Kingdom, Dungeon, and Hero
- July 1, 2024
- Kraken Studios
- 380h median play time
Get on Steam"Kingdom, Dungeon, and Hero" is a fantasy strategy and adventure game with a board game feel, allowing 1-2 players to form armies, manage resources, negotiate agreements, and explore dungeons in a hex-based map. Players can build and configure armies, hire heroes, and research tactics to increase their kingdom's power. The game offers the ability to create an infinite number of maps with the integrated editor, and supports both co-op and PvP modes in split-screen.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Excellent hex-based wargame with a light hero system that allows for engaging army leadership and dungeon exploration.
- The game features a variety of troop types, solid wargame mechanics, and an entertaining dungeon crawling aspect that feels integrated rather than tacked-on.
- The developer is highly responsive, frequently releasing updates and patches, and the game includes a powerful editor for creating custom scenarios, enhancing replayability.
- The AI is weak and struggles with complex scenarios, often failing to provide a challenging experience for players.
- The game lacks a dynamic event system, making the political model feel bland and limiting the depth of gameplay.
- Some technical issues, such as UI problems and a steep learning curve, can detract from the overall experience, making it feel incomplete at times.
- gameplay42 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay features solid wargame mechanics with a variety of troop types, city management, and light RPG elements, making map conquest both entertaining and challenging. However, many mechanics lack clear explanations and can feel disjointed, leading to a steep learning curve for new players. While the core mechanics show potential, they require refinement and better integration to enhance the overall experience.
“Solid wargame mechanics with a variety of troop types, stacks of armies, supply, and economics.”
“The blending of light RPG adventuring mechanics and kingdom management along with a competent and fun war game.”
“The big joy for me in playing this series of games is the ability to play intuitively without having to reference a lot of detail in a manual or struggle with the mechanics and intricacies of the game engine.”
“Conquering the map is entertaining and challenging, but there doesn't seem to be any other kind of objective-based gameplay.”
“And some of these mechanics are currently bugged and not working as intended, if at all.”
“The game certainly has potential, but it needs some work on the key mechanics to make them feel more refined, more impactful, and less disjointed from each other.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics are primarily in a hex and counter style, with a resolution adapted to 1920 x 1080, offering clear and readable visuals. However, many users find the art style dated and reminiscent of early 2000s pixel art, with some describing the interface as clunky and the overall graphics as sub-par. While the visuals are functional for a wargame, they are often overshadowed by the game's mechanics and systems rather than being a standout feature.
“The graphics are very good in the hex and counter style of graphics; every counter is clearly marked in all three possible styles, and the map is pretty and fully readable at a glance.”
“The graphics were beautiful!”
“It also has clean and easy-to-read graphics and an uncluttered UI.”
“Interface is clunky and graphics are sub-par.”
“But no, once again, small indie developers prove that good games are such because of the systems, rules, and gameplay mechanics, as opposed to flashy animation and graphics.”
“The graphics are very wargame-style - counters on a hex grid, but that's fine.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse content, innovative ideas, and strong modding potential, allowing players to experience unique gameplay each time. Users highlight the immersive nature and the benefits of an editor, which further enhances replay value. Overall, players feel that no two games will be the same, making it a compelling choice for those seeking variety.
“A lot of content, new ideas, and the huge potential of replayability makes this the hex wargame of the future.”
“It is immersive and has good replay value.”
“A lot of content, new ideas, and the huge potential for replayability makes this the hex wargame of the future.”
“I see a lot of replayability here, and modding potential for all your favorite fantasy settings.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's story concept, centered around building an immortal race of heroes and developing technologies, diplomacy, and cities over time, is praised for its potential. However, it is significantly undermined by weak AI that struggles to navigate the politically complex multi-agent scenarios, detracting from the overall experience.
“The idea of playing this game with a blank screen and slowly building up your heroes (an immortal race of heroes who work across the ages!), technologies (alchemists! … give them libraries, names and backstory?), diplomacy (emissaries! … again, give them names and backstory?), cities (barracks, markets, etc), and armies, slowly building up across the ages would be awesome.”
“Great design marred by a weak AI that doesn't know how to handle the politically complex multi-agent 'story' scenario that is the capstone for the game.”
“The idea of playing this game with a blank screen and slowly building up your heroes (an immortal race of heroes who work across the ages!), technologies (alchemists! … give them libraries, names, and backstory?), diplomacy (emissaries! … again, give them names and backstory?), cities (barracks, markets, etc.), and armies, slowly building up across the ages would be awesome.”
“The rest of my time is AFK; long story.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it horrendous and repetitive, likening it to looped marching band music. Conversely, others praise it as phenomenal, noting that despite a limited number of tracks, it enhances the game's atmosphere and RPG elements.
“The music is phenomenal, even if there are only a few tracks.”
“It has some good music and decent writing that adds much flavor to the locations and RPG element.”
“The music is horrendous... it's marching band music looped.”
“The music is horrendous... it's marching band music looped.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players praise the game's optimization, noting that turns are quick and overall performance is smooth, contributing to a seamless gaming experience.
“The turns are quick and the game performance is smooth.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting frequent crashes, softlocks, and PC freezes, leading to a frustrating experience.
“Constant crashes, soft locks, and PC freezes.”
“Constant crashes, soft locks, and PC freezes.”
