KINGDOMS

About

KINGDOMS is a single player open world role playing game. It was developed by cyfieithydd and was released on October 23, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

KINGDOMS is a procedural medieval RPG in a randomly generated open world. The main feature of KINGDOMS is a smart AI system that completely controls NPC behavior. As the player, you can fully interact with this massive world and become any person you want to be.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+31

Skip User Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,652 reviews

gameplay132 positive mentions

stability318 negative mentions

Unique concept with a living world where NPCs build and manage their own settlements.
Frequent updates from a dedicated developer, showing commitment to improving the game.
Engaging gameplay that allows players to choose various roles such as farmer, trader, or bandit.

Game has been abandoned for an extended period, with no updates since 2021.
Numerous bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, including issues with AI and combat mechanics.
Limited content and features, making the game feel repetitive and unfinished.

gameplay
502 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The gameplay of this medieval building and survival game is a mixed bag, with many players noting its potential but also highlighting significant issues such as bugs, incomplete mechanics, and a lack of depth. While some enjoy the unique AI interactions and town-building aspects, others find the experience shallow and frustrating due to clunky controls and a lack of tutorials. Overall, the game shows promise but requires substantial development to reach its full potential.
- “The mechanics and the AI are truly incredible, and you can literally watch the world evolve around you without even participating.”
- “This game is truly on a AAA game level when it comes to gameplay.”
- “Gameplay is seriously fun, and unlike games such as Black Death, it's easy to figure out what to do without a tutorial, complex without being too complicated, and if you aren't reckless you will stay alive for a very long time as you gradually become more powerful.”
- “The gameplay is too buggy and glitchy to ever enjoy without hope of a better future for it.”
- “The game is playable but it's very barebones with a huge amount of gameplay mechanics still missing.”
- “I immediately noticed a lot of flaws with this game when I started playing it, clunky movement issues, horrible combat mechanics, mundane townsfolk quests to build them houses and shops, with no actual purpose.”
graphics
416 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
59%
15%
The graphics of the game are generally considered serviceable but dated, often compared to titles from the mid-2000s, with many reviewers noting a lack of polish and frequent graphical glitches. While some appreciate the retro aesthetic and find the visuals fitting for the game's atmosphere, others express disappointment, citing performance issues and a need for significant updates. Overall, the graphics do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience, which many find enjoyable despite the visual shortcomings.
- “The graphics are beautiful and it runs smoothly (for the most part) on my Lenovo laptop.”
- “The graphics are awesome for a single developer, better than Life is Feudal, sun rays, trees, dense forests.”
- “Particular attention has been put into graphics to do with buildings and underground locations - both of which are very well detailed.”
- “Unfortunately, it's really obvious that it's a solo dev project. The graphics are a bit old (in line with the first Steam release in 2015), and the game is clunky and generally totally unpolished.”
- “It is very clear that the visuals for the game are not exactly up to standard with most games of the current market.”
- “The graphics will give you a headache; the characters look terrible, and fighting is pure pain.”
stability
336 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting it as "buggy," "janky," and "unfinished." Many players have experienced various glitches, crashes, and performance issues, leading to a general consensus that the game is currently unplayable for some. While there are indications of ongoing development and potential improvements, the overall sentiment is that the game remains in a problematic state, particularly for an early access title.
- “I've seen less updates with a much bigger team and the game is pretty bug free.”
- “There are bugs present as one would expect but in five hours of playing, I only ever actually crashed once and the rest of my play was fairly bug free.”
- “Very not that buggy for an early access, a lot more to do yes but I definitely recommend for what it is yet!”
- “The gameplay is too buggy and glitchy to ever enjoy without hope of a better future for it.”
- “This game has been on early access for almost 6 years and still has so many bugs, glitches, and crashes.”
- “Right now it's so buggy that it's literally unplayable.”
story
268 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
82%
10%
The game's story is largely absent, with players describing it as a sandbox experience where they create their own narratives rather than following a predefined plot. While the world is populated with autonomous NPCs who offer repetitive quests, many players express a desire for more engaging and diverse storylines and missions. Overall, the lack of a cohesive narrative and the generic nature of quests detract from the potential richness of the game's setting.
- “It goes beyond some pre-established, static fantasy world setting by actually allowing the NPCs and the player to create all that themselves.”
- “I just love how the world lives its own life; every NPC has their own stuff to do, not just waiting for the player to come and do quests for them.”
- “While this game won't give you an in-depth RPG experience that you may be used to, you can play in many different ways; more than a story-bound RPG, you create your own story.”
- “Story: 2/5, as of right now there is no story behind kingdoms, other than I believe the protagonist or antagonist, whichever you choose to play as, is a colonist from a kingdom the emperor has sent to this island to create a colony.”
- “There is no storyline, no plot, no mystery.”
- “The quests lack any content and are really annoying and feel pointless.”
grinding
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
1%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some find the extensive resource gathering and skill leveling tedious and frustrating, particularly in the early stages, others appreciate the grind as a means to engage with the game's mechanics and enjoy the sense of progression it offers. Overall, the game is seen as having potential, but many players hope for improvements to reduce the repetitiveness and enhance the overall experience.
- “Of all the open world medieval simulations out there, this is the one I like the best. It is not too taxing, skill progression is moderate and not tedious. The NPC element, where they can do all the things a player can, is a real boon.”
- “What's really frustrating is that you have to do a lot of grinding to get to the late stages where it seems like the fun should start only to run into a wall of 'wait for next update's.”
- “In other parts, however, the game is tedious and incredibly grindy if you are unable to use certain other game features.”
- “If you don't happen to find someone with a special perk that you need to progress forward, you have to spend countless resources and time grinding enough progress points to unlock the perk naturally.”
optimization
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
53%
26%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, especially in larger settlements, leading to lag and low frame rates even on high-end systems. While some recent updates have improved performance, the game remains buggy and poorly optimized, making it challenging to enjoy for extended periods. Overall, players express hope for future optimizations to enhance gameplay experience.
- “The recent optimization was an improvement and my save is no longer unplayable.”
- “Wonderful progress and improvements have been made both in terms of gameplay and optimization.”
- “Graphics are beautiful and performance is great so far.”
- “The game is unfinished, so it isn't optimized very well and will have frame slowing as your town grows, even with a decent machine running the game.”
- “Looks worse than TES Oblivion, and that's a 13-year-old game... optimization is also at 0 - I get like 30 fps after playing 30-60 minutes, and that's on an AMD Ryzen 3700X and GeForce 1080 Ti on 1440p.”
- “Without more optimization, your computer struggles with fps with all lowest settings when your town is huge. I have 200 houses in my main city, as well as 50 shops and hundreds of NPCs.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
62%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric qualities reminiscent of Skyrim, while others find it repetitive and lacking variety, often leading them to mute it after extended play. Although some enjoy the background music, describing it as nice and fitting for the game's ambiance, many feel it is average at best and could benefit from additional tracks to enhance the experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a decent but underwhelming aspect of the game.
- “I also really enjoy the music in this game, though I wish more scores would be added for more variety.”
- “The music is very much in the same style as Skyrim - sort of nice background music - I don't play it loudly and it is nice to listen to.”
- “It is rare in my gaming life, which spans decades, that I have come across a game so well put together with its gameplay, music, and sheer concept.”
- “Terrible and even the music gets annoying after a while.”
- “Music is lackluster.”
- “Subpar at this point with repetitive music and sound effects.”
replayability
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
62%
8%
The game's replayability is highly praised, with many players noting its open-world design and customizable settings that encourage multiple playthroughs. Despite some lingering bugs, the developer's ongoing updates and improvements have significantly enhanced the game's playability, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking extensive replay value. Overall, players feel that the game offers nearly unlimited replayability, especially for those who enjoy exploring different character types and strategies.
- “If you're looking for a game with nearly unlimited replayability and endless world-building possibilities, you should absolutely purchase this game.”
- “Since the game is open world and fully customizable in terms of settings and flow, the game is actually pretty damn replayable.”
- “The developer is worth supporting more than a AAA title, to be honest, but the game still lacks a fluidity that could make it more playable.”
- “Replay value is high because the first play is all about learning the game.”
- “It also feels like that first 3 hours has a lot of replayability as you choose different roles/paths/etc. I want to spend more time with this game; I just happened to buy it right before going out of town on vacation.”
humor
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its quirky bugs and unexpected animations, which often lead to hilarious moments rather than frustrating experiences. Players find joy in the absurdity of situations, such as animals behaving oddly or amusing AI responses, making the game entertaining despite its early access status and need for further development. Overall, the blend of comedic elements and sandbox gameplay creates a fun atmosphere that keeps players engaged and laughing.
- “It is a serious game that is funny.”
- “The game has AI responses when you reject a task, but you will never see them unless your FPS is so low that it shows a single frame where it displays their response, which is usually a funny insult.”
- “At this point, I'm in tears laughing, with a clap and bravo zulu!”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, enhanced by thoughtful music and a holistic design approach from the developer. While not a AAA title, it has a unique charm that resonates with players, making it a memorable experience in their gaming library. The combination of survival elements and settlement building contributes to a rich, engaging environment that players enjoy exploring.
- “The developer of the game works really hard to make this game holistic, interesting, and allows you to dive into the atmosphere.”
- “This is not a triple-A title, but for its atmosphere, it will always have a special place on my games list, and there are only a few games I want to succeed as much as this.”
- “Kingdoms is a fun little game to pass some time with its relaxing atmosphere and gameplay loop.”
- “This is not a triple-A title, but for its atmosphere, it will always have a special place on my games list, and there are only really a few games I want to succeed as much as this.”
- “Kingdoms is a fun little game to while some time away with its relaxing atmosphere and gameplay loop.”
- “- Mount and Blade type of atmosphere with animals, survival, and settlement building thrown in.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and a sense of wonder reminiscent of childhood. Many express a heartfelt connection to the developers, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine, which adds a layer of poignancy to the game's narrative. While players appreciate the love and care evident in the game's design, there is a shared sentiment of disappointment regarding its potential, leaving them feeling both touched and heartbroken.
- “Amazing game, and the realization of how heartbreaking the war in Ukraine can be when it takes developers like this away from such great projects.”
- “If you want an emotional rollercoaster, then buy this game in its current state.”
- “So yesterday after reading through all the discussions in the forums and also the reviews... very touching one from the developer too... we both decided to purchase a copy each.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
80%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reviews, with many users labeling it as a cash grab, particularly among inexpensive titles on Steam. Some players suggest transitioning to a free-to-play model with microtransactions to better support ongoing development, while others acknowledge that the developers have been actively updating the game, indicating a commitment to improvement.
- “I think making this game free to play with microtransactions could really support its development and attract more players.”
- “Implementing an online mode with microtransactions could enhance the game's longevity and provide ongoing support for updates.”
- “Offering a free-to-play model with optional purchases could create a more accessible experience while still funding future content.”
- “Often the inexpensive ones on Steam are just a quick and stupid game made hastily as a cash grab.”
- “The game had potential, but unfortunately it was just another cash grab.”
- “Here is an idea: make this game free to play and consider adding an online mode with some sort of microtransactions to support the development.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game offers a unique approach to character development with intriguing progression paths, but it is marred by poor character designs and numerous technical issues, including bugs and unrealistic movements. Overall, while the potential for character growth is present, the execution suffers significantly due to these shortcomings.
- “On some parts, the game is pretty unique in how it manages aspects of character development and progression.”
- “The variety of paths you can take in character development is intriguing.”
- “Character designs: bad.”
- “All in all, I can say that even though this game gives off some medieval dynasty or maybe M&B Warband vibes, it has way too many problems that it currently faces (e.g. unrealistic and unfluid character movements, boring world with absolutely no interactive game world, ugly character designs, bugs, wrong and incomplete translations, no real in-game challenges, and most importantly, bugs!!!)”
- “Character designs: bad.”