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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

8.9

Steam

Rate It!
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

NoobFeed: 80 / 100 by Mahi Araf

The King is Watching is one of those games that looks simple superficially but hides a surprising amount of depth once you dig deep enough. It's tough, endlessly replayable, and driven by a core mechanic that's both fun and smart. The game respects your time, challenges your mind, and never asks for more money post-purchase.

Full Review

Gamer Social Club: 8.5 / 10 by Vikki McGowan

The King Is Watching strikes a smart balance between kingdom-builder and roguelite, offering a run-based experience that’s both strategic and refreshingly unpredictable. Its layered meta progression and clever prophecy system give each attempt a sense of momentum, encouraging experimentation and long-term planning.

Full Review

Output Lag: 8.5 / 10 by Steven Mills

The King is Watching brilliantly combines roguelike progression with real-time strategy by making your workers only function under your direct gaze. With its 1.0 release addressing major concerns like mid-run saves, this pixel art kingdom builder offers surprising strategic depth through diverse unit synergies and risk-reward prophecies. Despite some UI annoyances and artificial progression gates, it's a dangerously addictive "one more run" experience.

Full Review
89%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (9,973)

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: