9 Kings
9 Kings Review
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.
Pros
- • Engaging blend of card drafting and autobattler mechanics with strategic depth.
- • Distinct Kings with unique playstyles encourage varied and fun builds.
- • Addictive gameplay loop with satisfying progression and meta unlocks.
- • High-quality visuals and dynamic music enhance immersion.
- • Well-polished for an early access title with active developer support.
- • Good balance of challenge and accessibility for roguelike fans.
- • Frequent updates and balancing improve the game steadily.
Cons
- • Frequent crashes and performance drops, especially at high levels.
- • Limited content with only 7 of 9 Kings currently available.
- • Restrictive nine-card limit per King stifles deck diversity.
- • Difficulty spikes lead to punishing and luck-dependent gameplay.
- • Lack of clear UI feedback during battles hampers tactical decisions.
- • Grindy progression system with slow perk unlocks.
- • Random card draws reduce strategic control and synergy.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
Build your city into the most powerful of all kingdoms through endless combinations of buildings, units, spells, and positioning. Take advantage of chaotic combos and powerful perks to break the game and become overpowered. Grow your kingdom in strategic ways, prepare for dozens of unique events, and show the world your kingdom can outlast all others.
From humble village to massive citadel, your capital recruits your units and grows their power. Expand your kingdom strategically over time and build it to survive decades of war and strife.
From sturdy knights and warlocks, to glass cannon wizards and bombers, to hordes of fiendish imps and sentient mushrooms, there are dozens of units to lead and fight. Stockpile gold to hire thousands of mercenaries to your cause, use dark magic to raise the dead, and harness nature itself to bring down your enemies!
Each of the kings has a different starting deck of buildings, troops, and spells, but you can loot the rival kings who attack your lands to access cards from their unique decks. Make peace with those whose units don’t fit your playstyle, and declare war against kings with the powers and units you covet, deploying the tools acquired from your enemy to unlock countless combinations of stacking buffs and modifiers to build an invincible army.
Combine your cards in endless ways – try out insane builds and watch massive armies fight for your crown, survive as long as you can against increasingly powerful enemies, or break the game and watch all challengers crumble before you.
Rock Paper Shotgun
“The hottest city builder in Steam Next Fest is actually a roguelike deck builder in disguise.”
GamesRadar+
A fast-paced roguelike kingdom builder. Grow your empire and fight massive battles against powerful rival kings. Break the game with thousands of insane builds to become the King of Kings.