Blog | Review
Kingdom builders are often notorious for taking an immense amount of time to play, requiring not only sharp strategic thinking but also meticulous resource management and a keen understanding of logistics. In short, they tend to be demanding experiences. However, that doesn’t always have to be the case. 9 Kings takes the familiar mechanics of a traditional kingdom builder and streamlines them dramatically, offering a more approachable entry point while still rewarding players who think carefully about creating effective synergies.
Every game begins with just nine squares to develop and a set of buildings you can place on each one. After every battle, you’re allowed to pick a new card to add to your deck, sometimes expanding your territory or unlocking other useful buffs. These choices let you quite literally build your own approach – pun very much intended – shaping how you’ll strategise in future turns.
You do need to establish your direction fairly early in each run, but the thrill of interacting with rival royals and clashing with them never gets old. And then there are the visuals, which are stunning in their own right. The game boasts a charming aesthetic reminiscent of the Game Boy Color era, stripping things down to a clean, bold palette that both represents your kingdom and makes it instantly clear who’s friend and who’s foe.
Battles themselves are refreshingly straightforward, using an auto-battling system rather than anything overly complex. There’s a real satisfaction in leaning back and watching your carefully thought-out plans tear through any threat to your kingdom, or, alternatively, realising a poor decision made a few turns ago is now coming back to haunt you. So if you are looking for a new kingdom builder to pass the time, 9 Kings is approachable enough for newcomers to pick up quickly, yet packed with clever synergies that give seasoned players something to truly sink their teeth into.
Jason Coles
Jason likes to focus on roguelikes and co-op games; in a dream world he’d make a living writing about Dark Souls. As well as being a writer he also does personal training and accounting and can occasionally be seen on other people’s streams. Being a big fan of fluffy things means he has two cats, both of whom refuse to let him sleep, but at least they are cute.
