Initially, I thought I’d dislike Nine Kings. The concept didn’t grab me, the mechanics appeared restrictive, and the graphics seemed dull. However, the gameplay hook was so compelling that I found myself compelled to pen a short review about it. I assure you, this time I truly intend to keep it brief, unlike my usual lengthy reviews!
- Genre: Strategy Roguelike
- Developer: Sad Socket
- Publisher: Hooded Horse, INSTINCT3
- Release Date: 23th May, 2025
- Price: $9.74/ 9,74€/ £8.44
- Buy at: Steam
- Reviewed On: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X 3.70 GHz, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 2080
9 Kings could be succinctly summarized as an engaging blend of fast-paced fantasy, kingdom building, roguelike, and autobattler gameplay, incorporating deckbuilding elements. It may seem like an odd combination, but if it delivers a fun gaming experience, perhaps its uniqueness isn’t so foolish after all. In the game, you choose one of seven initial kings (with two more set to be introduced during the early access phase), and you control a total of 9 tiles. On each turn, you can play a card from your deck, which may consist of units, buildings, buffs, or unique cards with special attributes, such as a backline goat that pays you gold when it is defeated.
After you play your move, one of four kings along with their armies will attack you. If you successfully weather this assault, the game continues, allowing for another turn. However, if an enemy reaches your fortress (castle, palace, or sanctuary), you lose a round. Lose three rounds and the game concludes, forcing you to start a new one. On the other hand, achieve 30 victories, and you emerge victorious in the game. Hopefully, this explanation makes it clear!
I find the charm of 9 Kings lies in its ability to blend any card imaginably, leading to the most outrageous combinations. Each king comes with a unique deck of 9 cards that cannot be altered, and they each have their distinct gameplay style. For instance, the King of Nothing embodies the classic medieval archetype, complete with a castle, soldiers, archers, and defensive towers. On the other hand, the King of Blood specializes in sacrificing troops to amplify his towers and demons. The King of Greed, meanwhile, is all about earning maximum wealth to recruit more mercenaries and enhance the effectiveness of his Gatling towers.
Though each king has only 9 cards at their disposal, with every turn you win, you can pick one card from the defeated king, which adds a layer of excitement as you never know what crazy combinations might unfold when you pair snipers with imps, shamans, or elves.
In this game, the majority of the action takes place on the 9 grid spaces. Each card representing a unit or building must be positioned within one of these spaces, making your play area relatively confined, particularly at the outset. However, as buildings can enhance units, players must devise a strategy to make the most of their initial limitations. For instance, you might choose to place a unit in the center and surround it with buildings that boost its power. Alternatively, you could station towers on opposite sides with buildings providing buffs to their firing rates, poison, or electric shocks. As the game unfolds, additional spaces become available, allowing for exciting combinations. My preferred strategy is to amass as many buildings as possible to accelerate the firing rate of my Gatling towers, which then swiftly demolish hordes of enemies with astonishing efficiency and even finish off the final boss in under a second.
With each King you interact with, you’ll accumulate experience, a currency essential for unlocking valuable benefits particularly useful in challenging modes. These include expanding the game board, boosting tile level-ups, increasing the number of cards in your hand at any given moment, and numerous enjoyable features to uncover on your own. The main objective is for you to employ clever combos to manipulate and master the game, a goal enthusiastically endorsed by the developers themselves, as stated on their Steam page.
In every game session, you’ll find a merchant, bonuses, and unique advantages at your disposal. These elements can significantly alter your approach for that particular playthrough. Each game typically lasts between 10 to 15 minutes if you reach the end, and due to its varying nature, each game feels distinct from the others. This is why it’s easy to find yourself saying, “Let’s try this again,” only to look at the clock and realize it’s past midnight and you should be asleep.
In my opinion, there are several areas that could be improved in this game. Firstly, I’d appreciate if there were more card options for each king, as the current selection feels limited. Secondly, introducing a free-play mode where players can construct their own kingdoms and experiment with various creations would be fascinating.
Additionally, a multiplayer game mode could add an exciting dynamic, allowing up to four players to engage in competitive battles similar to other auto battlers.
Lastly, I believe the pixelated art style lacks inspiration, making it difficult to distinguish units during combat. Constantly having to hover over each unit to identify them becomes tedious after a while, and if units were more distinct from one another, this issue could be avoided.
These are minor issues, not major problems that would ruin the game. By the way, I experienced a crash once while attempting to explore the “endless” mode of a game I had already won, but remember this feature is quite unstable, so it’s understandable. Just be aware of this if you plan on using it, at least for now.
Before we conclude, let me add a point about the game’s challenges. It’s enjoyable at the beginning with several build options, but as you progress to higher difficulties, success or failure often boils down to whether you get that specific card, and repeatedly starting over due to random chance can be quite aggravating.
Final Score: 7/10
If you’re seeking a strategic game that provides an engaging yet relaxed gaming experience following a tiring day, you’ll find 9 Kings quite appealing. However, if you prefer games with deeper, more complex mechanics, this might not be your cup of tea. The gameplay is captivating, and the constraints on tiles and cards ensure that each move carries significant weight, making it both thrilling and impactful. On the most challenging settings, 9 Kings can become quite demanding, even nerve-wracking. At just $10, it’s a game you might find yourself playing daily for a week before moving on to something else or keeping it running in the background while waiting for friends to join another game. It’s an affordable choice that offers good value for money.
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2025-05-29 18:43