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Kingdom Eighties

Kingdom Eighties Game Cover
78%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
replayability, grinding
77% User Score Based on 1,397 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchAndroidPlaystation 5XboxSteam DeckiPhoneWindowsPlayStationLinuxXbox Series X|SPCTabletMac OSPhoneiPadMobile Platform
Kingdom Eighties Game Cover

About

Kingdom Eighties is a single player and multiplayer casual role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Fury Studios and was released on June 26, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In "Kingdom Eighties," players step into a pixelated world, ruled by a benevolent king and his quirky court. The game combines retro arcade fun with strategic city-building elements. Your mission: modernize the kingdom by completing addictive, rhythm-based mini-games to develop infrastructure, attract subjects, and defend the realm from roaming gangs of ne'er-do-wells. Engage in this lighthearted, yet challenging experience, perfect for casual and hardcore gamers alike.

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77%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,397 reviews
story142 positive mentions
replayability21 negative mentions

  • The game features a vibrant 80s aesthetic with beautiful pixel art and a nostalgic soundtrack that captures the era well.
  • The introduction of companions adds a new dynamic to gameplay, allowing for unique abilities and strategies during combat.
  • The game is accessible for newcomers to the Kingdom series, providing a straightforward experience with a light narrative.
  • The game is significantly shorter than previous entries, with a campaign that can be completed in around 4-6 hours, leading to concerns about replayability.
  • Many mechanics from earlier Kingdom games have been simplified or removed, resulting in a less challenging experience overall.
  • The lack of multiplayer co-op, which was a beloved feature in previous titles, has disappointed many fans of the series.
  • story
    602 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Kingdom: Eighties" is a notable departure from previous entries in the series, introducing a structured, episodic narrative that blends 80s nostalgia with gameplay. While some players appreciate the attempt at storytelling and character development, many find the plot simplistic, linear, and lacking depth, often comparing it unfavorably to the more open-ended gameplay of earlier titles. Overall, the game offers a fun, albeit short, story experience that may appeal to newcomers but leaves veteran players wanting more in terms of complexity and replayability.

    • “I love that this game builds upon the story and how it ties together with the other Kingdom games.”
    • “The addition of a narrative and story-driven segments was very welcome to me, as it sets the plot and gives us some context, while tying it back to the previous games.”
    • “It's a story about leadership, courage, and nostalgia—not just for the decade it celebrates, but for the feeling of summer adventures, late-night fears, and friendships forged under impossible odds.”
    • “The story the game tries to tell feels cheap and uninteresting.”
    • “The story is sadly easily forgettable and feels like 'Stranger Things' season 1.”
    • “The main story can be completed in just a few hours, and there’s no true endgame sandbox mode to sustain long-term play.”
  • gameplay
    479 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Kingdom: Eighties" retains the core mechanics of the franchise, focusing on building, defending, and expanding while introducing new elements like companions and unique level challenges. However, many players feel that the gameplay is overly simplified compared to previous entries, resulting in a less engaging experience with diminished complexity and challenge. While the nostalgic aesthetic and new mechanics provide some fresh twists, the overall consensus is that the game lacks the depth and replayability of its predecessors, making it more accessible but potentially less satisfying for veteran fans.

    • “While the narrative and aesthetic lean heavily into nostalgia, the gameplay foundation remains rooted in what defines the Kingdom franchise: the delicate rhythm of building, defending, and expanding, all while surviving the relentless cycle of day and night.”
    • “The gameplay is super engaging – that mix of strategy and base-building got me hooked immediately.”
    • “It's a joyful celebration of retro gaming, complete with challenging gameplay, fantastic pixel art, and an infectious soundtrack.”
    • “But if you're really looking for refreshing new gameplay from the Kingdom series, I think you'll be disappointed.”
    • “The gameplay is, compared to the originals, really lacking; nothing that could keep my attention for more than 5 seconds.”
    • “Ultimately, the gameplay itself is shallow and disappointing, and I'm sad about it.”
  • graphics
    250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Kingdom: Eighties" have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant pixel art and nostalgic 80s aesthetic, which many players find charming and visually appealing. The game features detailed environments and smooth animations that enhance the overall experience, although some reviewers noted that the busy visuals can occasionally make it difficult to distinguish interactive elements. Overall, the art style is considered a significant improvement over previous titles in the series, contributing to a captivating and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The art style is really colorful and nice to look at, and the pixel art is gorgeous.”
    • “The visuals are vibrant, retro, and detailed in that cozy pixel style that fans of the original kingdom games will already appreciate.”
    • “The pixel art is unbelievably beautiful, the aesthetics are so gorgeous and chill and nostalgic even if you didn't grow up in the '80s, and the music is so good.”
    • “The art style of the cutscenes isn’t really my thing, but I understand what it's meant to evoke.”
    • “The graphics are a mess in the later stages; they blend in too much with each other, leaving your eyes nowhere to rest, making the screen feel busy and chaotic.”
    • “Overall, it feels like a reskinned and cut down version of previous games, somehow managing to throw away what used to be a consistent and relaxing art style for a mishmash of shapes and colors.”
  • music
    209 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its vibrant 80s synthwave soundtrack that perfectly complements the retro aesthetic and gameplay. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, evoking nostalgia and creating an immersive atmosphere, although some felt it lacked standout tracks compared to previous entries in the series. Overall, the combination of engaging visuals and a captivating soundtrack makes for a delightful experience, even if the gameplay itself may feel simplified.

    • “The soundtrack, composed of electronic beats and ambient synth melodies, amplifies the aesthetic beautifully.”
    • “From the moment you hit play, the synth-heavy soundtrack transports you straight into the heart of the 1980s.”
    • “The 80s aesthetics and music are beautifully executed, and the animation, style, pacing, achievements, and gameplay are as amazing as usual for this series.”
    • “However, I had set the volume and music of the game down to 1 and still had to take my headset off at times due to how excessively eardrum-burstingly loud the sound was.”
    • “It's honestly not acceptable to have game music be that loud anymore and I shouldn't need to lower my PC volume if the game is already at its lowest.”
    • “The 'synth' soundtrack is largely forgettable.”
  • replayability
    84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is widely criticized, with many reviewers noting its linear campaign and short playtime as significant drawbacks. While some mention the addition of challenge modes and survival mixtapes as potential sources of replay value, the consensus is that it lacks the depth and variability found in previous titles in the series. Many players express disappointment, feeling that the game does not offer enough content or incentives to revisit after completing the main story.

    • “There is ample replayability with the survival mixtapes (post-campaign) which offer randomized maps similar to new lands.”
    • “Not only is there some nice replay value, this version of the game is more difficult and forces you to expand to be able to compete.”
    • “Eighties is exactly as long as I feel it needs to be, but the replayability value, to me, is extremely high.”
    • “It's an extremely linear experience with low replay value.”
    • “The linear campaign has no replay value.”
    • “The game is too short with little replay value, unlike other Kingdom games.”
  • atmosphere
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Kingdom Eighties" is widely praised for its vibrant 80s aesthetic, characterized by stunning visuals, nostalgic references, and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While many reviewers appreciate the game's charming and relaxing vibe, some feel it lacks the tension and mystery present in previous entries of the series. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, successfully capturing the essence of a bygone era while offering a unique twist on the franchise.

    • “But where Kingdom Eighties really shines is in its atmosphere—it's a love letter to a time of Walkmans, BMX bikes, and summer break adventures.”
    • “The 80s atmosphere feels fresh and interesting, and in my opinion, it’s captured really well here.”
    • “I thoroughly enjoyed its charming atmosphere.”
    • “It's fun to play through a few times maybe, but something about the charm and relaxing atmosphere is absent that I can't fully put my finger on.”
    • “They sacrificed many things for an uninteresting story and only the last level has a striking atmosphere.”
    • “Gone is the tense atmosphere of exploration at the cost of resources that made the previous games so compelling; where you were dropped into a strange land where you knew nothing and had to survive anyway.”
  • grinding
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be tedious and repetitive, particularly with coin collection and the lack of diverse farming mechanics. While some players appreciate the new job system replacing traditional farming, many find the overall gameplay loop monotonous, especially in solo play. The game is described as fun and casual, but the grinding aspects can detract from the experience, making it feel less rewarding over time.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This one is not grindy.”
    • “Gathering coins to do actions feels increasingly tedious; the controls feel sluggish to endure.”
    • “Ugh, just too tedious to keep my attention span.”
    • “No farming.”
  • humor
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is consistently praised for its cleverness and charm, featuring a mix of witty one-liners, nostalgic references, and absurd scenarios, such as children performing labor for teenage overlords. Players appreciate the unique character designs and funny artwork, which enhance the overall comedic experience. While some find the humor to tread a fine line between amusing and inappropriate, it ultimately contributes to an entertaining and memorable gameplay experience.

    • “They always had me smiling, if not outright laughing.”
    • “With its quirky characters and laugh-out-loud humor, the game stands out from the crowd and guarantees an entertaining experience for players of all ages.”
    • “Whether you're laughing at witty one-liners or chuckling at clever references, the humor will have you glued to your screen.”
  • stability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report a smoother experience with fewer bugs compared to previous titles, many others encounter significant glitches that hinder gameplay, such as freezing during loading screens and issues with progression. Despite some positive feedback regarding performance on lower-end systems, the consensus indicates that the game still requires further updates to address its persistent bugs.

    • “Runs great even on a bad laptop!”
    • “Very bug-free game; this time I didn't experience any at all.”
    • “But it's still buggy as hell.”
    • “The game is really fun, but it is incredibly buggy.”
    • “I cannot progress to the next episode because the game freezes on the loading screen.”
  • monetization
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized by users, who describe it as a "cash grab" due to its short length, lack of innovation, and perceived reliance on superficial changes rather than meaningful content. Many feel that the game fails to deliver value compared to its predecessors, leading to disappointment among fans.

    • “For me, it felt a bit like a 'cash grab' from the devs.”
    • “The game is very short and feels like a cheap cash grab.”
    • “I really love Kingdom, but this one just feels like a cash grab game.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its distinct chapters and the integration of allies into both gameplay and narrative, creating a heartfelt experience. While it successfully merges nostalgic storytelling with refined strategy, some players feel it lacks the depth of previous entries, and the absence of voice acting diminishes the potential for emotional connection with the characters. Overall, it is seen as a stylish and thoughtfully crafted addition to the franchise, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking a more strategic experience.

    • “These new layers make each chapter feel distinct, as your allies become part of both the gameplay loop and the story’s emotional progression.”
    • “In the end, Kingdom Eighties stands as a stylish, heartfelt, and thoughtfully crafted entry in the franchise.”
    • “By merging nostalgic storytelling with refined strategy, it transforms a familiar formula into something cinematic and emotionally resonant.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews; while some praise the character design as visually appealing, others criticize the overall plot and cut-scene quality as lacking depth and engagement. Additionally, there are concerns about the balance of gameplay mechanics overshadowing character growth.

    • “Character design is really cool!”
    • “Some of the new mechanics are neat, but towers are too powerful, the plot is dull and short, and the character design for the cut-scenes is dire.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance and no significant issues. However, some users feel that certain stages could benefit from better optimization to enhance the challenge throughout the gameplay experience.

    • “I had no performance problems and the game ran smoothly.”
    • “Despite this, it manages to deliver an enjoyable gameplay experience with a passable plot, and it runs smoothly, which is a definite positive for me.”
    • “It could be optimized a little bit better; the beginnings of the stages are hard, but at some point, there aren't any challenges.”
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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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6h Median play time
16h Average play time
5-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Kingdom Eighties is a casual role playing game with fantasy theme.

Kingdom Eighties is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck, iPhone and others.

On average players spend around 16 hours playing Kingdom Eighties.

Kingdom Eighties was released on June 26, 2023.

Kingdom Eighties was developed by Fury Studios.

Kingdom Eighties has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Kingdom Eighties is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Kingdom: Classic, Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD, Kingdom: New Lands, Kingdom Rush Frontiers, Kingdom Rush Origins and others.