Software:Thronefall
Thronefall is a strategy video game developed and published by Grizzly Games. An early access version of the game was released for Microsoft Windows on August 2, 2023.[1][2] The full version of the game was released for Windows and Nintendo Switch on October 11, 2024.[3]
Gameplay
Thronefall is a strategy video game,[2][4] with elements of tower defense games.[1] The kingdom is centered around a great hall which the monarch must protect;[5] they can defend it by spending gold to build walls, defensive towers, and other helpful buildings.[1][4] The monarch can earn gold by building homes and farmland inside the kingdom, in addition to other economical structures such as mines and fisheries.[1][4] Soldiers such as crossbowmen and knights can be recruited at barracks buildings, and can be positioned by the monarch around the level to protect certain areas from attack.[4] Once the monarch has finished preparing their kingdom, they can choose for night to arrive and begin their defense against the enemy waves.[1] Aside from the defensive structures and units, the player can also protect the kingdom by attacking enemies with the monarch's weapons, which include a bow and a spear that possess their own special abilities.[4] Completing a night by defeating all the enemies allows the player to regain all their destroyed buildings and units, and grants the monarch an amount of gold depending on the number of buildings that survived the attacks.[1][2][4]
Development
German[6] studio Grizzly Games gained inspiration for Thronefall as they began having less time to play games due to their preoccupation with work and everyday life. The developers wanted to create an experience that would not be time-consuming, and be more accessible to an audience that did not have much experience with playing games.[7] Early concepts for the game were created through feedback on several short prototypes, with the developers envisioning Thronefall as a building experience. The game's structures were designed to be placed only in pre-set areas, allowing the developers to continue adding new types of buildings and features without drastically affecting the experience of any of the previous levels.[7]
Reception
Based on 4 reviews, the game received "critical acclaim" according to review aggregator Metacritic.[8]
The game had sold just under 1 million copies over a year.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Castle, Katharine (2023-08-02). "Tower defence citybuilding has reached its peak with the adorable but deadly Thronefall" (in en). Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tower-defence-citybuilding-has-reached-its-peak-with-the-adorable-but-deadly-thronefall.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Martin, Sean (2023-06-23). "This smart-yet-simple kingdom survival game might be my next strategy fix" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/this-smart-yet-simple-kingdom-survival-game-might-be-my-next-strategy-fix/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Campbell, Evan (2024-09-25). "Steam Hit Thronefall Gets Full-Version Release Date And Switch Port". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steam-hit-thronefall-gets-full-version-release-date-and-switch-port/1100-6526716/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Gach, Ethan (2023-08-02). "Thronefall Is The Perfect Strategy Game For People Who Don't Have Time" (in en). https://kotaku.com/thronefall-islanders-tower-defense-strategy-steam-pc-1850701534.
- ↑ Donlan, Christian (2023-08-08). "Thronefall: kingdom building, hack-and-slash, and the spirit of Lumines?!" (in en). Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/thronefall-kingdom-building-hack-and-slash-and-the-spirit-of-lumines.
- ↑ Nesterenko, Oleg (14 June 2019). "Strategic minimalism behind indie hit Islanders" (in en-US). WN Media Group. https://gameworldobserver.com/2019/06/14/islanders/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Couture, Joel (2023-07-13). "The developers of Thronefall make games for people who don't have time" (in en). https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/mastering-minimalism-and-layering-complexity-with-strategy-game-thronefall.
- ↑ "Thronefall reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/thronefall/. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
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