Kingdom Eighties

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 979 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Kingdom Eighties Game Cover
Kingdom Eighties is a fantastic tribute to the 80s, offering satisfying base-building and plenty of nods to the movies of the time.
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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.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 979 reviews
story94 positive mentions
replayability15 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful pixel art and a vibrant 80s aesthetic, filled with nostalgic references.
  • The introduction of companions adds a new dynamic to gameplay, allowing for unique abilities and strategies.
  • The soundtrack is excellent, capturing the essence of the 80s and enhancing the overall experience.
  • The game is very short, with a campaign that can be completed in around 4-6 hours, leading to a lack of replayability.
  • Many mechanics from previous Kingdom games have been simplified or removed, making the gameplay feel less engaging.
  • The story is linear and lacks depth, with cutscenes that feel underdeveloped and not as compelling as in earlier titles.
  • story426 mentions

    The story in "Kingdom: Eighties" is a notable departure from previous entries in the series, introducing a linear narrative that follows a group of kids battling the "greed" in a nostalgic 80s setting. While some players appreciate the attempt at storytelling and the charming atmosphere, many criticize the plot as shallow, predictable, and lacking depth, with underdeveloped characters and minimal replayability. Overall, the story is seen as a mixed bag—fun and engaging for some, but ultimately disappointing for those seeking a more compelling narrative experience.

    • “The story is pretty fun and the atmosphere is very 80's.”
    • “A brilliant addition to the Kingdom series, Kingdom Eighties brings a narrative story into play for the first time.”
    • “The story campaign itself is about the right length and doesn't overstay its welcome - and it has an actual story this time.”
    • “The problem with this game is that it's a reskin of a previous game with a few changes here and there, so it feels the same; there's nothing new except story points, and the story is quite bad and boring, to be honest.”
    • “I would probably like the story if it was voiced or maybe animated better; otherwise, I am immensely bored by the story. I might as well just put dialogue boxes in the game without those out-of-place 'animated' cutscenes.”
    • “The story is bland as one piece's. If you are looking for a short resource management game with a cute story, pick this up.”
  • gameplay364 mentions

    The gameplay in "Kingdom: Eighties" retains the core mechanics familiar to the series while introducing some new elements, such as turrets and unique character abilities, which aim to refresh the experience. However, many players feel that the overall gameplay is simplified and less challenging compared to previous entries, leading to a more linear and less engaging experience. While the nostalgic 80s aesthetic and new mechanics are appreciated, some fans express disappointment over the removal of complex features and the game's relatively short length.

    • “Since I first stumbled upon the original Kingdom, it's been my go-to for that cozy gaming experience – you know, the one that lures you in with its calming tunes, charming pixel graphics, and a gameplay mix that's simple yet surprisingly intricate.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging but not too involved for a nice relaxing playstyle.”
    • “The new mechanics are quite enjoyable and actually dial back on some of the more punishing aspects of previous titles.”
    • “They spent too much time on the story for the gameplay to be subpar.”
    • “The gameplay is largely the same as previous installments, but set against a backdrop of lovingly designed eighties references.”
    • “Unfortunately for people familiar with the kingdom series, it lacks the complex mechanics and environment that the other games have so that it can appeal to younger or different audiences.”
  • graphics176 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful pixel art style and vibrant 80s aesthetic, which evoke a strong sense of nostalgia. Many reviewers highlighted the attention to detail in the environments and character designs, noting that the visuals are a significant upgrade from previous entries in the series. However, some players found the graphics to be overly cluttered and visually overwhelming at times, making it difficult to distinguish gameplay elements from the background.

    • “The pixel art style perfectly captures the essence of the era, and the attention to detail in the design of characters and landscapes is commendable.”
    • “The graphics are by far the best in any Kingdom game, the soundtrack is on point and adapted well to the theme, while still maintaining the feeling that the original game's OST gives you.”
    • “The visuals are beautifully done with lots of small details and each map has completely different artwork for the background and buildings.”
    • “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.”
    • “It didn't help that the art for the character dialogue and cutscenes is low-quality and in stark contrast to the graphics in the game.”
    • “Artistically, both the environment and background graphics are poorly done this time around, where it's difficult to tell what is gameplay versus art asset.”
  • music143 mentions

    The music in "Kingdom: Eighties" has been widely praised for its vibrant 80s synthwave style, effectively capturing the nostalgic essence of the era while complementing the game's visuals and gameplay. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the overall experience, although some feel it doesn't quite reach the memorable heights of previous entries in the series. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and atmosphere.

    • “The kingdom series has always nailed it in the music department, and eighties is no exception.”
    • “I caught myself more than once just standing in-game, soaking in the 80s vibes from the soundtrack.”
    • “The music is what made the game so enjoyable.”
    • “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 music is serviceable; it gets the job done, but it’s not as memorable as the previous entries.”
  • replayability63 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is widely criticized, with many reviewers noting its short playtime and lack of engaging content post-campaign. While some players find limited replay value in achievements and challenge modes, the consensus is that it falls short compared to previous titles in the series, offering minimal incentive to revisit once the main story is completed.

    • “There is ample replayability with the survival mixtapes (post-campaign) which offer randomized maps similar to new lands.”
    • “There's a story arc and then an endless mode for replayability.”
    • “I enjoyed my playthrough of it, and I'm doing a second playthrough right now just to get the achievements I missed and play on cursed (which I recommend for returning players, it's still kinda easy).”
    • “The game is too short with little replay value, unlike other Kingdom games.”
    • “All in all, a very short game with no replay value, with a lot of cut features and quite a bit of balancing issues.”
    • “My biggest gripe is it really lacks any replayability once you've completed the story.”
  • grinding20 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of "Kingdom Two Crowns" to be less tedious compared to previous entries in the series, with a completion time of around five hours without excessive grinding for achievements. However, the removal of specialized farming roles in favor of a chores system has led to a more monotonous gameplay experience, as players often find themselves repetitively managing resources and tasks without significant variation. While the game introduces some new mechanics, many feel that the lack of diverse maps and the streamlined approach to resource generation detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it feel more tedious than rewarding.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This one is not grindy.”
    • “And then, it's just grinding the money, building, fixing, re-building, fixing.”
    • “So going back and forth between both sides of the level gets rather tedious.”
    • “That's a terrible flaw that makes the game feel tedious.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its unique and whimsical take on child characters engaging in absurd tasks, such as arming toddlers with weapons and referencing 80s culture. Players find the artwork and character designs charmingly funny, with many noting the unintentional hilarity of the scenarios, including the juxtaposition of child labor and comedic elements. Overall, the humor is described as both entertaining and delightfully inappropriate, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “Beautiful and funny artwork.”
    • “The music slaps, the characters are fun and unique, and the 'subjects' are hilarious (yes, toddlers, slave away for your teenage overlords xd).”
    • “The kid chores are quite funny and charming.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant 80s aesthetic, characterized by colorful visuals, synth-wave music, and charming art style, making it a standout feature for many players. However, some critics note a shift from the tense exploration and mystery of previous entries in the franchise, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. While the nostalgic atmosphere appeals to fans of the era, it may not resonate with everyone, particularly those who preferred the more intense ambiance of earlier games.

    • “The atmosphere is probably the game's strongest point.”
    • “Cool and unique entry into the kingdom franchise with its classic beautiful art style, music, and atmosphere.”
    • “I thoroughly enjoyed its charming atmosphere.”
    • “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.”
    • “What I loved about the other games, the mystery, the fright, and the atmosphere are missing from this game.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a bug-free experience and commend its performance, others encounter significant glitches, particularly in chapter 3, which disrupt gameplay. Additionally, there are concerns about the game's length and difficulty, with some players finding it too short and easy.

    • “This game is remarkably bug-free; I didn't encounter any issues at all.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive; everything runs smoothly without any crashes.”
    • “I've played for hours without a single glitch; the stability is top-notch.”
    • “Game needs more updates as on chapter 3 there are many glitches like van parts automatically got hidden and have to restart to get back the parts, also game is too short and easy to play even on cursed difficulty, please make it more difficult.”
    • “Buggy mess”
    • “Too short, too buggy, and only single player.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized by users as feeling like a "cash grab," with complaints about its short length, lack of content compared to previous titles, and a perception that it prioritizes profit over quality. Many reviewers express disappointment, suggesting that the game appears to exploit its franchise rather than offer a meaningful experience.

    • “The game is very short and feels like a cheap cash grab.”
    • “It seems like a blatant diversity quota cash grab, as all it gives is different sprites and less content than the previous games.”
    • “I really love Kingdom, but this one just feels like a cash grab game.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly without any performance issues, which contributes positively to the overall 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.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Reviewers feel that the lack of voice acting detracts from the emotional impact of the story, making it difficult to connect with the one-dimensional characters.

  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being lackluster, with a dull and short plot that fails to engage players, and poorly designed character visuals in cut-scenes that detract from the overall experience.

    • “Some of the new mechanics are neat, but the character design for the cut-scenes is dire.”
    • “The plot is dull and short, which severely limits character development.”
    • “The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
4-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs

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