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
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Kingsway offers a unique and charming RPG experience with its nostalgic Windows 95 aesthetic.
- The gameplay mechanics, including the moving combat windows and pop-up attacks, create an engaging and challenging experience.
- The game has a decent amount of replayability with multiple classes, endings, and unlockable features.
- The game can become repetitive quickly, with limited enemy variety and quests.
- The time limit mechanic, represented by the encroaching shadow, can feel restrictive and frustrating for players who prefer exploration.
- Some players may find the mouse-based controls and window management cumbersome and annoying.
- gameplay288 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique integration of a retro operating system aesthetic, which influences combat and exploration mechanics. Players appreciate the nostalgic visuals and innovative window management, though some find the mechanics can become tedious or clunky over time. Overall, the game offers a fun and engaging experience, particularly for fans of roguelikes, but may not appeal to those seeking deeper gameplay complexity.
“The management aspects, the unexpected depth, the gameplay loop; it really is just perfect.”
“The gameplay itself is fun, challenging, satisfying, and rewarding, with a story that is as interesting as it is mysterious.”
“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.”
“The game behind the interface doesn't have the depth to support the length of the experience, and the interface isn't important enough to the gameplay to elevate the experience.”
“The gameplay isn't bad, it's just lacking in any sort of depth.”
- story134 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and often feels like an afterthought, primarily serving as a backdrop for the gameplay mechanics rather than a driving narrative. Players navigate a randomized world filled with quests delivered via an email interface, which adds a unique charm but lacks depth and variety, leading to repetitive experiences across playthroughs. While there are multiple endings and some humor in the quest design, the overall narrative is simplistic and not the main draw of the game, appealing more to those who enjoy gameplay over 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 is fluid, the story is interesting, and the art style is lovely.”
“You, playing the protagonist, go on a quest to defeat the sky eater, with 5 different endings that show how you go about doing so.”
“The main other issue is that the story is minimal.”
“Let me make this clear, the game really only has one story that you just repeat over and over again.”
“The quests all blend together, the gear all blends together, it's all one big amorphous blob.”
- graphics95 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of Kingsway are characterized by a nostalgic Windows 95 aesthetic, which many players find charming and unique, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. The retro art style, while simplistic, effectively complements the game's mechanics and evokes fond memories for those familiar with older operating systems. Overall, the visuals are appreciated for their creativity and ability to create a fun, immersive atmosphere, despite not being modern or high-definition.
“The art style, the abundance of content, and the very nice soundtrack complement each other and create a great atmosphere.”
“The aesthetic and the humor are great too, from the obvious 90's desktop theming to the more subtle things like the optional MIDI soundtrack in the game's music player and the familiar 'spam email' rhetoric of the game's quest system.”
“Kingsway manages to mix up the roguelite RPG genre by introducing a Windows-style graphic style as the way that you play the game.”
“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.”
“Art direction/graphics: 5/10 (pleasant enough to look at, if a little bland)”
“It is a very basic $10 game, so yes, don't expect snazzy graphics and sound design.”
- music93 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and nostalgic retro feel, with many players enjoying the catchy, midi-inspired soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some users noted a desire for more tracks due to the limited playlist length, the in-game music player allows for a personalized listening experience, making it a highlight for many. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its fun and immersive gameplay.
“The art style, the abundance of content, and the very nice soundtrack complement each other and create a great atmosphere.”
“The gameplay is fun and intuitive, it has one of the best soundtracks of any game, I love the art.”
“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 going to loop a few times during a full playthrough as that's probably going to 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.”
- replayability84 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Replayability in this game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its variety of classes, multiple endings, and procedural generation that contribute to a solid replay value. However, some reviewers note that the game can feel repetitive after several runs, and the lack of depth and varied content may limit long-term engagement. Overall, while it offers enjoyable replayability, it may not be "infinitely replayable" for everyone.
“Endlessly replayable.”
“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.”
“The customization and different events result in a game with a lot of replayability.”
“My main (and really only) complaint about this game is a big one for a roguelite, and it's the lack of replay value.”
“The main problem I have with this game, and my main warning to anyone wanting to buy it, is that despite seeming like it has a lot of replayability, it really doesn't.”
“While multiple classes and unlocks would imply a lot of replayability, the replays feel stale quickly.”
- grinding32 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often detracting from its otherwise creative and visually appealing design. While some enjoy the challenge and eventual mastery of the systems, many express frustration with excessive clicking, inventory management, and the need for constant character remakes, leading to a sense of monotony. Despite its intriguing concepts, the execution leaves players feeling that the grind overshadows the fun.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The things that make it unique and intriguing are the very same things that make it tedious and irritating to play, especially on Steam Deck.”
“Unfortunately, it just becomes repetitive and grindy pretty fast.”
“The amount of clicking in this game gets extremely tedious and tiring.”
- humor28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charming and unique approach, blending nostalgic elements of early computer operating systems with tongue-in-cheek jokes and absurd mechanics. Players appreciate the witty quips and humorous quest notifications, which add a layer of charm and nostalgia, making the experience engaging and enjoyable despite some criticisms of gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's humor is a standout feature that enhances its appeal as a quirky roguelike adventure.
“It's quite a unique roguelike, definitely funny and worth experiencing.”
“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.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its art style, content richness, and soundtrack, which together create an engaging experience. However, some players feel it lacks depth compared to other titles, with music that doesn't leave a lasting impression. Overall, while the atmosphere is a highlight for many, opinions vary on its effectiveness.
“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.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game, with some feeling stressed by unfair deaths while others appreciate the nostalgic joy it brings, reminiscent of childhood experiences. However, there are also frustrations related to gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall emotional engagement.
“Quite a few times I died and didn't feel like it was really my own fault, and it genuinely made me feel a bit stressed out.”
“This game made me feel like a kid again.”
“I'll be honest, dear reader: noticing that I have more hours in this game than most of the reviews and some of the guide authors made me feel the need to give it a thumbs up.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably problematic, with users reporting frequent bugs and crashes, particularly during the initial loading and gameplay phases. While some appreciate the core mechanics and customization options, the presence of glitches and balance issues detracts significantly from the overall experience. A patch is hoped for to address these stability concerns.
“This game is buggy as crap... I really hope they'll make a patch for it because it gets annoying fast.”
“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.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users noting its smooth performance and low system requirements, earning a perfect score of 10/10. However, some players express frustration with the gameplay mechanics, particularly the disheartening experience of losing progress after extensive optimization efforts during challenging encounters.
“Performance: 10/10 - runs smooth; very low system requirements.”
“There are more pros, but a couple of cons to round things out: because the leveling and gameplay give 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.”
“Remember the early 1990s when operating systems were clunky sets of monotone-bordered windows, and one misclick could undo minutes of optimization?”
“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.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is creatively integrated, featuring quirky ads reminiscent of 90s games, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail, including thematic elements like spam email-style quests and immersive sound effects, making the monetization feel less intrusive and more engaging.
“The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which ruins the experience.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
