Vertical Kingdom

Item: Vertical Kingdom
Rating: 70
Author: VaporLens

Last updated: 2025-06-09

Summary

Fun, engaging core resource management gameplay.
Beautiful and appealing pixel art style.
Strategic deck-building mechanics for city construction.
Roguelite campaign progression with new discoveries.
Lacks depth, content, and long-term replayability.
Poor UI, unintuitive mechanics, balance issues.

Reviews (sample size): 105
Helpful reviews: 96%
Unhelpful reviews: 3%
Protest reviews: 1%

70%
Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
30%
Helpful reviews with negative sentiment

Positive points: 179
Negative points: 181
Gameplay points: 93
Perf. points: 2
Rec. points: 85
Misc points: 12

Point	Description	Importance
Fun, engaging, and rewarding gameplay Description The game is praised for its engaging and fun gameplay loop, combining city-building with puzzle and strategy elements. Players find the game relaxing, addictive, and rewarding, with a good balance of luck and strategy. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to make time fly by and provide a sense of accomplishment. Importance 95%	The game is praised for its engaging and fun gameplay loop, combining city-building with puzzle and strategy elements. Players find the game relaxing, addictive, and rewarding, with a good balance of luck and strategy. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to make time fly by and provide a sense of accomplishment.	95%
Beautiful and appealing pixel art Description The game's visuals are consistently praised, with reviewers highlighting the beautiful pixel art style and aesthetically pleasing building designs. The changing shapes of buildings and cute details like flags add to the atmosphere and visual appeal. The high quality of the dot art further enhances the overall visual experience. Importance 53%	The game's visuals are consistently praised, with reviewers highlighting the beautiful pixel art style and aesthetically pleasing building designs. The changing shapes of buildings and cute details like flags add to the atmosphere and visual appeal. The high quality of the dot art further enhances the overall visual experience.	53%
Strategic deck-building mechanics Description The game features well-designed deck-building mechanics that allow players to discover new cards and strategies. Players have strong control over card draws, reducing frustration and adding to the strategic depth. Cards and artifacts can significantly impact gameplay, even allowing players to break core rules for unique building placements. Importance 16%	The game features well-designed deck-building mechanics that allow players to discover new cards and strategies. Players have strong control over card draws, reducing frustration and adding to the strategic depth. Cards and artifacts can significantly impact gameplay, even allowing players to break core rules for unique building placements.	16%
Simple interface, clear goals Description The game features a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for players to understand the goals and progress at their own pace. The resource management is not overly difficult, lowering the barrier to entry. The UI is well-organized, and the developer is responsive to feedback and bug reports, further enhancing the user experience. Importance 11%	The game features a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for players to understand the goals and progress at their own pace. The resource management is not overly difficult, lowering the barrier to entry. The UI is well-organized, and the developer is responsive to feedback and bug reports, further enhancing the user experience.	11%
Relaxing and immersive audio Description The game's music is consistently described as beautiful, chill, and soothing, creating a relaxing and immersive atmosphere. The sound effects, such as clinking coins and flipping cards, are also pleasing and enhance the overall gameplay experience. The music complements the game perfectly, contributing to the positive experience. Importance 10%	The game's music is consistently described as beautiful, chill, and soothing, creating a relaxing and immersive atmosphere. The sound effects, such as clinking coins and flipping cards, are also pleasing and enhance the overall gameplay experience. The music complements the game perfectly, contributing to the positive experience.	10%
Encourages creative vertical construction Description The game encourages vertical construction due to limited horizontal space, leading to a unique and enjoyable building experience. Optimizing space by building upwards and arranging structures in the air is fun, with a Tetris-like aspect to the gameplay. Constructing residential housing is challenging but visually appealing and therapeutic. Importance 8%	The game encourages vertical construction due to limited horizontal space, leading to a unique and enjoyable building experience. Optimizing space by building upwards and arranging structures in the air is fun, with a Tetris-like aspect to the gameplay. Constructing residential housing is challenging but visually appealing and therapeutic.	8%
Active and responsive developer Description The developer is actively involved in updating the game with feedback in mind and is very responsive to bug reports. The game is described as a labor of love from a small team, indicating a commitment to improving the player experience. This active development contributes positively to the game's overall quality. Importance 8%	The developer is actively involved in updating the game with feedback in mind and is very responsive to bug reports. The game is described as a labor of love from a small team, indicating a commitment to improving the player experience. This active development contributes positively to the game's overall quality.	8%
Progression with new discoveries Description The game offers decent variety in level design and gains more depth as the player progresses. There are always new things to discover, and players can unlock newer content to build more structures. The game is full of surprises, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging as players advance. Importance 8%	The game offers decent variety in level design and gains more depth as the player progresses. There are always new things to discover, and players can unlock newer content to build more structures. The game is full of surprises, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging as players advance.	8%
Similar to other popular games Description The game is compared to other titles like Kingdom Two Crowns, Islanders, Against the Storm, and Slay the Spire, providing a familiar yet unique experience. It's also described as a simplified version of Frostpunk but with less pressure, suggesting a more relaxed and accessible gameplay style. These comparisons help players understand the game's mechanics and overall feel. Importance 7%	The game is compared to other titles like Kingdom Two Crowns, Islanders, Against the Storm, and Slay the Spire, providing a familiar yet unique experience. It's also described as a simplified version of Frostpunk but with less pressure, suggesting a more relaxed and accessible gameplay style. These comparisons help players understand the game's mechanics and overall feel.	7%
Chill and nostalgic retro feel Description The game evokes nostalgia for old 8-bit games, providing a retro feel that appeals to players who grew up with classic titles. The chill and nostalgic graphics contribute to this retro aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience for those who appreciate vintage gaming. This nostalgic element adds a unique charm to the game. Importance 5%	The game evokes nostalgia for old 8-bit games, providing a retro feel that appeals to players who grew up with classic titles. The chill and nostalgic graphics contribute to this retro aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience for those who appreciate vintage gaming. This nostalgic element adds a unique charm to the game.	5%
Enjoyable free-building sandbox mode Description The ability to freely build and experiment in the sandbox mode is a fantastic feature, allowing players to explore the game's mechanics without restrictions. This free-building aspect is very fun and enjoyable, providing a creative outlet for players to design and construct their cities as they see fit. Importance 4%	The ability to freely build and experiment in the sandbox mode is a fantastic feature, allowing players to explore the game's mechanics without restrictions. This free-building aspect is very fun and enjoyable, providing a creative outlet for players to design and construct their cities as they see fit.	4%
Gorgeous and detailed environments Description The environments are visually appealing, with details like airships and boats adding to the overall aesthetic. The high quality of the pixel art further enhances the visual experience, making the game a pleasure to look at. These visual elements contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere. Importance 4%	The environments are visually appealing, with details like airships and boats adding to the overall aesthetic. The high quality of the pixel art further enhances the visual experience, making the game a pleasure to look at. These visual elements contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere.	4%
Good for killing time Description The game is good for killing time, indicating that it's an engaging and enjoyable way to pass the time. Time flies by while playing, suggesting that the gameplay is captivating and keeps players entertained. This makes the game a suitable option for casual gaming sessions. Importance 3%	The game is good for killing time, indicating that it's an engaging and enjoyable way to pass the time. Time flies by while playing, suggesting that the gameplay is captivating and keeps players entertained. This makes the game a suitable option for casual gaming sessions.	3%
Absence of noticeable bugs Description Reviewers noted the absence of noticeable bugs, indicating a stable and polished game experience. This lack of technical issues contributes to a smoother and more enjoyable gameplay session. The game's stability is a positive aspect that enhances the overall quality. Importance 2%	Reviewers noted the absence of noticeable bugs, indicating a stable and polished game experience. This lack of technical issues contributes to a smoother and more enjoyable gameplay session. The game's stability is a positive aspect that enhances the overall quality.	2%
Enjoyable empire upgrade system Description The empire and territory upgrade system is enjoyable, adding another layer of progression and strategy to the game. This system allows players to expand their influence and unlock new abilities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. The upgrade system provides a sense of accomplishment and encourages players to continue exploring the game's content. Importance 2%	The empire and territory upgrade system is enjoyable, adding another layer of progression and strategy to the game. This system allows players to expand their influence and unlock new abilities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. The upgrade system provides a sense of accomplishment and encourages players to continue exploring the game's content.	2%
Automated score calculation (PC) Description The PC version automates score calculation, enhancing the user experience by streamlining the process. This automation saves players time and effort, allowing them to focus on the core gameplay. The automated score calculation is a convenient feature that improves the overall quality of the PC version. Importance 2%	The PC version automates score calculation, enhancing the user experience by streamlining the process. This automation saves players time and effort, allowing them to focus on the core gameplay. The automated score calculation is a convenient feature that improves the overall quality of the PC version.	2%
Calming and immersive atmosphere Description The atmosphere is calming and immersive, creating a relaxing and enjoyable experience for players. This immersive atmosphere helps players to get lost in the game and forget about their worries. The calming atmosphere contributes to the overall positive experience. Importance 2%	The atmosphere is calming and immersive, creating a relaxing and enjoyable experience for players. This immersive atmosphere helps players to get lost in the game and forget about their worries. The calming atmosphere contributes to the overall positive experience.	2%
Refreshing and unique experience Description The combination of mechanics creates a refreshing experience unlike anything else on the market, suggesting that the game offers a unique and innovative gameplay style. This originality sets the game apart from other titles and makes it stand out in the genre. The refreshing experience is a key selling point for the game. Importance 2%	The combination of mechanics creates a refreshing experience unlike anything else on the market, suggesting that the game offers a unique and innovative gameplay style. This originality sets the game apart from other titles and makes it stand out in the genre. The refreshing experience is a key selling point for the game.	2%
Proper Japanese localization Description The Japanese localization is properly done, indicating attention to detail and a commitment to providing a quality experience for Japanese-speaking players. This accurate localization ensures that the game is accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience. The properly done localization is a positive aspect that enhances the overall quality. Importance 2%	The Japanese localization is properly done, indicating attention to detail and a commitment to providing a quality experience for Japanese-speaking players. This accurate localization ensures that the game is accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience. The properly done localization is a positive aspect that enhances the overall quality.	2%
Inexpensive upgrades for playthroughs Description The Emperor provides relatively inexpensive upgrades for repeated playthroughs, encouraging players to continue playing and exploring the game. These upgrades enhance the gameplay experience and provide a sense of progression. The inexpensive upgrades make it easier for players to improve their cities and achieve their goals. Importance 2%	The Emperor provides relatively inexpensive upgrades for repeated playthroughs, encouraging players to continue playing and exploring the game. These upgrades enhance the gameplay experience and provide a sense of progression. The inexpensive upgrades make it easier for players to improve their cities and achieve their goals.	2%
Manageable difficulty Description The difficulty is currently manageable, indicating that the game is well-balanced and provides a fair challenge for players. This manageable difficulty makes the game accessible to a wider audience and ensures that players are not overly frustrated. The balanced difficulty is a positive aspect that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game. Importance 2%	The difficulty is currently manageable, indicating that the game is well-balanced and provides a fair challenge for players. This manageable difficulty makes the game accessible to a wider audience and ensures that players are not overly frustrated. The balanced difficulty is a positive aspect that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.	2%
Entertaining runs Description The runs are very entertaining, indicating that the game provides an engaging and enjoyable experience for players. This positive feedback suggests that the game is well-designed and provides a satisfying experience for players. The entertaining runs enhance the overall quality and enjoyment of the game. Importance 2%	The runs are very entertaining, indicating that the game provides an engaging and enjoyable experience for players. This positive feedback suggests that the game is well-designed and provides a satisfying experience for players. The entertaining runs enhance the overall quality and enjoyment of the game.	2%
Possible to 'Spiffing-Brit' game Description It is possible to 'Spiffing-Brit' the game, which is amusing. This point is a cultural reference and doesn't provide specific feedback on the game's mechanics or features. Therefore, it has a low importance score. Importance 1%	It is possible to 'Spiffing-Brit' the game, which is amusing. This point is a cultural reference and doesn't provide specific feedback on the game's mechanics or features. Therefore, it has a low importance score.	1%