As someone who has always enjoyed strategy games, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to discover truly exceptional titles. However, The King is Watching by Hypnohead stands out as one of the most engaging and thoughtfully designed strategy games I’ve played in quite some time. Its layers of strategy run deep, and once I became familiar with the mechanics, it was hard to stop playing.

Productivity is in the Eye of the Beholder

When I first tried the game, I didn’t expect much. I’m not usually drawn to kingdom management games because many of them feel repetitive and lack originality. But it quickly became clear that The King is Watching is something different. The central mechanic, known as the King’s Gaze, changes everything.

In this game, you take on the role of the king, building and defending your kingdom by managing structures that generate resources and troops. The twist is that only the buildings within your King’s Gaze are active and able to produce anything. This adds a surprising amount of depth, because placement and timing become crucial. If you don’t plan your layout carefully or choose upgrades wisely, your kingdom won’t survive for long.

There are many different structures, units, and upgrades to unlock, along with a wide range of kings to play as. Each king has a unique gaze shape and set of abilities, which means each run requires you to rethink your strategy. While it can be challenging to find the right combination, the payoff when everything comes together is extremely satisfying.

Unforgiving, but Rewarding

The game does not go easy on you. A single bad decision, like placing a building in the wrong spot or selecting an upgrade that doesn’t suit your current build, can lead to your downfall. The enemy forces grow stronger over time, and if you fall behind, they will quickly overwhelm you. But that difficulty also makes success feel much more meaningful. When you finally get your kingdom running efficiently and see it holding strong, it feels incredibly rewarding.

Upgrades, People. Upgrades!

Beyond the engaging gameplay, there is a huge variety of content to unlock. The game features a large roster of playable kings, five separate trees for permanent upgrades, and a collection of advisors that provide useful passive benefits during your runs.

Trying out different kings and learning how to best use their abilities kept the experience fresh. I enjoyed experimenting with different combinations of advisors to maximize my chances each time I played. This variety adds a strong sense of replay value, and it is a big part of what kept me coming back.

Addictive and Satisfying, but Sometimes a Bit of a Grind

While the game is a lot of fun, it can also feel a bit repetitive at times. With so many things to unlock, it often takes a while to make meaningful progress, especially when you are aiming for something specific. The challenge of the game, combined with the slow pace of unlocks, can occasionally make it feel more tedious than exciting.

Still, that same difficulty makes each success feel well earned. I almost always wanted to jump back in for one more try, even after a frustrating loss.

Final Thoughts

Although it has a few rough edges, The King is Watching is a fantastic strategy game that blends roguelike elements with thoughtful design and clever mechanics. The pixel art is charming and quirky, the gameplay is polished, and there is a lot of depth to explore. It is well worth the price on Steam, and I believe it would be an excellent fit for the Nintendo Switch.