9 Kings

9 Kings is a strategic roguelike city-builder that impresses with its unique gameplay loop, combining card drafting and autobattler mechanics. Players select from various Kings, each with distinct playstyles centered around units, buildings, or enchantments, and build synergies to overcome escalating challenges. The game offers deep strategic layers with a satisfying progression system and replayability, appealing especially to fans of rogue-lites and card games.

However, the game is still in early access and has notable limitations and bugs. Many players report frequent crashes, especially during high-level runs involving rats or splicing mechanics. The current content is somewhat limited with only 7 of the promised 9 Kings available and a fixed card-per-King limit that stifles deck diversity. Players also find the late-game difficulty scaling punishing and often reliant on luck. Despite these issues, the developers are active, and the core gameplay is praised as addictive and well-designed, with expectations for future improvements and expansions.

Highlights

Players praise the engaging gameplay mechanics that blend strategy, card drafting, and autobattler elements, providing a fresh and addictive experience. The distinct Kings offer varied playstyles, encouraging experimentation and synergy-building. The game’s visuals and sound design are appreciated for their charm and quality, enhancing immersion. The progression system and meta unlocks add depth, motivating repeated playthroughs. Many highlight the game’s polish for an early access title and the developers’ commitment to frequent updates, balancing, and bug fixes.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include game crashes and performance issues, especially at higher levels or with certain mechanics like rats and splicing. Players find the content limited, with only seven Kings currently and a restrictive nine-card limit per King that hampers deck customization. The difficulty curve is seen as punishing, with some builds feeling mandatory and others ineffective, reducing strategic diversity. UI and information clarity during battles are lacking, making it hard to track unit health and damage. The progression system can feel grindy, and some players desire more control over card draws and faction choices. Bugs affecting perks, scaling, and AI behavior also detract from the experience.