Rising Lords – Review

Rising Lords, released in January 2024 by Argonwood, is a turn-based strategy game blending elements of board games, city management sims, and tactical battles. It’s set in a vibrant medieval world inspired by historical settings and tapestry art. Here’s an in-depth review:

Strengths:

• Unique Blend of Genres: Rising Lords successfully merges turn-based strategy with card-based skills, tactical battles, and region management. This creates a dynamic and engaging gameplay loop, offering something for various strategic preferences.
• Distinctive Art Style: The game’s art style, inspired by Lewis Chessmen and medieval tapestries, is visually striking and sets it apart from other strategy titles. It’s colorful and adds a unique charm to the experience.
• Engaging Story Campaign: The campaign follows Tankred, a young lord who must rise to the occasion and defend his homeland. The narrative is well-written and provides context for the strategic decisions you make.
• Tactical Depth: Despite its streamlined approach, the tactical battles offer surprising depth. Terrain, unit positioning, and card-based skills play a crucial role in achieving victory, encouraging strategic thinking.
• Moral System: The game features a unique moral system that influences your relationship with other lords and your people. This adds another layer of complexity and encourages thoughtful decision-making.
• Multiplayer: You can test your strategic skills against friends or online players in various multiplayer modes, adding replayability and competitive excitement.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Scope: Compared to more complex strategy games, Rising Lords might feel light in terms of features and depth. Some players might crave more intricate mechanics and systems.
• Balancing Issues: Some players have reported minor balance issues with units and cards, potentially affecting gameplay fairness in certain situations.
• Repetitive Missions: While the campaign is engaging, some players might find repetitive objectives and scenarios in the later stages.
• Performance: On some platforms, the game has experienced occasional performance issues like frame drops, particularly during large battles.

Overall:

Rising Lords is a charming and engaging strategy game that offers a unique blend of genres and mechanics. It’s particularly suitable for players who appreciate accessible strategy with tactical depth, a captivating setting, and a touch of historical flavor. However, if you crave extreme complexity or extensive content, you might find it lacking in some areas.