Reigns
Reigns is a strategy video game developed by Nerial and published by Devolver Digital. Set in a fictional medieval world, it places the player in the role of a monarch who rules the kingdom by accepting or rejecting suggestions from advisors.
What it feels like
Steam reviews and tags reference dark humor and comedy, suggesting a wry, cynical tone to royal decision-making. The premise of playing a modern-age monarch making capricious swipe decisions carries mischievous irreverence. The inevitability of kingdom collapse and the trade-offs inherent in every decision carry a mixed emotional weight.
What it's about
The setting is explicitly a fictional medieval world with monarchy, advisors, and feudal governance. Managing competing advisor factions and political pressures forms a strategic layer of decision-making.
How it plays
The entire game is built on branching conversation choices with advisors that drive outcomes and story progression. Gameplay is structured as a series of card-like advisor prompts swiped left or right in turn-based fashion. Each decision meaningfully shapes the kingdom's fate and how you are perceived, from benevolent to malevolent rule.
How it looks and sounds
Steam tags and visual descriptions suggest charming, rounded 2D character and card design rather than grim realism.
How it's structured
The core experience is designed entirely around solo play with no multiplayer component. Each reign is a bounded narrative arc from coronation through various outcomes to an ending, with a definite progression. Individual decision-making sessions are short and self-contained, designed for quick play and frequent stopping points.
Kindred games
Shares Dialogue Trees, Resource Management, Moral Choice, Medieval.
Both lean into Single-Player, Dialogue Trees, Resource Management, Campaign.
Shares Dialogue Trees, Moral Choice, Political Intrigue, Multiple Endings.
Both lean into Single-Player, Campaign, Dialogue Trees, Moral Choice.
Shares Dialogue Trees, Moral Choice, Political Intrigue, Multiple Endings.
Both lean into Single-Player, Dialogue Trees, Campaign, Moral Choice.
Closest hidden gems
A lesser-known kindred — Dialogue Trees, Multiple Endings, High Replayability, Moral Choice. 97% positive across 4,670 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Single-Player, Dialogue Trees, Multiple Endings, High Replayability.
A lesser-known kindred — Bite-Sized Sessions, Playful, High Replayability, Nonlinear Progression. 94% positive across 4,748 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Bite-Sized Sessions, Playful, High Replayability, Nonlinear Progression.
A lesser-known kindred — Dialogue Trees, Moral Choice, Multiple Endings, Bittersweet. 90% positive across 4,338 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Single-Player, Campaign, Dialogue Trees, Moral Choice.