Kingdom

The game's simple though elegant pixel art and side-scroller visual hides an intriguing amount of complexity. Expect to play three or four rounds before feeling prepared for the onslaught that awaits you. As a result, you'll go from thinking the game is very, very easy to knowing what it really is: very, very hard. When you dial into how to play more conservatively and with more purpose, that's when the game gets truly fun and captivating. You'll second-guess yourself constantly, being unsure whether you should patrol around your castle, bolstering your defenses and scooping up coins being offered to you in tribute, or whether you should be out looking for new recruits and scouting out how far away the monsters are lurking.

You'll end up doing a mix of both, alternating and eventually cultivating your own style and ability to manage your patience (or impatience). The biggest issue, apart from balancing your frustration, may seem like a minor issue, but it can have a serious consequences if you don't respond properly. Your horse tires out quickly and must rest, forcing you to make faster decisions about where you need to go and what you need to do. If you explore with an exhausted horse, you may accidentally run into a monster that might bump you, knocking your crown loose. If your crown falls into another's hands, it's game over for you. But it's not possible to wall yourself off to prevent this issue, because you won't know what threats you should be preparing for. All this adds up to make Kingdom a twitchy, tense, but also beautiful strategy game that's straightforward and difficult at the same time.