The Castle Doctrine
- January 29, 2014
- Jason Rohrer
- 30h median play time
A merciless and thoughtfully-designed online strategy game whose clever systems enable a unique and troubling experience.
Get on Steam"The Castle Doctrine" is a multiplayer home defense game where you design and defend your house from other players' burglars, while also attempting to steal from them. Each player's house contains traps, guards and a safe, with the layout and defenses being unique to each individual. Permadeath is in effect, making each decision and strategy crucial as there are no second chances.
Mac OS
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Reviews
- The game has a unique and interesting concept that combines building defenses and robbing other players' houses.
- Players can create intricate traps and puzzles, leading to a rewarding experience when successfully defending their home.
- The atmosphere is dark and engaging, providing a thrilling experience as players navigate the dangers of their own creations.
- The game suffers from a steep learning curve, making it difficult for new players to succeed against more experienced ones.
- Permadeath mechanics can be frustrating, as players lose all progress and must start over after dying, leading to a tedious gameplay loop.
- The player base is very small, making it hard to find engaging matches and diminishing the overall experience.
- gameplay63 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, highlighting a blend of innovative mechanics and frustrating design choices. While some players appreciate the core gameplay of building defenses and raiding, many criticize the steep learning curve, unbalanced mechanics, and punishing permadeath system that detracts from overall enjoyment. Overall, the game shows potential but suffers from execution issues that can lead to a tedious experience.
“Gameplay is amazing!”
“The gameplay itself is really quite interesting.”
“The gameplay is split between two tasks: building defenses to protect your vault and your family, and raiding your neighbors' houses for money and tools.”
“Seemed promising at first, but the lazy gameplay made it clear that this would only be mildly interesting for a very short period of time.”
“The gameplay is totally unbalanced, and the idea of losing everything on death is just bad.”
“Playing it on the other hand was severely disappointing after a short while, as you can't get very far without falling prey to a house with a mechanic that traps you.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally criticized for being simplistic and lacking detail, with many reviewers expressing disappointment in the overall visual quality. While some appreciate the bleak aesthetic and themes, the consensus is that the visuals do not justify the game's price, and many players wish for better graphics. Despite the poor graphics, a few users suggest looking past them to enjoy the gameplay experience.
“First of all, I like the themes and aesthetic of the game.”
“After a bit of poking from friends (a big thank you to Yorkie & Griff), I decided to get past the basic graphics and give this a go.”
“So get past the 8-bit graphics (I did) and buy this game; you won't regret it, it is only going to improve from here.”
“The visuals are bleak and the soundtrack is dour and oppressive.”
“I wish it had better graphics.”
“This has got to be the worst game I have ever played. It is messed up when you die once your game starts over and your hard work is gone. I paid £13 for a game as bad as this; the graphics are terrible, and there is no way this is worth the money.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a dark and tense atmosphere, with situational comedy arising from players' failed attempts to navigate traps, which often leads to amusing moments captured on security tapes. While some players find joy in the comedic elements, others feel that repetitive gameplay can diminish the overall fun, particularly for those not directly involved in the humorous mishaps.
“The creator made some interesting but great choices which provide such a dark, tense, and strangely humorous atmosphere.”
“Situational humor in game form.”
“So, you of course test your traps, let's say the electrified floor trap to see what it does, whether it's some sort of humorous zapping animation or something else.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often leading to boredom due to a lack of engaging multiplayer interaction. The process of amassing resources and designing defenses can feel unrewarding, especially when mistakes result in significant losses, making the overall experience feel repetitive and unfulfilling.
“But don't buy it on Steam; there aren't enough players to engage with, and the process becomes frustrating and tedious.”
“After grinding and amassing a fortune, you can spend hours designing and fortifying your house, only to lose it all after a simple mis-wiring or off-by-one timing of a trap.”
“While trial and error is good and all, when it's the only way you have to learn the game's mechanics, it becomes quite tedious.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised as one of its strongest features, characterized by a dark, tense, and humorously cynical tone. It effectively blends elements reminiscent of Minecraft's creativity with the perilous dynamics of the EVE Online community, creating a sense of constant danger and distrust among players. Overall, it is regarded as a standout example of atmospheric design in gaming.
“Perhaps the best game for atmosphere ever!”
“It combines the ingenuity of Minecraft with the dangerous atmosphere of the EVE Online community; all players are your enemies, and you are never in a safe spot.”
“It's really something how this game creates such a cynical atmosphere.”
“The creator made some interesting but great choices which provide such a dark, tense, and strangely humorous atmosphere.”
- music6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by a creepy and oppressive atmosphere, complementing the dark and bleak visuals. However, players noted a lack of music during building phases, which may contribute to feelings of frustration. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's unsettling tone.
“The visuals are bleak and the soundtrack is dour and oppressive.”
“Frustration is key; the music is creepy, and everything is dark.”
“There is no music while building.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simplistic and lacking complexity, with no significant narrative depth or progression saving features. However, it is noted for its engaging concept of defending a castle while pursuing loot, drawing comparisons to other games in the genre. Overall, the story does not stand out, but the core idea is appreciated.
“This game has no fancy graphics, no complex story, and even no possibility to save your progress.”
“I'd personally rate a similar game, 'the pay-to-win quest for mediocre loot,' above this, and it's obvious how I feel about that one.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game exhibits a mixed perception of replayability; while some players find it retains significant value for repeated playthroughs, others feel it lacks depth and variety to encourage multiple runs.
“Although even today, it still has replay value somehow.”
“It's replayability may be golden for some, but lacks for me.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight that the game effectively combines puzzle-solving and complex structure-building with a strong emotional experience, making it highly recommended for those seeking both intellectual and emotional engagement in their gaming.
“If you're into puzzle solving and building complex interacting structures, and want to have an emotional experience while gaming, then I totally recommend this game to you.”
