“Unleash Chaos: The Roguelike Metropolis Builder Stealing the Spotlight at Steam Next Fest”
This Steam Next Fest has resulted in an impressive collection of kingdom-style city builders. The King is Watching caught my attention right from the start, and now 9 Kings has emerged as the top-rated city builder of the event. The twist is that 9 Kings is as much a roguelike deckbuilder as it is a kingdom builder, as developer Sad Socket elaborates.
The demo for 9 Kings has seemingly been available for a while, yet the latest version is featured in Next Fest and most of its “very positive” reviews have been posted recently. The game is described as a blend of grid-based construction where you transform “your city into the mightiest of all kingdoms,” and card-based strategy where you assemble a deck of perks, actions, units, items, and upgrades. It showcases stunning pixel art and looks like the kind of addictive snack game that could easily occupy your evening.
The grid may appear deceptively small: just 9 tiles to start with, but it has potential for expansion. Attack cards can claim a piece of land to enhance neighboring ones, or cause a soldier defending your kingdom to explode upon death and damage would-be invaders. Your deck represents your chosen ruler, which can be akin to classes, and risk levels add further excitement. Other cards can reinforce a group, introduce a new unit like a sniper, or set up defensive structures. It has the feel of a mix of politics, infrastructure, and warfare – anything goes as you vie against other monarchs.
Some truly unique elements begin to unfold when you engage in royal decrees, which appear to offer passive bonuses or directly provide gifts like extra gold. You can summon defeated foes to join your army, reduce the cost of certain cards, or embrace a cultist lifestyle. Hey, sometimes drastic measures are needed to combat inflation.
“Discover ways to exploit the game mechanics and become overwhelmingly powerful,” the developers advise. “Expand your kingdom strategically,”