Kingdoms Reborn
- November 1, 2020
- Earthshine
- 18h median play time
"Kingdoms Reborn" is a city-building strategy game set in a fantasy world. Gather resources, construct buildings, and manage your kingdom to ensure its growth and prosperity. Navigate dynamic seasons and weather systems, interact with NPCs, and engage in diplomacy or warfare with other kingdoms to expand your influence and secure your legacy.
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay with a unique card-based building system that adds strategic depth.
- Great graphics and a relaxing soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Fun multiplayer mode that allows for cooperative city building and competition.
- AI opponents are passive and do not provide a meaningful challenge, making the game feel less competitive.
- Performance issues arise in late game with high populations, leading to lag and crashes.
- The card system becomes redundant in mid to late game, as players accumulate wild cards and can easily copy buildings.
- gameplay530 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Kingdoms Reborn" is characterized by its unique card mechanic for building structures, which adds a layer of strategy but can feel redundant in the late game. Players appreciate the engaging city-building and resource management aspects, though some find the mechanics overly simplistic or lacking depth, particularly in combat and late-game challenges. Overall, the game offers a fun and addictive experience, especially for fans of city builders, but it still requires balancing and refinement to enhance its long-term appeal.
“Easy to pick up but hard to master, the game reveals the depths of the mechanics to you slowly as the match progresses.”
“The gameplay loop is not only fun but also easy to understand, and the clear production chains make it easier to keep track of things.”
“The strategic gameplay and beautiful landscapes kept me hooked, and I can't get enough of starting fresh and exploring all the possibilities.”
“There's only so far you can build your colony before you're better off starting another on the same map; there's really no war mechanics and trading is timed/instant.”
“The map is huge, but the gameplay loop is too simple to really take advantage of it.”
“The card mechanic is a little strange, but you get used to it.”
- graphics219 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the warm and cozy aesthetic, clean art style, and beautiful environments, while others criticize them as basic or subpar compared to other titles in the genre. Many appreciate the game's visuals for their charm and approachability, though there are calls for improvements in detail and performance, particularly at higher population levels. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for an indie title, there is a consensus that further optimization and refinement would enhance the experience.
“Beautiful graphics, very impressive indie game!”
“The art style is clean and comfortable to look at, with some interesting choices for stylization that make it approachable.”
“Kingdoms Reborn's visuals are a feast for the eyes, with meticulously crafted environments and charming character designs.”
“The graphics are a little subpar when it comes to details.”
“The graphics are pretty awful, even on high settings.”
“Between the graphics and the weird added features that aren't really fun/useful, this city builder feels cheap.”
- optimization153 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly in the late game when populations exceed 200-300. While some users report smooth gameplay on lower settings and commend the graphics, others highlight severe lag and frame drops, especially when zooming in or managing larger colonies. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further optimization to enhance performance and stability, particularly for high-end systems.
“Then you factor in the non-stop development when, out of nowhere, you'll see 'hey, hope everyone's having fun, here's a whole new culture to play with', the almost buttery smooth optimization, and the capacity to build truly big cities and this game has, for a long time now, been my go-to comfort food while watching streams or blissing out to music.”
“The game also feels pleasantly optimized.”
“I absolutely love that every time I come back to this game there are new additions and performance improvements!”
“Running on RTX 4070, i5 9600KF, 32GB RAM, 980 Pro Evo M2 NVMe, in the beginning it was fine, but after several hours of gameplay, it started to have some performance issues. Each time I zoomed in for a more detailed view, it had issues; I guess too much stuff was happening at once. Other than that, it was pretty solid.”
“If not for the performance issues, I would likely make this my main city builder after Anno 1800, knocking Banished down a peg. But if the game stutters, lags, and has such bad FPS and CPU usage at a population of 28, I dare not imagine what it will be like at hundreds or thousands of citizens.”
“The performance after 200-ish population got really bad for me even on medium settings, and I have pretty decent specs.”
- music97 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and engaging qualities, enhancing the overall ambiance and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the soothing soundtrack, which complements the city-building mechanics and provides a calming backdrop for extended play sessions. While some note that the music can be repetitive, it remains a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“The music really adds to the ambiance.”
“An absolutely fantastic city builder that incorporates the best features of new and classic resource gathering / tech advancing games combined with a tremendous original music soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack is fire.”
“The only things I wish the devs would change is to get rid of the 70's style music (it drives me nuts) and make the maps larger/buildings smaller.”
“The graphics are pleasing, not hyper-realistic which gives the game a certain charm and makes it memorable, the soundtrack is a tad repetitive, which is something one would have expected from a much older game like Stronghold or Pharaoh.”
“The music may have set my expectations a little too high, for the menu music is the best part of the game in the amount of time I played.”
- grinding72 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the balance between challenge and engagement, noting that it avoids becoming overly tedious, others criticize it for being excessively grindy, particularly in the mid to late game where resource management can feel overwhelming and unfulfilling. The farming mechanics, in particular, receive mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the complexity while others find them frustrating and underwhelming.
“Overall, I think it is an engaging but not tediously micromanaging game.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Basically, this is a game like many of those other settlement builders, but much slower and more tedious, without really providing any additional challenge or excitement.”
“Very grindy and no real feel of accomplishment.”
- replayability47 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its high replay value due to diverse civilizations, customizable gameplay, and a card system that enhances strategy. However, some users express concerns about limited replayability after initial playthroughs, particularly due to simplistic AI and repetitive mechanics. Overall, while there are elements that promise significant replayability, the experience can vary widely among players.
“The replay value is very high because you can try out different types of civilizations.”
“Customizable, fun, smooth, replayable, frequent updates and improvements... a lot to like!”
“The introduction of a card system adds an element of strategy and decision-making that elevates the game's depth and replayability.”
“So I rinse and repeat this so many times to scratch that itch and the loop is over; I don't see a reason to keep playing. You can only do this so many times before replayability is over.”
“Not much replayability though.”
“There are no factions or anything like that, so every new run that you start kind of feels the same, and I am missing a bit of replayability, especially with the missing enemies.”
- stability46 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly related to autosaving, UI issues, and AI behavior, especially in larger cities. While some users have experienced significant performance drops and crashes, others find the game largely playable and enjoyable despite these issues. As it is still in early access, players express hope for future patches to address these stability concerns.
“The game is 99.9% bug-free and it has received a major and great upgrade package including the new faction and military features.”
“No glitches so far; all around a great game.”
“Besides the optimization issues when nearing 250 populations, the game runs great and looks the part.”
“I have had some issues like my middle mouse button not working when I try to rotate, and sometimes it feels like I'm getting unnecessary frame drops. Other than that, the game seems to be working fine, except one more thing: every time there's an autosave, the game freezes for like 3 seconds. I wish this would be changed to somehow implement autosaves to be seamless like other games do, where you don't even know the game has autosaved. Also, there's some annoying notification after every autosave.”
“The AI seems to get buggy at the 50 population level where buildings don't get built, and things start getting difficult to manage for no apparent reason.”
“There are also lots of bugs and glitches like population being stuck and not moving, game lagging and needing restarting, and one crash so far.”
- story35 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game lacks a compelling narrative, with many users noting it has no structured story or missions, primarily offering a sandbox experience. While some players appreciate the freedom this provides, others express a desire for more engaging elements such as quests, challenges, and a clearer storyline to enhance gameplay. Overall, the consensus is that the game is more focused on mechanics than storytelling.
“Amazing game, another early access success story.”
“And let us not forget about the riveting storyline!”
“The game has no tutorial or storyline, just hop in and figure it out as you go.”
“The story, such as it is, is that your little band of misfits and hopefuls have survived some sort of apocalypse and are starting over.”
“I dunno, it lacks story and isn't very organized.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and captivating environment, enhanced by vibrant graphics, dynamic weather effects, and pleasant music. Players appreciate the relaxing and chill vibe, which contrasts with more intense games, while the varied atmospheres across different areas provide unique challenges and experiences. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the enjoyment of the game.
“The aesthetic design of the graphics and music contributes significantly to the positive atmosphere.”
“The game's world is brought to life with vibrant colors, detailed textures, and dynamic weather effects, creating an immersive and captivating atmosphere.”
“The music is pleasant and the atmosphere of each piece of land is different, providing you with different challenges for yourself in terms of play style.”
“If a more realistic war atmosphere is created, it will be fine in terms of war dynamics.”
“Much more 'chill' atmosphere than other games like this.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as wild and quirky, with players finding amusement in absurd mechanics and unexpected scenarios, such as the inclusion of humorous names and exaggerated game elements. While some aspects may feel superfluous or poorly executed, they contribute to a lighthearted experience, especially in multiplayer settings where players can share laughs over each other's misfortunes. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor that enhances the enjoyment of gameplay.
“As it stands, while there are some systems I find troubling, such as the card deck being hilariously superfluous, they do not actively detract from the core experience.”
“Diplomacy is funny: you pay 1000 gold and become friends with a faction.”
“Fun game, I've already gotten 3 other people to download and play it as well, very fun in multiplayer with friends as it's funny to watch their people die to lack of something and then sequentially laugh at them for a few minutes until you eventually help them when they have 3 people left.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 57 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is mixed, with some users expressing concerns about potential future microtransactions and labeling it as a cash grab, while others believe it has the potential to be a great game without resorting to exploitative practices. Overall, there is skepticism about its long-term viability and monetization strategy.
“Cash grab game, will last you 2 days if you try very hard.”
“High probability this game never leaves alpha; do not recommend buying, looks like any other alpha cash grab.”
“I fully suspect this game to have microtransactions in the future based on this gameplay.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging due to its deep narrative and lifelike characters, fostering a strong investment in their journeys. The real-time gameplay enhances immersion, while the familiar progression system contributes to a comfortable experience. Overall, the emotional depth is a standout feature, making it a noteworthy title despite some reservations.
“This epic tale weaves a tapestry of unparalleled depth, filled with characters so lifelike and compelling that I find myself emotionally invested in their triumphs and tribulations.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While "Kingdoms Reborn" impresses with its stunning visuals and charming character designs, reviews indicate that character development may not be a focal point, suggesting a stronger emphasis on aesthetics rather than deep narrative or growth for the characters.