the UI of RimWorld, this is the game for you.”
“No real gameplay.”
“Mechanics are simple, not well formed and the interface needs work.”
“- includes a water piping system and a DF-style mechanical power distribution system... although there's not much to do with either at this point.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative, with no quests or explicit lore, yet players find that the emergent story of their colony can develop in compelling and dramatic ways. While some reviewers note the absence of a conventional story, they appreciate the unique storytelling that arises from gameplay experiences. Overall, the game's narrative is more about the player's journey than a scripted plot.
“There isn't 'story' in the traditional sense (no quests or obvious lore), but that doesn't mean the story of your colony won't unfold beautifully (or horrifically) along the way.”
“There isn't 'story' in the traditional sense (no quests or obvious lore), but that doesn't mean the story of your colony won't unfold beautifully (or horrifically) along the way.”
“Story-wise, I rate this one good -- but only because of the game type.”
“At present, this game tells no story and has no action.”
“There isn't a 'story' in the traditional sense (no quests or obvious lore), but that doesn't mean the story of your colony won't unfold beautifully (or horrifically) along the way.”
“There isn't a 'story' in the traditional sense (no quests or obvious lore), but that doesn't mean the story of your colony won't unfold beautifully (or horrifically) along the way.”
- stability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is mixed among users; while some report a relatively bug-free experience with good performance in early access, others highlight significant bugs and a lack of content, especially given the developers' apparent abandonment of the project. Active developer engagement and frequent updates have been praised by some, but concerns about the game's unfinished state and the developers' disappearance have led to negative sentiments regarding its long-term viability.
“While the game is early access, it's relatively bug-free, performs well even with a huge base and hundreds of dwarves running around on their respective tasks. The developer is actively involved and responsive to feedback.”
“It is early access; there's lots still to come in terms of features and options, and UI aspects that will improve. However, updates seem frequent, the developer is chatty, and my experience has been bug-free and already fun to mess around with.”
“Despite really liking the premise, it's still buggy as hell, with little to no content and the developers have virtually disappeared since February-March.”
“Sadly, this game has turned over and is no longer developed. I previously endorsed this game, but considering it's dead for good now, I can no longer advise people to buy this since you're buying something that is unfinished and buggy.”
“I ended up going to the Discord server to continue troubleshooting, and the developer ended up releasing a patch to the game to fix the issue that was preventing my game from launching.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking essential controls, making navigation frustrating. While some enjoy the relaxing visuals of characters mining and farming, the limited activities and repetitive tasks can lead to a sense of monotony, especially given the game's early access state. Overall, the grinding experience feels underdeveloped and could benefit from more depth and variety.
“Currently it's playable but missing a ton of basic controls that make it pretty 'meh' and tedious to navigate if the thing you want to do is even possible yet.”
“Way too pricey for where it is in early access; I spent an hour in the game, and all I could do was farming.”
“I prioritized making planks, building beds, farming, and cooking.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with users appreciating the art style that combines elements from RimWorld and Dwarf Fortress. While some find the artwork entertaining and fitting for the game's theme, there are mentions that certain aspects may not be as polished, though they are not considered game-breaking. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the gaming experience.
“I like the art style; it's entertaining and visually appealing.”
“The graphics are reminiscent of RimWorld's 2D art style, creating a charming aesthetic.”
“The game features a unique blend of art styles that enhance the overall experience.”
“It's like a tame Gnomoria that copies the 2D art style of RimWorld.”
“For what it is, it's a marriage between RimWorld and Dwarf Fortress. I never really got into Dwarf Fortress myself since its archaic art style and very difficult-to-remember keyboard macros were a deal breaker for me. I really did try to get into it since I love the way that Dwarf Fortress is structured and built up.”
“(Not game breaking, but some of the artwork eludes to it.)”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game shows promise with a solid foundation, but it requires significant bug fixes and optimization, along with additional content to enhance the overall experience.
“Yes, it needs some bug fixing, optimization, and more content, but there is a good foundation to build on!”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express concern over monetization practices, highlighting a prevalent trend of rushed, cash grab games that have left players feeling exploited. There is a strong desire for fair and transparent monetization strategies that prioritize player experience over profit.
“That's super important in today's culture of rushed EA cash grab games where so many of us have been burned.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music and sound design in the game are consistently praised for being well-executed and enhancing the overall experience without being distracting.
“The music and sounds were spot on and did not detract from the experience.”
