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The King is Watching is a single player city builder game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Hypnohead and was released on July 21, 2025. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"The King is Watching" is a tower defense game where players build and manage their kingdom, keep track of workers, and protect it from enemies in 11 waves. The game features an endless mode and is available for both web and Steam browsers. It was created by the Hypnohead team and is set to release in 2024.

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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,752 reviews
gameplay196 positive mentions
grinding98 negative mentions

  • The game features a unique 'gaze' mechanic that requires players to actively manage their resources and troops, adding a strategic layer to gameplay.
  • The art style and humor are charming, making the game visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
  • There is a good amount of replayability due to the variety of kings, units, and strategies available, keeping each run feeling fresh.
  • The game can feel grindy, with slow progression and a heavy reliance on RNG for resource availability, which can lead to frustrating runs.
  • Some units and buildings are underwhelming or feel useless, leading to a lack of diversity in viable strategies as players often gravitate towards a few optimal choices.
  • The difficulty spikes significantly at higher threat levels, which can make the game feel unbalanced and punishing, especially for new players.
  • gameplay
    456 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "The King is Watching" is widely praised for its addictive core loop and innovative mechanics, particularly the unique "gaze" mechanic that requires players to actively manage resources and buildings. While many players find the gameplay engaging and filled with strategic depth, some express concerns about repetitiveness and grindiness, especially as they progress. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the roguelike genre, combining elements of tower defense and resource management in a charming and visually appealing package.

    • “The core gameplay loop is amazing; it is very creative and super fresh.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very satisfying, and it’s well balanced overall.”
    • “The gameplay is simple to get a hold of early, but has endless possibilities, and the way they increase difficulty is interesting.”
    • “As others point out, the gameplay quickly becomes tedious.”
    • “The gameplay loop gets super repetitive quite quickly and feels very grindy.”
    • “After only 15 hours, the gameplay becomes very monotonous and has nothing more to offer.”
  • graphics
    121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming and beautiful pixel art style, which many players find engaging and visually appealing. While some critiques mention that the pixel graphics can be simplistic or unappealing, the overall consensus highlights the art's creativity and how well it complements the gameplay mechanics. The combination of cute character designs, vibrant visuals, and a cohesive aesthetic contributes to a delightful gaming experience that resonates with players.

    • “The visuals are incredible, the troops and buildings are amazing, and overall the humor is spot on.”
    • “The graphics are beautifully made and very adorable.”
    • “The art style is absolutely stunning.”
    • “You don't build anything in the game, you just put a square icon on a square (the pixel graphics are really bad, and this coming from someone that likes pixel 2D games).”
    • “But the art style is just... disgusting!”
    • “The graphics are low res, strangely well fitting the vibe.”
  • grinding
    102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, which many players find tedious and unbalanced, particularly in the early stages and when unlocking new abilities. While some appreciate the replayability and the satisfaction that comes from progression, others feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to a repetitive gameplay loop. Overall, the experience of grinding varies widely among players, with some finding it engaging and others viewing it as a frustrating barrier to enjoyment.

    • “No tedious starting phase, just pure unadulterated fun :d”
    • “The gameplay loop gets super repetitive quite quickly and feels very grindy.”
    • “You're grinding for permanent upgrades to make the next attempt easier, but unlocking new kings or meaningful buffs takes enough failed runs that it occasionally crosses from challenging into tedious.”
    • “The game is designed such that it's impossible to win without grinding.”
  • replayability
    83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with a wealth of upgrades, diverse strategies, and various playable characters that keep each run feeling fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the blend of city-building and tower defense mechanics, alongside a satisfying difficulty curve and random elements that enhance the experience. While some note that the upgrade system can feel overwhelming, the overall consensus is that the game offers a rich and addictive replay value, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.

    • “There is a lot of replayability and a surprising amount of depth.”
    • “The replayability is amazing; there are so many advisors and kings to unlock, and so many different build possibilities.”
    • “The variety in strategies and outcomes gives it strong replay value, making each run feel fresh.”
    • “I'll likely come back if new maps/upgrades/content is added, but once the game is fully beaten, it doesn't feel like there's too much replay value.”
    • “Upgrades unlock a bit too quickly, so long-term replay value might taper off sooner than expected.”
    • “Once you get in and see everything that you can upgrade and the options for replayability, it can seem mildly overwhelming.”
  • music
    81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players describing it as catchy, relaxing, and fitting for both peaceful and combat scenarios. While some users noted that the soundtrack could benefit from more variety, the majority found it to be a standout feature that complements the game's charming art style and engaging gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's addictive nature and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The music is great and is comforting.”
    • “The gameplay loop is addictive, the graphics are gorgeous, and the music is fantastic — honestly, these three alone kept me hooked for hours.”
    • “The music is special all its own and every track feels fitting, especially when it picks up as combat starts.”
    • “In a way, it feels like an early access version because of this, along with the lack of options (like key bindings), the monotone and somewhat boring music, troop icons that look too similar, the absence of extra explanations (such as hover text), and probably some other quality of life features I’m forgetting right now.”
    • “The music drags before you can 100% this one.”
    • “The first map music makes me want to blow my brains out.”
  • humor
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and effectiveness, with players enjoying the witty writing, funny scenarios, and quirky art style. Many reviews highlight the balance between humor and gameplay, noting that the comedic elements enhance the overall experience without detracting from the challenge. The incorporation of memes and absurdist humor adds a unique charm, making it a standout in the strategy genre.

    • “The scenarios are humorous without being silly, and the whole game has that perfect 'I can definitely do better next time' energy that eats entire evenings.”
    • “I love how the developers added their touch of humor to the random events; it feels really fresh and fun.”
    • “Incredibly unique gameplay, cozy vibes, absurdist humor, and a genuinely fun experience.”
  • story
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many users noting that there is no cohesive campaign or significant narrative progression. While some appreciate the charming art and minor story elements, they express a desire for a more connected and engaging storyline. Overall, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable, but the absence of a substantial story detracts from the experience for those seeking a narrative-driven game.

    • “The art and cute little story really make the game shine too.”
    • “The fact that you have to complete quests with each new character to unlock their special abilities is amazing to me.”
    • “You start your tale of humble beginnings with the express purpose to grow and secure your rule over that land through story-driven decisions and random encounters to grow both your kingdom and your army of loyal fairy-tale creatures.”
    • “There's no story here.”
    • “This game suffers from no campaign / story mode.”
    • “I don’t think there is any real story in this game.”
  • optimization
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report good performance with no significant visual or crashing issues, there are calls for an optimization patch to address balance and endgame challenges. The mechanics allow for deep strategic thinking and optimization, but some users feel the game is not fully polished and lacks features like mid-run saving. Despite these concerns, the potential for optimization and adaptation is a highlight for players who enjoy strategic gameplay.

    • “But if you like puzzles disguised as strategy games, if you enjoy that specific itch of optimization and adaptation, this will grab you.”
    • “The difficulty is quite challenging at first but learning and insight will factor quickly so you can feel the impact of your gained knowledge and optimizations in each game.”
    • “The resource system, production, and combat systems are easy to get into, but there is so much room for optimization it's crazy.”
    • “Gotta start with a disclaimer: this game needs an optimization patch.”
    • “However, the game suffers from the typical problems of the 'modern era' — like so many games these days, it is neither finished nor properly optimized.”
    • “The balance isn't great; endgame units are very difficult to set up and take a lot of prerequisite buildings/resources to build for fairly underwhelming performance compared to heavily specialized and upgraded early game units.”
  • stability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with users reporting frequent bugs, including a problematic tree-cutting spell and occasional crashes, particularly during longer play sessions. While it runs well on the Steam Deck, the lack of mid-run saves and persistent freezing issues detract from the overall experience.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck!”
    • “Amazing game, runs great on Steam Deck too!”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck, by the way.”
    • “The game itself is fun, but far too buggy; the game will semi-frequently crash to desktop when you're 1+ hour into a run, and with no mid-run save either, this is extremely frustrating.”
    • “Super fun game, although every time I get a good run and play for a while longer, the game freezes.”
    • “Spell for cutting trees is buggy; it sometimes skips one tree even though it was highlighted before casting the spell.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has received praise for its engaging core mechanics and lack of predatory monetization, contributing to its "very positive" status. However, some players feel that the advertising is misleading regarding the gameplay experience, particularly in relation to kingdom-building elements.

    • “It earns its 'very positive' status by delivering a core mechanic that feels new and engaging, with zero predatory monetization.”
    • “The advertising claims about 'building a kingdom' are misleading.”
    • “Perhaps one of the most successful advertising campaigns ever.”
    • “So this really adds a challenge as opposed to everything in your kingdom being active all at once, which is what I thought the game would be when I bought it.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its rich, immersive quality that combines strategy and tension, creating a captivating experience that keeps players engaged for hours. Its unique and slightly bizarre elements contribute to a lived-in feel that enhances the overall gameplay.

    • “This game is a beautifully layered mix of strategy, atmosphere, and tension that had me glued for hours without even realizing it.”
    • “What truly stands out is the atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is rich, lived-in, and just weird enough to keep me glued to the screen.”
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83%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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21h Median play time
28h Average play time
12-36h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 34 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The King is Watching is a city builder game with fantasy theme.

The King is Watching is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Windows and Nintendo Switch 2.

On average players spend around 28 hours playing The King is Watching.

The King is Watching was released on July 21, 2025.

The King is Watching was developed by Hypnohead.

The King is Watching has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

The King is Watching is a single player game.

Similar games include 9 Kings, Nordhold, Thronefall, The Last Spell, Super Fantasy Kingdom and others.