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The King is Watching

The King is Watching

PC
Released

Release Date: July 21, 2025

Strategy, Fantasy, Economic, RTS, Tower Defense, Roguelike, 2D, Indie Games, Singleplayer

A real-time strategy with tower defense and roguelite elements. In The King is Watching we become a monarch who rules the kingdom using their gaze. Our subordinates will work and fight for us only when they are being carefully watched.

8.4

OpenCritic

8.8

Steam

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Ratings
[1:45] - Launch Trailer Videos: 2
Screenshot Images: 12
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

The King is Watching is an RTS with roguelite elements. The game was developed by Hypnohead studio. It was released by tinyBuild and its publishing portfolio includes the Hello Neighbor series and many other indie productions, led by Graveyard Keeper.

Gameplay

The King is Watching is a combination of an economic strategy, a tower defense title, and a time management game. Apart from constructing things inside the castle we only control the gaze of the monarch, which "activates" the operation in specific buildings: farms, mines, workshops or barracks. Since our vision only covers a limited part of the map, the key to success is proper planning and balancing priorities.

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows

Developer: Hypnohead

Publisher: tinyBuild Games

Age restrictions: 12+

Features

News

New on Steam. Highly anticipated action RPG and sequel to the hit FPS

New on Steam. Highly anticipated action RPG and sequel to the hit FPS

This week, games such as Killing Floor 3, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, The King is Watching, No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files, Wildgate, Hell Clock, Grimshire, and Monument Valley 3 will be released on Steam.

video games

Adrian Werner

July 22, 2025

New on Steam. Highly anticipated action RPG and sequel to the hit FPS

System Requirements

System Requirements for The King is Watching Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
CPU 2.0 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB, 1 GB HDD, Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10/11.

Expansions

List of Game Expansions for Video Game:

The King is Watching: Crowns of History

The King is Watching: Crowns of History

PC

Expansion

March 16, 2026

Strategy

9.3

Steam

The King is Watching: Crowns of History

Ratings

Game Ratings for The King is Watching Video Game.

8.4

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 91% of Critics. There are 14 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Screen Hype: 7.5 / 10 by Michael Manning

The ways in which the game lets you lay out your run are very satisfying, mainly handled by prophecies. After a few battles, you gain the ability to choose the enemy layouts, intensity, and rewards of the next fights. These choices grant some of that feeling of control, but the exact rewards are still left up to chance. As is the curse of rogue-likes, sometimes you'll just get unlucky. Being offered productions you can't afford and resources you don't need is maddening, but it adds to the satisfaction of a run where it all comes together.

Full Review

DualShockers: 9 / 10 by Jack Penwell

Overall, I had an absolute blast with The King is Watching. The main gameplay loop is extremely well thought-out and incredibly engaging, and I can't wait to continue playing the game and seeing what all the Kings and advisors bring to the table. Speaking of, I feel my gaze needs to fall on to Steam again now. The King needs to watch his subjects, after all.

Full Review

Thumb Culture: 4 / 5

The King is Watching is a strategic gem hiding behind cute sprites and a duck with nerdy specs. It’s a roguelite builder that dares to do something different, even if that sometimes means being confusing or needlessly punishing. There’s a joy in experimenting within the King’s Gaze; rotating your influence to power a barracks before the goblins crash the gates desperately, and a real sense of satisfaction when a plan comes together. While the lack of a save system and progression hurdles are definite thorns in the crown, Hypnohead still crafted a refreshingly weird and mechanically rich experience. With tinyBuild behind them, we’re hopeful for updates, tweaks, and perhaps a few more ducks. The King Is Watching receives a Thumb Culture Gold Award. A worthy kingdom, ruled with charm, chaos, and just a little quackery.

Full Review
88%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (9,333)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Unique Gameplay Mechanics: The game features an innovative mechanic where players manage resources and armies through their "royal gaze," adding an engaging twist to the city-building and strategy genres.
  • Replayability: Users appreciate the variety of strategies, troop combinations, and the roguelite elements that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging across multiple runs.
  • Art and Soundtrack: The pixel art style and engaging soundtrack receive high praise, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere during gameplay.
  • Humor and Writing: Many reviews highlight the game's humor and clever writing, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Challenging Yet Rewarding: The game provides a good balance of challenge, with users enjoying the sense of progression and accomplishment as they improve over time.

The main cons of the game

  • Limited Content: Several users pointed out that the game currently only has two maps, which can lead to repetitive gameplay after a while. There are calls for more maps and content to maintain interest.
  • Balancing Issues: Some units and strategies are perceived as overpowered or underpowered, leading to a lack of diversity in effective tactics, especially in higher difficulties.
  • Learning Curve: New players often find the initial gameplay challenging and not well-explained, leading to frustration. The tutorial and UI could be improved for better clarity.
  • Progression System: The meta-progression can feel slow and grindy, with some players expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of meaningful advancements after a certain point.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • More Maps and Content: Users desire additional maps and variety in gameplay, which would enhance replayability and provide new challenges.
  • Unit and Strategy Variety: There are requests for more diverse units and strategies, particularly at higher levels, to avoid repetitive gameplay and to make different kings feel more unique.
  • Improved UI and Tooltips: Many reviews suggest that the user interface needs enhancements, including better explanations for abilities and clearer visuals for managing troops and resources.
  • Balanced Difficulty: Some players feel that the difficulty curve can be too steep, especially when transitioning to higher levels, and would like to see adjustments to make the game more accessible.

Summary

  • Overall, "The King is Watching" has been well-received for its engaging mechanics and fun gameplay, but players are eager for more content and improvements to certain aspects of the game.

Summary generated on: