Code provided with thanks to Hooded Horse.
9 Kings – A Very Promising First Look
9 Kings is a fast-paced, satisfying strategy game with roguelike elements and a pixel-art aesthetic. It’s another strong early access title from publisher Hooded Horse, already offering a surprisingly deep and engaging experience. Best of all, it’s especially suited to players with limited free time who still want a quick, fulfilling gameplay session.
Defend the Kingdom
9 Kings drops you right into the action with minimal fuss. No lengthy cutscenes or walls of lore, just a straightforward mission: defend your kingdom from waves of increasingly dangerous invaders. You start on a small 3×3 grid, and with each turn, you’ll grow your kingdom and strategically repel enemy forces.
The opening minutes serve as a light tutorial, gradually introducing the game’s mechanics without overwhelming the player. It’s a streamlined, intuitive approach that works well and gets you into the action quickly.
Simple Mechanics, Deep Strategy
Gameplay revolves around tactical card placement. Each turn (representing one in-game year), you’re offered a selection of cards, these might be defensive structures like a catapult, troop units like swordsmen or archers, or buffs that enhance your existing forces.
You place one card on your grid per turn, and then the invaders march in. Battles unfold automatically, with your placed units springing into action. Melee units clash in the center, ranged units fire from a distance, and you can manually aim their attacks for added impact.
Despite its simple structure, the gameplay loop is deeply satisfying. Watching your pixel army rally together and push back a stronger force never gets old. Every decision, what to build, where to place it, when to save or spend, carries weight.
A World That Grows Over Time
As years pass, new events are introduced. You’ll be able to unlock additional tiles to expand your kingdom, unlock buffs, buy new cards from traveling vendors, and even form a truce with a rival factions. These branching decisions add layers of replayability and strategy.
Unit upgrades are handled cleverly: stacking multiple identical cards on the same tile increases that unit’s power. It’s a rewarding mechanic that encourages smart planning and long-term thinking.
At the end of each run, you’ll face a massive boss encounter, a satisfying climax to your growing campaign. And once you’ve completed a run, the game encourages you to dive back in with leveled up stats, tougher difficulty, and alternative starting decks tied to each of the 9 Kings.
Pixel Mayhem with Personality
The pixel-art graphics are colorful and packed with charm. Armies are a bit of a blurred pixelated mess in the midst of fighting each other but the game does a great job of portraying epic battles on a small scale. There’s a light sprinkling of red pixelated blood, which is more playful than gruesome, but worth noting if younger players are watching.
One especially delightful touch is the way your troops shout their little war cries before launching into battle. It adds personality to the carnage and gives your army a sense of spirit.
Final Thoughts
Even in early access, 9 Kings is a blast. Its gameplay is quick to pick up but rewarding to master, and its blend of tower defense, card strategy, and roguelike mechanics creates something unique and highly replayable. The foundation here is already strong, and it’s clear that the developers plan to expand upon it by listening to community feedback.
If you’re into tactical games that don’t demand hours at a time, or just enjoy watching chaos unfold from your carefully laid plans, this is well worth checking out. Plus, there’s a free demo available if you want to dip your toes in first.
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