Stronghold Kingdoms

About

Stronghold Kingdoms is a single player and multiplayer open world role playing game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by Firefly Studios and was released on February 27, 2012. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Stronghold Kingdoms" is a MMORTS game where players build and manage their own medieval villages, engage in warfare against other players, and fight for a single kingly throne across a dynamic archipelago of 38 islands. The changing sea conditions, including tail winds, rough seas, and hurricanes, affect the speed and success of attacks, trade, and scouting. The game boasts a high level of depth and complexity, with a strong focus on strategy and tactics, and is known for its lack of pay-to-win elements.

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57%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,263 reviews

gameplay44 positive mentions

grinding48 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a mix of strategy, diplomacy, and castle building.
Strong community interaction, with many players willing to help newcomers.
Constant updates and new worlds keep the game fresh for long-term players.

Heavily pay-to-win mechanics that create an unbalanced playing field.
Long wait times for building and research, making progress feel tedious.
Frequent issues with bugs and technical problems that hinder gameplay.

gameplay
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
70%
11%
The gameplay of "Stronghold Kingdoms" is characterized by a mix of strategic castle-building and faction warfare, offering a rich but often tedious experience due to long wait times and a heavy reliance on pay-to-win mechanics. While some players appreciate the depth and complexity of the game, many criticize its outdated graphics, poor user interface, and the overwhelming influence of players who spend money to gain advantages. Overall, the game can be enjoyable for those who appreciate slow-paced strategy, but it is marred by significant balance issues and a lack of meaningful updates.
- “The depth of its gameplay mechanics, from base-building to diplomacy, provides a rich and immersive experience that can keep players engaged for hours on end.”
- “Stronghold Kingdoms is a fantastic real-time strategy game that combines classic castle-building gameplay with a persistent online world.”
- “I do recommend this game because of how in-depth and captivating the gameplay can become.”
- “This game crashes so often and the gameplay is rather poor, so don't even consider playing it or at least using real money in it.”
- “Stronghold Kingdoms is a tedious grind with no end: outdated graphics, boring gameplay, and pay-to-win mechanics at every turn.”
- “The gameplay is very slow and not very inspiring.”
graphics
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
64%
14%
The graphics of "Stronghold Kingdoms" are widely criticized for being outdated and reminiscent of early 2000s titles, often described as simplistic or clunky. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and functional design, many find the visuals lacking compared to modern standards, with complaints about poor aesthetics and graphical glitches. Overall, the game's graphics do not meet the expectations of contemporary gamers, detracting from the overall experience despite the strategic depth it offers.
- “Graphics are highly enjoyable, if not a bit dated, giving them an Age of Empires II feel - something which initially got me to check out the game.”
- “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
- “It's probably the best free-to-play RTS on Steam at this moment, and while the graphics hail from a previous decade, they still retain the charm of the original Stronghold.”
- “Its dated graphics and clunky interface can be a turn-off for modern gamers accustomed to sleeker, more polished experiences.”
- “The graphics are to say the most below acceptable for a game like this; especially for the PC, the graphics have not improved one bit. They are sloppy compared to most games for your smartphone and look like a rip-off of 2001 graphics.”
- “The graphics were just about quaint 4 years ago, and yeah I know we all love shoddy graphics as long as we enjoy the gameplay, but come on... the pile of poop Stronghold 3 has gorgeous graphics, so why does Stronghold Kingdoms still look like a roadmap?”
story
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
85%
6%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engaging narrative, with many players noting that it feels repetitive and uninspired. While there are numerous quests and challenges, the overall storyline is often deemed non-existent or poorly developed, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel stagnant. Players express a desire for more meaningful story elements and quest variety to enhance their engagement with the game.
- “The best thing about it is that you write the story.”
- “Most tasks don't feel like chores, and completing any task or quest leaves one feeling rather accomplished.”
- “Interesting quests that are rewarding.”
- “However, it falls short in story development and can feel repetitive, despite its impressive medieval atmosphere and detailed graphics.”
- “The problem with all MMOs: no story, no ending.”
- “After trying this twice, I still don't understand why they give you quests but don't give you the knowledge needed to complete them, and when they try to give you this information, it is incomplete or you have to search the internet to get a clue as to what to do.”
grinding
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The grinding aspect of Stronghold Kingdoms is widely criticized for being tedious and heavily reliant on pay-to-win mechanics, with many players feeling that progress is locked behind either excessive grinding or costly microtransactions. While some enjoy the social elements and initial gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game quickly becomes a monotonous resource management experience, often dominated by cheaters and inactive players, making it frustrating for free-to-play users. Ultimately, players recommend seeking out older titles for a more enjoyable experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “No farming, as in the case where someone would attack your village daily and prevent your growth (very rare, almost none).”
- “What starts as a promising medieval strategy game quickly devolves into a tedious resource management slog where progress is locked behind either endless hours of repetitive tasks or expensive microtransactions.”
- “Stronghold Kingdoms is a tedious grind with no end: outdated graphics, boring gameplay, and pay-to-win mechanics at every turn.”
- “It starts out fun, then gets very tedious and boring unless you cough up the money.”
monetization
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
55%
38%
The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to the heavy reliance on microtransactions that create a pay-to-win environment. Users report that progress is often locked behind tedious tasks or costly purchases, leading to frustration and a sense of exploitation. While some acknowledge that the game is playable without spending money, the overwhelming presence of ads and the necessity of in-game purchases to remain competitive detracts from the overall experience.
- “Fun on the casual level, maybe not so much if you play seriously. Microtransactions are available, but the game is still playable without them, and you can get up to 9 free cards a week anyway.”
- “Cause all free-to-play games focus on in-game purchases, and this one is not that expensive to have premium access in comparison with others.”
- “Although I see why the company would want in-game purchases, and I respect it fully.”
- “What starts as a promising medieval strategy game quickly devolves into a tedious resource management slog where progress is locked behind either endless hours of repetitive tasks or expensive microtransactions.”
- “Microtransactions ruined the game twice for me.”
- “The main problem with the game is that microtransactions eventually become necessary just to have any chance against the players who were around for longer, and that it just didn't manage to hold my interest for very long as I can get a better experience by just playing the original Stronghold.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
45%
11%
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and immersive qualities, with many players enjoying the medieval soundtrack that enhances the gaming experience. However, some users note that the playlist is limited, leading to repetitiveness over time, and express a desire for more diverse tracks. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the ambiance, it may not sustain long-term engagement for all players.
- “The game's music and ambience is so relaxing and enjoyable.”
- “I think the music and sound effects are perfect and satisfying for the game.”
- “The medieval soundtrack is just awesome; game mechanics require you to think strategically.”
- “Could maybe have included more songs for the music playlist, but really well done for the game overall.”
- “The music and visuals are way past the use-by date; the gameplay itself can be fun for a few months but gets stale very quickly as feature development is not something that happens here.”
- “At first, it hooks you with the original game's music and visuals, but you quickly realize it is an empty, lifeless shell of what a great game it used to be.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and performance issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Users frequently encounter problems such as texture loading failures, freezing timers, and persistent minor glitches, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game appears to prioritize monetization over addressing these core stability issues, resulting in a perception of it being a "buggy mess."
- “This game is a buggy mess.”
- “It is so buggy it doesn't load most of the textures.”
- “The rules are vague, the game is buggy, cheating is rampant, and it is a pay-to-win game of the highest order.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
19%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of dark and situational comedy, often stemming from players exploiting game mechanics to attack others while laughing at their misfortunes. While some find the community and certain scenarios amusing, others feel that the humor can quickly turn sour, especially when faced with frustrating gameplay elements like "pay to win" dynamics and the consequences of being targeted by other players. Overall, the humor is hit-or-miss, appealing to those who enjoy a chaotic and competitive environment but potentially alienating for those who prefer a more straightforward gaming experience.
- “The funny thing is the honor cost to attack trolls is so high that neither you nor your allies can attack them without losing 90% of your honor (obviously no one helps you because of the honor cost).”
- “Haven't spent a dime and I'm progressing, but quite slower than people who actually would spend money on this game, which I think is kind of funny.”
- “It's about as exciting, rage-inducing, and hilarious as you'd think it'd be.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
- “I found the jokes to be stale and lacking any real wit.”
- “The attempts at humor are cringeworthy and miss the mark completely.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its impressive medieval setting and detailed graphics, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some players feel that the atmosphere alone cannot compensate for issues like repetitive gameplay and a perceived pay-to-win model, which can detract from overall enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, many still find the atmosphere captivating and recommend the game for its strong environmental design.
- “However, it falls short in story development and can feel repetitive, despite its impressive medieval atmosphere and detailed graphics.”
- “Really atmospheric and great medieval strategy MMO!”
- “Creating a naturally toxic atmosphere.”
- “I'd still recommend it; it's the atmosphere that grips me... or well... used to grip me... and conquering your hometown... epic...”
- “Atmosphere 6/10”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting initial technical issues such as crashes and stuttering sound. While some users noted that the game can run smoothly during gameplay, others criticized its lack of significant improvements over the years and poor customer support regarding optimization issues. The consensus suggests that while there is potential for better performance, the current state is considered buggy and not well-optimized.
- “It opens up a lot more possibility for optimization and higher level gameplay than other similar titles where high level play simply involves having all of your city's buildings fully upgraded.”
- “You get the occasional keyboard warrior and the odd numpty taking down your hard-earned village for no good reason, but minus that, it tends to run smoothly.”
- “After going through a few technical issues I was experiencing right after starting the game for the first time (crashes, error messages, stuttering sound), and finally launching the game to play it comfortably, I was not impressed.”
- “Also mediocre support when complaining about said bugs and lack of optimization who just tell you that you need to restart the game client and that server lag is because of your own internet (even when connected to ethernet).”
- “What I do not like about it is that it is quite poorly optimized and there are no big changes from when I last left (2014 -> 2017).”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews present a mixed perspective on replayability; while some users highlight it as a premier game with high replayability, others criticize it for being pay-to-win with limited replayable qualities, suggesting that the monetization model detracts from the overall experience.
- “This is probably the premier game for replayability.”
- “+ high replayability.”
- “Length & replayability”
- “It is a pay-to-win game with very few replayable qualities and is really made to make money. I would rather buy the game and play it than use microtransactions for everything good.”
- “Even EA would make this a more replayable game.”
- “Replayability is lacking.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it heartwarming, especially fans of the earlier titles, others feel frustrated by the steep learning curve and competitive nature, which detracts from their enjoyment. Overall, the emotional engagement varies significantly among players, with some appreciating the depth and others feeling overwhelmed.
- “Especially when you liked the first two Stronghold games, this one is heartwarming.”