Kingdom Rush Frontiers
- March 29, 2023
- Ironhide Game Studio
- 34h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Kingdom Rush Frontiers" is a challenging tower defense game with numerous upgrades and special abilities. Players defend their kingdom against various enemies, such as bandits, dragons, and mummies, across diverse stages like deserts, jungles, and underwater worlds. The game features heroes with unique abilities to aid in battles and adds a reinforcement system to strengthen towers during intense fights.
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Reviews
- Engaging gameplay with a good balance of strategy and challenge.
- Variety of towers and heroes, each with unique abilities and upgrade paths.
- Charming graphics and humor, with numerous pop culture references and easter eggs.
- Some levels have sudden difficulty spikes that can be frustrating.
- Lack of a fast-forward option makes replaying levels tedious.
- Certain heroes feel underpowered compared to others, leading to a grind for leveling.
- gameplay239 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Kingdom Rush: Frontiers" has been widely praised for its engaging and addictive mechanics, building upon the strengths of its predecessor while introducing new heroes, towers, and unique level designs. Players appreciate the balance between strategy and action, with a variety of gameplay elements that keep the experience fresh and challenging, despite some criticisms regarding repetitive mechanics and the absence of a speed-up option. Overall, it is considered one of the best tower defense games, offering hours of captivating gameplay with a charming art style and humor.
“It improves the previous game by adding new heroes, new enemies, new maps with new mechanics, new tower upgrades, while keeping the same vibrant art style, humor, and myriads of hidden easter eggs that make this series unique.”
“Bigger and badder than ever before, Kingdom Rush: Frontiers is a whole new level of the furiously fast, enchantingly charming gameplay that made the original title an award-winning hit.”
“The gameplay is simple yet engaging, with a perfect balance between adding new features and maintaining the core mechanics that made the original game so enjoyable.”
“As a result, through gameplay progression you keep unlocking heroes that are, at their unlock level, pretty useless compared to the ones you've been leveling up.”
“The game becomes not fun with this type of mechanics!”
“Weaknesses such as very repetitive gameplay on the veteran difficulty, coupled with the lack of a fast forward button, bland story & soundtrack hint at its mobile origin and impact the fun negatively.”
- graphics202 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their vibrant, charming art style, which remains consistent with the previous installments while introducing new characters, maps, and animations. Reviewers highlight the game's unique and engaging visuals, smooth animations, and attention to detail, making it one of the most visually appealing titles in the tower defense genre. Despite some comments on minor graphical issues or a lack of significant innovation, the overall aesthetic and design contribute to an immersive and enjoyable gameplay experience.
“Kingdom Rush has an incredibly unique art style; its sprite work is truly fun to watch, and it has such smooth, simple animations for projectiles that you never feel lost on the screen like many in its genre.”
“The presentation of Kingdom Rush is simply fantastic; the art direction is top-notch, and the cartoony art style is crisply drawn and looks great in full screen, with many interactive elements that make the world feel more believable.”
“The graphics are beautiful in their way, with adorable, vibrant fantasy graphics and animations that contribute to tons of content and replay value.”
“Its not a strategy game when only one strategy works per level; it's a puzzle game with bad artwork and poor design choices like being unable to increase game speed.”
“But the graphics look a little dated now, so you might be better getting the sequel instead.”
“Don't be pulled in by the cute graphics and vivid scenery for the lulling mediocrity will grasp you tightly soon after.”
- story129 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in this tower defense game is generally described as simple and somewhat generic, often revolving around a classic fantasy quest to defeat a villain. However, players appreciate the humor and charm embedded in the gameplay, with each level containing its own narrative elements and easter eggs that enhance the experience. While some reviewers found the story lacking depth, many enjoyed the engaging level design and the integration of storytelling through the environment and character interactions.
“For those who love the game story: each level has a bit of story behind it, and lots of easter eggs hidden inside the level.”
“The story, while not very innovative, is interesting in that it feels like a classic fantasy epic adapted to be a video game, and yet it has its own feel, style, characters, and world.”
“Absolutely marvelous game (like all Kingdom Rush games): great gameplay with talents and progression, storyline is fun and is full of epic easter eggs.”
“The story is really simple, and told through hand-drawn comic-style pictures.”
“Storywise... there really isn't one; a bad dude stole an artifact and you gotta get it back, that's really all there is to it.”
“The story is... kinda lacking, but then who plays a tower defense game for the story?”
- music59 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its engaging soundtracks and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall gaming experience. Many players appreciate the catchy and memorable tracks, although some note that certain pieces can be repetitive compared to previous installments. Overall, the combination of vibrant graphics and well-produced music contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“Amazing tower defense with a gorgeous hand-drawn art style, cool towers, very good music, awesome gameplay, and more!”
“Fantastic, eye-engaging art, invigorating music, and accessible menu all surround an endlessly fun gaming experience that will engage new players and satisfy veterans alike.”
“The music works very well to enhance the atmosphere of the game and add to it.”
“The original had a better OST and felt more balanced.”
“Weaknesses such as very repetitive gameplay on the veteran difficulty, coupled with the lack of a fast forward button, bland story & soundtrack hint at its mobile origin and impact the fun negatively.”
“- unimpressive and repetitive soundtrack”
- replayability55 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, with multiple difficulty modes, endless levels, and a variety of heroes that encourage players to revisit stages for improved performance and strategy. While many players find the challenge and charm of the game engaging, some note that once all modes and trophies are completed, replay value may diminish. Overall, the combination of challenging gameplay and diverse modes contributes to a satisfying experience that keeps players coming back.
“It has a lot of replay value, fun secrets, charming characters, and endless levels.”
“Excellent replay value, with multiple difficulty modes and endless waves of enemies to keep players engaged long after the initial playthrough.”
“The endless modes offer so much replayability and the hero roster is very fun to switch around.”
“The lack of online multiplayer may limit the game's long-term replayability for some players.”
“Got bored after about six levels, zero replay value.”
“Only downside is a lack of replayability.”
- humor50 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its vibrant art style, clever pop culture references, and entertaining character interactions, including funny voice lines and death animations. Players appreciate the integration of humor into gameplay mechanics and achievements, making the experience both enjoyable and engaging. Overall, the game's comedic elements are seen as a defining feature that enhances its appeal, contributing to a fun and memorable gaming experience.
“The main campaign consists of 15 stages and extra 7 stages, most of which have a unique twist by opening new enemy paths, special towers, special heroes, and sometimes just funny references.”
“Enemies have funny death animations, boss fights have funny mechanics, and there is probably the largest quantity of pop culture references out of any game.”
“The humor is on point, with funny taunts and a lot of funny references and cool mechanics.”
- grinding25 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the hero leveling system tedious and overly reliant on grinding for experience and upgrades. While some appreciate the strategic elements and variety in game modes, the lack of a fast forward option and the need to grind for achievements can detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable content, the grinding can feel excessive, especially as players progress further.
“A grindy hero leveling system that discourages variety.”
“After you've completed every stage (which there are enough of), there isn't much reason to play the game aside from achievements and grinding.”
“This new hero leveling system is weird; it promotes grinding and makes the difficulty curve out of whack.”
- monetization18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been positively received, as it has removed all microtransactions present in the original mobile version. Players appreciate that all heroes are unlockable through normal progression, making the Steam version a better value at $10 with no additional in-game purchases. Overall, the absence of microtransactions enhances the gameplay experience, contrasting sharply with the mobile release.
“It blew me away that for 10 bucks there are no in-game purchases; this is the definition of bang for your buck.”
“All heroes are unlocked from normal progression, which is a bonus over the microtransactions needed to buy them on mobile.”
“Hd remake, pleasing to the eyes, no signs of microtransactions, and of course, the gameplay itself is as good as it could be.”
“The negative aspects of this game are mostly holdovers from its original mobile and microtransactions release.”
“As one commenter pointed out, this game does have an in-game shop which felt like something from a mobile game with in-app purchases.”
“However, while Plants vs Zombies 2 put me off entirely despite my love for the original PVZ due to the in-app purchases feeling required at times, I rarely if ever felt that way with Kingdom Rush Frontiers.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game is highly praised for its optimization, achieving scores around 9.5 to 10, indicating it runs smoothly even on low-end systems. Users note that it was developed with mobile platforms in mind, allowing for solid graphics and performance without demanding high specifications. Overall, the technical performance is robust, with minimal bugs reported, making for an enjoyable gaming experience.
“Well optimized & does not demand high performance since it was developed with mobile platforms in mind.”
“+ great optimization, runs well on low-end systems where similar games come to a crawl.”
“Another nice touch is that you don't need perfect performance to get 3-star ratings - it's possible to let a few enemies past and still get the top grade.”
“Technical performance, bugs: 9.5/10”
“This is the second game, the map has done a lot of optimization, a lot of magic creatures and enemy mercenaries, of course you also have a strong hero and soldiers; in a word, it is a good tower defense game.”
“Optimization: 9.5”
- stability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with minimal bugs and glitches reported, providing a polished experience. Users appreciate the improved graphics and smooth gameplay, noting that it runs well even on Linux. While there are occasional minor issues, such as barracks troops not engaging invisible enemies, the game is largely considered bug-free and well-balanced.
“The art is very good, as is everything in general. The game is highly polished and bug-free as far as I know, and overall it is a very nice and slightly challenging tower defense game.”
“Solid, bug-free, and well-balanced tower defense with good graphics and lots of replayability.”
“The gameplay works well and there are no glitches that I have noticed, except that sometimes barracks troops don't confront invisible enemies.”
“The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
“Glitches: 10”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by charming graphics and animations that create an immersive experience, with a focus on the natural environment over the medieval theme. While the music enhances the overall ambiance, some players feel it lacks the memorable quality of previous installments. Overall, the game's design reflects a thoughtful approach, contributing to a great atmosphere despite some mixed opinions on its depth.
“Charming graphics and animations that are visually appealing and create an immersive atmosphere.”
“Maps have been designed with love, contributing to a great atmosphere.”
“This time the natural environment of the levels draws more of our attention than the medieval atmosphere.”
“No soul, no graphics, no atmosphere.”
“The music works very well to enhance the atmosphere of the game and add to it.”
- character development5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its exceptional design and engaging plot. The characters are noted for their diversity and depth, contributing to the game's replayability and overall appeal, particularly for fans of challenging tower defense games.
“Best game of the franchise by far, character design is 10/10.”
“Nice plot, great character development, diverse, replayability as well as stunning graphics.”
“All in all you should give this game a try if you are a fan of (challenging) tower defense games with a nice character design.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting feelings of nostalgia that evoke tears, while also noting a sense of loss regarding changes in game quality. The juxtaposition of heartwarming moments, such as interacting with cute monsters, adds depth to the emotional experience.
“Even after so many years, the game still resonates with me; I cried from nostalgia.”
“Butchering tons of cute monsters carrying huge, glowing whips never felt more heartwarming.”
