Kingsway
- July 17, 2017
- Andrew Morrish
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Kingsway is a single-player fantasy RPG with a unique twist: it's set in a mock operating system, where pop-ups are enemies, quests are emails, and items are organized in file folders. The world is randomly generated, and death is permanent. With various character types, plenty of humor, and lots of replayability, Kingsway offers a delightful experience and challenging gameplay."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Unique and charming interface that mimics an old operating system, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- Engaging combat mechanics that require quick reflexes and multitasking, making battles feel dynamic and exciting.
- High replayability with multiple classes, endings, and a variety of quests and items to discover.
- The game can become repetitive quickly due to limited enemy variety and similar quests across playthroughs.
- The time limit mechanic can feel rushed and may detract from exploration and enjoyment for some players.
- Some players may find the mouse-based controls frustrating, especially when managing multiple moving windows during combat.
- gameplay460 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Kingsway is characterized by its unique integration of a retro operating system interface, which adds a layer of complexity and novelty to traditional RPG mechanics. While many players appreciate the innovative design and engaging core loop of exploration, combat, and item management, some find the interface cumbersome and the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, it offers a fun and challenging experience, particularly for those who enjoy roguelike elements and nostalgic aesthetics, but may not appeal to everyone due to its unconventional mechanics and potential for frustration.
“The gameplay itself is fun, challenging, satisfying, and rewarding, with a story that is as interesting as it is mysterious.”
“The core gameplay loop of exploration, acquiring items, combat, and completing quests provides excellent fun.”
“It's old school windows UI gimmick is used to great effect and really factors into the gameplay (it's not just for looks).”
“This is a big area in which Kingsway just falls apart - the gameplay is horrible.”
“You can also unlock actual gameplay items/stats/skills, but they are useless because you can't use more than one of your unlocks without spending gems, which can only be earned by replaying the game for hours with new characters and dying.”
“It gets boring very quickly; the gameplay will last only a few hours, which is unusual for a roguelike game.”
- story216 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered minimal and somewhat vague, serving more as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a central focus. Players encounter a variety of quests delivered through a unique email system, with some humor and charm, but many feel the narrative lacks depth and variety, leading to repetitive experiences across playthroughs. While there are multiple endings and paths, the overall narrative is often described as simplistic, making it more suitable for casual play rather than those seeking a rich story.
“But it is still a vast world with various quests that all have smaller hints to a much larger narrative that has several paths and endings.”
“The gameplay itself is fun, challenging, satisfying, and rewarding, with a story that is as interesting as it is mysterious.”
“A simple story fuels simple gameplay, but with such grace that even a real pop-up wouldn't take you out of the world.”
“The game lacks replayability: aside from a different map layout and the chance at slightly different events happening, you do the exact same thing in every playthrough. There's no new or different story based on what class you play; the quests are all the same and the way you play through the game is identical.”
“Admittedly, there's no real story, and the random encounters lack variety.”
“The story is ok, but it's a little vague and not really the main draw for the game.”
- music154 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy, retro-inspired soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the nostalgic midi-like tunes and the in-game music player, which allows for a personalized listening experience. However, some users noted that the limited playlist could lead to repetition during longer play sessions, suggesting a desire for more musical content.
“The music is really good too and also captures that retro feel that the whole game is going for.”
“The soundtrack is one of the best I've heard, probably being the foremost reason I have for staying with the game until the end, as it makes you feel exactly like a harsh journey to save the world ought to.”
“The music feels very nostalgic, midi-like, and immersive; I really enjoy it.”
“The one thing it needs is more music; I think there is only an hour of music or so.”
“The soundtrack is definitely gonna loop a few times during a full playthrough as that's probably gonna be around 3 hours and the playlist is about 30 minutes long or so.”
“Music: the music isn't anything that's going to be stuck in your head; no amazing atmosphere like in Bastion.”
- graphics146 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro aesthetic reminiscent of old operating systems like Windows 95, which many players find nostalgic and appealing. While the visuals may not be modern or pristine, they effectively complement the gameplay and enhance the overall atmosphere, making it a delightful experience for fans of classic styles. The unique art direction and integration of the aesthetic into gameplay mechanics have been praised, contributing to the game's engaging and immersive qualities.
“The graphical premise is interesting, unique, and beautiful and stands the test of time for those that want a more nostalgic, classic experience.”
“At its core, it's a cute little dungeon crawler with extremely charming graphics and music.”
“The art style is done very well, and the fact that the whole game is played on a 90's style desktop is a real treat.”
“Art direction/graphics: 5/10 (pleasant enough to look at, if a little bland)”
“The graphics are very old school and while they do not bother for shorter playthroughs, they are a bit rough on the eyes if you play too long.”
“It is a very basic $10 game, so yes, don't expect snazzy graphics and sound design.”
- replayability140 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a prominent feature, with many players enjoying the variety of classes, multiple endings, and procedural generation that encourages repeated playthroughs. However, opinions are mixed, as some feel that the content can become repetitive after several runs, limiting long-term engagement. Overall, while it offers decent replay value, it may not sustain interest indefinitely for all players.
“A big part of what makes the rogue-like genre fun is the replayability - the games are just really fun to play, and so you don't mind playing the same content over and over again.”
“While the premise is very simplistic, the variety of different events that can happen on your way there and the different secrets you can uncover provide a lot of replayability - there's even lots of secret endings you can get if you go out of your way for them, and some of those endings even unlock new classes.”
“Each game has multiple endings and the random nature of the game makes it extremely replayable.”
“My main (and really only) complaint about this game is a big one for a roguelite, and it's the lack of replay value.”
“Buy on a huge sale, because this is a roguelike with no replayability, if that makes any sense.”
“The main problem I have with this game, and my main warning to anyone wanting to buy this game, is that despite seeming like this game has a lot of replayability, it really doesn't.”
- grinding52 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often feeling overwhelmed by inventory and window management. While some appreciate the game's creative concept and eventual satisfaction from mastering its systems, many agree that the excessive clicking and lack of quality-of-life features make the grinding experience frustrating. Overall, the game is seen as needing improvements to balance its engaging ideas with more enjoyable gameplay mechanics.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Shame that the game has such a cool visual style and idea, because everything else about it is tedious and uninteresting.”
“Unfortunately it just becomes repetitive and grindy pretty fast.”
“There's no button to loot all from enemies or anything which increases the amount of click'n'dragging you have to do to a stupendous and tedious level.”
- humor40 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever integration with a nostalgic 90s desktop aesthetic, featuring tongue-in-cheek jokes and quirky mechanics that playfully reference old-school RPGs and operating systems. Players appreciate the witty quest notifications and interface gags, which add charm and engagement, although some find the combat mechanics tedious. Overall, the game is described as a humorous roguelike adventure that successfully combines nostalgia with entertaining gameplay.
“Cheeky little gem that achieves a rare breed of humor told mainly through its interface.”
“The tongue-in-cheek jokes and stabs at old school RPGs were particularly funny and made the game more charming.”
“A very witty game, full of nods to old operating systems and funny quips.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its art style, rich content, and pleasant soundtrack, which together create an engaging experience. However, some reviews note a lack of memorable music and a few opinions suggest that the atmosphere may not be as impactful as in other titles, like Bastion. Overall, while many find the atmosphere enjoyable, there are mixed feelings about its depth and memorability.
“The art style, the abundance of content, and the very nice soundtrack complement each other and create a great atmosphere.”
“This game is fun and inventive, the music is good and the atmosphere is great!”
“A decent little game but lacking in atmosphere.”
“The music isn't anything that's going to be stuck in your head; no amazing atmosphere like in Bastion.”
“The atmosphere and the aesthetics of the game really drive it home for me.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game is highly praised for its optimization, achieving a perfect performance score of 10/10, with smooth gameplay and very low system requirements. However, players express frustration with the potential for setbacks during challenging encounters, which can undermine the sense of progress built through careful optimization.
“Performance: 10/10 - runs smooth; very low system requirements.”
“There are more pros, but a couple cons to round things out: because the leveling and gameplay gives you that sense of progress, dying when you're level 15 or so, optimized as hell, and at the final boss all because you blew through your potions trying to escape from a powerful knight literally 15 times before it finally works is... disheartening, to say the least.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting frequent freezes and crashes after the initial loading and character creation stages. Overall, the experience is marred by persistent bugs that hinder gameplay.
“Installation went fine, the game would load, I get to 'create' an adventurer and then go to the main game (the 'os') and.... nothing, the game freezes solid and crashes.”
“So, the game is buggy.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a nostalgic emotional connection to the game, feeling a sense of childhood joy and wonder. However, some users also report frustration with the controls, which detracts from the overall emotional experience.
“This game made me feel like a kid again”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is highlighted through its nostalgic and quirky advertising style, reminiscent of 90s games, which effectively captures players' attention. The attention to detail in the game's design, including thematic elements like spam email quests, enhances the overall experience while subtly integrating monetization strategies.
