Code provided with many thanks to Press Engine.
Overthrown: Reign as Queen in a Whimsical New City Builder
Overthrown is an exciting new city-building game that blends action, resource management, and a dash of silliness. You can play solo or team up with up to six friends online to build a kingdom, farm the land, manage quirky residents, and fend off pesky invaders. I had the chance to play an early demo, and while it’s a bit rough around the edges, it gave me a fun glimpse of its potential.
Grab the Crown
The game kicks off with you taking on the role of a monarch who stumbles upon a mystical crown. This crown doesn’t just let you rule, and it grants you the strength of a superhero (more on that later).
The demo starts you off wandering through a forest with the crown sparkling in the distance. Once you snatch it up, you’re able to build a town hall, which gives you three trusty workers. They get straight to work chopping trees and gathering resources, but you can also build new structures like sawmills and soup kitchens to make their lives (and your kingdom) easier. The building system is simple and intuitive. If you’re short on resources, you can even place blueprints for future buildings and come back to finish them later.
Samson Strength
One of the game’s standout features is your character’s ridiculous super-strength. You can literally pick up almost anything: workers, rocks, even entire buildings! It’s goofy but adds a delightful layer of charm, reinforcing the lighthearted feel that’s also reflected in the game’s vibrant art style.
Tick Off the Objectives
The demo doesn’t force you into any strict path, leaving you free to roam and experiment. There are optional objectives you can follow, like building certain structures or unlocking new ones through research. However, the demo could do a better job of explaining how the game’s mechanics work. For instance, I noticed my workers had a “stress” meter, but the game didn’t explain how to reduce it. I tried a bit of trial and error but eventually gave up. Hopefully, future builds will provide clearer instructions.
Go on an Adventure
Your queen isn’t tied to her throne; she can venture out to gather resources and explore the world herself. I spent a good amount of time just sprinting around the map, seeing what kind of adventures I could find. While the demo is more focused on kingdom-building and defending against invaders, there’s potential for more free-roaming exploration in the full game.
Combat, for now, feels pretty basic, your typical hack-and-slash affair. It’s serviceable but could use some polish. Hopefully, it’ll be expanded as the game progresses.
Bring Some Friends
While the demo is enjoyable solo, the game really shines with friends. With up to six players working together, Overthrown’s true potential starts to unfold. Players can coordinate on building, defending, exploring, or just goofing off. The multiplayer aspect seems like it will be the heart of the game, allowing for plenty of shared laughs and teamwork.
Final Thoughts
The demo is clearly an early build, but it hints at big things to come. Overthrown is shaping up to be a city builder where you can craft the kingdom of your dreams, keep your citizens happy, and protect them from danger. If you’re into stats, you’ll love tracking things like worker satisfaction, resources, and taxes. This is the kind of game you can easily sink hours into.
I had fun exploring and experimenting, though a bit more guidance would’ve helped. That said, I’m confident these issues will be smoothed out as development continues. If you enjoy city builders, especially with friends, definitely give the demo a try while you can.
Overthrown is set to enter Early Access soon, though no official release date has been announced just yet. Keep an eye out for this one!
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