Kingdoms could have been ONE OF THE GREATEST GAMES

Let me tell you about what could have been one of the greatest games in history. That sounds like an exaggeration, but this game is NO DOUBT HIGHLY AMBITIOUS. The problem is we don't know the future of its fate. And it's not a figment of imagination. If you are a developer, you may want to check it out.

I've been tracking Kingdoms as early as 2016, and bought the Early Access on 2017. Those who got a taste of Kingdoms from thereon were constantly trying to figure out whether the game will launch or not.

Unfortunately in 2019, OREOL, the developer released a statement about how totally uncertain Kingdoms' future is. 2020 some updates were implemented. And then back to nothing again.

Kingdoms is a game where you embark to pioneer on an uninhabited island along with some NPCs. You start by landing on the island by ship with a bunch of NPCs. And after you disembark, you're left to decide your destiny -- that is to build a kingdom from scratch. Along with the hundred some NPCs with you. However the other NPCs will decide what they want to do too. They will settle away from you and to build their own kingdom. Or they may join your settlement where they will become part of your faction.

It's a kingdom starter game playing along with AI characters who can start their own kingdoms. You will need to gather resources, craft tools, and build structures. And you can definitely build multiple settlements. After creating two settlements, a road will spawn to connect them.

The island is a fixed map - I recall. But the resources within the 16x16 land will be random. Where you land at start will always be random. Also, the decision of NPCs will always be random. 

A roadmap to the game I wish.

If I were to compare it with other games, it's like Mount and Blade but everyone starts at zero. And you have to play out to see how many kingdoms will form. Hopefully some NPCs join you if you start your own kingdom. And you'll just be surprised at another settlement that sprawled not far from yours. 

It's also like The Guild in first person, but you don't start in a city. Everyone starts as a noble and then they will start finding the best spot to build their settlement. In Kingdoms, you can also start a family. And by definition, family means having children in the future.

In Kingdoms, you have to build a Water Well first, which will establish the settlement's radius. It will show up on the map and you can even name your settlement. Then players can start building houses, and production buildings to attract NPCs to your case. And ambitiously start a kingdom. 

Your steading will segway into exploration, and crafting. Which would prompt your humble "kingdom" to trade with other players. It aims to feel like an MMO medieval builder, but the other players are supposedly living AI.  Minecraft slightly scratches it as villager towns can be self-sufficient, but Kingdom's idea builds upon creating your kingdom alongside AI-driven self-sufficient kingdoms.

 

Kingdoms premise novel enough to have it in your library permanently. I don't recommend it as your next game to play; but it something to playtest in the future. It is intriguing. Plus the game itself may become unavailable for sale soon. There's something romantic and ambitious about it. And I have a feeling it won't be the last we'll see this concept.