Info about Thronefall:

Official game description:
Join our community
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About the Game
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Thronefall is a minimalist strategy game where you build a humble kingdom by day and defend it by night. Balance economy and defense by fortifying walls, recruiting troops, and charging into battle yourself to protect your stronghold from relentless waves of attackers.
Perfect for quick sessions or fortification marathons, step into a streamlined and endlessly replayable twist on tower defense!
*   10 Maps. From the mountainous Nordfels to the vibrant Wildbach, progress through a range of maps with different terrain, weather, enemies, buildings and challenges.
*   9 Unlockable Weapons. As a Warrior King, seize a weapon to take with you into combat, from Battleaxe to Blood Wand.
*   Over 50 Unlockable Perks. Take up to 5 perks that bestow certain advantages, and optional Mutators to ramp up the difficulty.
*   Protect your Kingdom with Walls, Barricades, Shrines and Towers.
*   Expand your economy with Houses, Bridges, Gold Mines, Harbors, Mills and Fields. These buildings grant you gold every morning – if they survive.
*   Research upgrades with the Castle Center, Blacksmith and Royal Forge.
*   Build your military with Barracks, Archery Ranges and Hero's Quarters. Your forces include Knights, Berserks, Crossbowmen, Fire Archers, and special Heroes such as Golems and Mages.
*   When night falls, an increasingly strong succession of foes threaten to overwhelm your Kingdom. The sun only rises when they're dead.
*   From wooden Barrel Knights and Flying Mages to Ogres, Slimes, Wasps and Catapults, the land is teeming with danger.
*   If your Castle Center is razed, you lose.
*   As King, lead from the vanguard and defend your little Kingdom til you see the sun rise.
_**We think you'll love Thronefall if you enjoy...**_
_Total War: MEDIEVAL II, Age of Empires IV, Bad North, Kingdom: Two Crowns, Against the Storm, Banished, Townscaper, 9 Kings, Super Fantasy Kingdom, Ball x Pit, Diplomacy is Not an Option, The King is Watching, and Northgard_

Release date: Oct 11, 2024

Categories: Tower Defense, Strategy, Base Building, Resource Management, Real-time Combat, Roguelike, Single-player

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair; summary: The analysis of user reviews for Thronefall indicates that the game is generally well-received and considered a better alternative to other games with predatory monetization practices. The reviews do not provide direct evidence of predatory monetization within Thronefall itself. Instead, they focus on comparisons with other games and base price complaints, which do not significantly impact the monetization score.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement in Instructional Data; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the game's difficulty and the lack of in-game resources to understand complex mechanics. Users frequently resort to external guides and walkthroughs, indicating a need for better in-game explanations and possibly more balanced difficulty settings. Additionally, there is a significant demand for an in-game encyclopedia or wiki feature to provide easier access to information about game elements.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its performance and compatibility with the Steam Deck. Users consistently report a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience on this platform, highlighting its excellent performance and cross-platform optimization. The overall user satisfaction is high, with many users describing it as one of the best games they have played on the Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: score 40; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals that while the game generally performs well on the Steam Deck with positive remarks on its controls and overall experience, there are notable concerns regarding battery drain and skepticism about the Steam Deck Verified tag. These issues suggest that while the game is enjoyable, there are areas that could be improved for a better user experience.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game generally performs well across different hardware cohorts, with some issues reported on lower-end systems.
  - Sample size: 74 (3% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 35 reports): Users report poor optimization and overheating issues despite simple graphics.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (positive, 14 reports): Users experience stable performance with no crashes or long loading screens.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 13 reports): Users report amazing performance and a great overall experience.
  - Caveats: 74 of 2785 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $13.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users generally find the game worth its price, even when not on sale. Several users explicitly mention that the game is worth the full price, indicating a positive sentiment towards the base price. The repeated mentions of the game being worth the price, even at full price, suggest that the community finds the game's value to be in line with its cost.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 45.0h
  - Story completion: 6.0h
  - Session length: 0.5h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct statements about the playtime hours for Thronefall. One user mentions spending 45 hours to achieve a specific goal, indicating a high level of engagement and suggesting a significant time investment for full completion. Another user reports being 22 hours into the game and having completed only the major maps once each, implying that the game offers extensive content. Additionally, a user states that they have the game about 70% complete after almost 40 hours of play, further supporting the idea of a lengthy playtime for full completion. Lastly, a user mentions playing 8 hours on their first day, indicating that the game can be engaging for extended sessions.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game offers an immediate and engaging tutorial, with fun increasing as players unlock new mechanics and progression through varied maps and challenges. Early gameplay may feel limited but improves as more content is unlocked.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Unlocking new mechanics and progression features
  - Time to anchor: 0h 30m
  - Friction: Limited initial gameplay mechanics; Tedious manual building of upgrades
  - Unlock drivers: Progression system; New mechanics and enemies; Revisiting levels with different strategies
  - Conditions: Playing through varied maps; Unlocking upgrades and achievements; Engaging with the endless mode
- Player Archetypes:
  - Challenge Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Overcoming difficult challenges and mastering game mechanics.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys high difficulty settings and replaying levels with various modifiers to increase challenge.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Hardcore player; Pro-gamer
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Elden Ring
  - Strategic Customizer (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoying strategic depth and customization options.
    - Playstyle: Likes to experiment with different perks, mutators, and strategies to complete levels.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Strategy enthusiast; Casual gamer
    - Reference games: Path of Exile; Kingdom: Two Crowns
  - Casual Strategist (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoying a relaxed and accessible gaming experience.
    - Playstyle: Prefers easy-to-learn mechanics and casual gameplay without competitive pressure.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Casual player; Newcomer
    - Reference games: Warcraft 2; Starcraft; Age of Empires
  - Achievement Hunter (buy)
    - Motivation: Achieving high scores and completing all challenges.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on mastering levels to achieve high scores and complete all quests.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Completionist; High-score chaser
    - Reference games: Kingdom Rush; Plants vs. Zombies


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Excellent Tower Defense Gameplay (weight 0.44): The game is praised for its enjoyable and well-designed tower defense mechanics, offering a fun and satisfying experience even for those who typically don't enjoy the genre. It combines elements of strategy, economy management, and arcade action, making it a content-rich and engaging experience.
- Intuitive and Simple Controls (weight 0.2): The game features simple and intuitive controls, making it easy to learn and play. The clean and simple UI, along with the well-designed simplicity, ensures a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience.
- Enjoyable Gameplay Experience (weight 0.16): Players find the gameplay experience enjoyable and engaging. The game offers beautiful and charming visuals, along with a variety of levels and challenges that keep players entertained.
- Variety in Maps and Gameplay (weight 0.15): The game offers a variety of maps and gameplay styles, providing diverse and unique challenges. This variety enhances the replayability and strategic depth of the game.
- Good Value for Money (weight 0.12): The game is considered well worth its purchase price, offering great value for money. It is praised for being well-made, polished, and providing a worthwhile gaming experience.
- High Replayability (weight 0.12): The game offers high replayability with different strategies and perks, making it entertaining and replayable. This feature ensures that players can enjoy the game multiple times with varying experiences.
- Eye-Catching Visual Style (weight 0.12): The game features a great eye-catching style with pleasant and aesthetically amazing graphics. The artistic style is simple but charming, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Adjustable Difficulty (weight 0.11): The game offers a flexible and adjustable difficulty system, allowing players to customize their gaming experience. This feature makes the game accessible to a wide range of players with varying skill levels.
- Charming Art Style (weight 0.09): The game has a charming and minimalist art style that is visually appealing. The lovely comic style and minimal but striking graphics contribute to the game's aesthetic appeal.
- Flexible Play Sessions (weight 0.09): The game is suitable for both long and short play sessions, making it flexible and accommodating to different gaming preferences. This feature allows players to enjoy the game in quick sessions or extended periods.
- Strategic Thinking Required (weight 0.08): The game encourages strategic thinking and planning, requiring players to maximize resources and make tactical decisions. This feature adds depth and complexity to the gameplay.
- Easy to Pick Up and Play (weight 0.08): The game is easy to pick up and play, making it accessible to a wide range of players. Its simple and intuitive controls ensure that players can quickly start enjoying the game.
- Liked Art Style (weight 0.07): Players appreciate the game's art style, which features striking colors and a fun aesthetic. The minimalist art style and good color scheme contribute to the game's visual appeal.
- Customizable Difficulty Modifiers (weight 0.07): The game offers various modifiers for customizing difficulty, allowing players to tailor their gaming experience. These modifiers can change gameplay dramatically and provide increased challenge.
- Stimulates New Strategies (weight 0.07): The game stimulates trying new strategies, offering a mix of learning optimal strategies and remaining flexible. This feature encourages players to experiment with different approaches and tactics.
- Rich and Extensive Content (weight 0.07): The game offers a rich and extensive amount of content, providing players with a good amount of hand-crafted and varied gameplay experiences.
- Deep Strategic Depth (weight 0.07): The game offers a lot of strategic depth, requiring players to engage in complex and highly strategic thinking. This feature adds a layer of depth and complexity to the gameplay.

Common complaints:
- Limited building placement (weight 0.15): Players feel restricted by the predefined building locations, which limits strategic choices and freedom in gameplay.
- Inconsistent difficulty spikes (weight 0.13): The game has sudden and steep difficulty spikes between levels and objectives, making the difficulty curve feel inconsistent and frustrating for players.
- Limited number of maps (weight 0.12): The game is criticized for having only a small number of maps, which limits replayability and content variety.
- Limited and underwhelming perks (weight 0.12): Players frequently mention that the variety of perks is limited and that the available perks are not strong enough or useful. This reduces the strategic depth and customization options.
- Short campaign length (weight 0.11): The main campaign is reported to be fairly short, around 5 hours, which leaves players wanting more content and feeling that the game ends too quickly.
- Repetitive gameplay (weight 0.1): The game is criticized for being repetitive and grindy, which reduces the overall enjoyment and replayability.
- Balance issues (weight 0.08): The game is criticized for being extremely unbalanced, with serious balance issues affecting gameplay.
- Awkward and weak UI (weight 0.06): The user interface is frequently criticized for being weak, frictive, and awkward, which detracts from the overall user experience.
- Clunky unit management (weight 0.05): Players find selecting and controlling units to be a nuisance, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
- Difficult achievements (weight 0.05): Some achievements are considered too difficult and may not be worth pursuing, which can be frustrating for players.
- Poor mobile adaptation (weight 0.04): The mobile version of the game is seen as a poor copy, with players feeling it is a bad adaptation of the original game.
- Subpar graphics and controls (weight 0.03): The game is criticized for having crappy graphics and clunky controls, which detract from the overall experience.
- Overpowered bosses (weight 0.03): Bosses in the game are felt to be overpowered, which can make certain stages frustratingly difficult.
- Endless mode limitations (weight 0.03): The endless mode is criticized for not being offered from the start and not being truly endless, which limits its appeal.
- Confusing pathfinding AI (weight 0.03): Players report issues with confusing enemy and unit pathfinding AI, which can be frustrating and detract from the gameplay experience.
- Abandoned by developers (weight 0.03): The game is criticized for being abandoned by the developers, with no further updates or support.
- No multiplayer option (weight 0.03): The absence of a co-op or two-player multiplayer option is a drawback for players who enjoy playing with friends.

Gameplay feedback:
- Tower defense core mechanics (weight 0.33): The game is fundamentally a tower defense game, featuring various elements such as defending a kingdom, strategic tower placement, and diverse tower types. It includes classic tower defense mechanics with additional strategic and simulation elements.
- Strategic depth and planning (weight 0.15): The game requires significant strategic planning and execution. Players need to develop and adapt strategies, manage resources, and make tactical decisions to succeed.
- Diverse and unique maps (weight 0.13): The game features a variety of maps with different layouts and challenges. Each map offers unique experiences and requires different strategies to complete.
- Variety of game modes (weight 0.12): The game offers various challenge modes, mini-modes, and difficulty modifiers. These modes provide different gameplay experiences and challenges to keep players engaged.
- Diverse strategies and playstyles (weight 0.11): The game offers a wide variety of strategies and playstyles, allowing players to experiment with different approaches and find the ones that suit them best.
- Building and defending structures (weight 0.1): A key aspect of the game involves building and planning defenses to protect structures such as castles. Players need to strategically place and upgrade towers and other defensive structures.
- Adjustable difficulty settings (weight 0.1): Players can adjust the game's difficulty using various buffs, debuffs, perks, and upgrades. This allows for a customized gaming experience tailored to different skill levels.
- Variety of weapons and perks (weight 0.1): The game offers a wide range of weapons, perks, and mutators. Players can choose different sets of perks and weapons to customize their gameplay experience.
- Multiple levels and quests (weight 0.09): The game includes 9 main levels and 27 bonus levels, each with six quests. This provides a substantial amount of content and challenges for players to complete.
- Economy management (weight 0.09): Players need to manage their economy, including resource allocation and economic strategy. This involves balancing spending for growth and reserving resources for survival.
- Enemy waves and modifiers (weight 0.06): The game features waves of enemies that players must defend against. These waves can be modified with different enemy types and challenges.
- Extensive upgrade system (weight 0.06): The game offers a variety of upgrades that depend on maps and modifiers. Players can customize their defenses and strategies with extensive upgrade options.
- Roguelike eternal mode (weight 0.06): The game features a roguelike eternal mode, providing an endless gameplay experience with randomized elements and challenges.
- Achievement and difficulty system (weight 0.06): The game includes a system of achievements and a difficulty system that increases in challenge. Players can strive to unlock achievements and tackle increasingly difficult levels.
- Predefined building locations (weight 0.05): Players must build on predefined places, which adds a layer of strategic planning to the game. This mechanic requires careful consideration of building placement.
- Action-based gameplay elements (weight 0.05): The game incorporates action-based and arcade-style elements, adding a dynamic and fast-paced dimension to the tower defense mechanics.
- Hero abilities and interactions (weight 0.05): The game features hero abilities and interactions, allowing players to use unique hero perks and skills to enhance their gameplay.
- Trial and error gameplay (weight 0.05): The game involves a trial-and-error process, requiring players to experiment with different strategies and approaches to succeed.
- Build diversity and customization (weight 0.05): Players can customize their builds with a variety of options, allowing for diverse and unique gameplay experiences.
- Weapon and skill unlocks (weight 0.05): Players can unlock various weapons and skills as they progress through the game, adding to the depth and customization options.
- Controller and control issues (weight 0.05): The game includes controller controls and a controllable character, but there may be some control issues that players need to navigate.
- Game completion time (weight 0.05): The main quests can be completed in about 10 hours, while the entire game takes around 16 hours to finish. This provides a substantial amount of gameplay content.
- Minimalist art style (weight 0.05): The game features a minimalist art style, which is intentional and adds to the overall aesthetic and gameplay experience.
- Geographical and card layouts (weight 0.05): The game includes different geographical layouts and card layouts, adding variety and strategic depth to the gameplay.

Performance notes:
- High performance on high-end devices (weight 0.1): The game runs smoothly at high frame rates and resolutions, such as 240fps at 1080p, without stutters or frame drops.
- Smooth performance on Steam Deck (weight 0.08): The game runs smoothly on Steam Deck, providing a great gaming experience without any major issues.
- Optimized for low-end devices (weight 0.07): The game is designed to run on low-end mobile phones and PCs, making it accessible to a wide range of users with varying hardware capabilities.
- Stable and crash-free (weight 0.04): The game is reported to have no crashes, issues, or glitches, indicating a stable and reliable performance.
- Poor optimization (weight 0.02): There are reports indicating that the game is poorly optimized, which could lead to performance issues on certain devices.
- Controller support (weight 0.02): The game supports controllers fairly well, enhancing the gaming experience for those who prefer using controllers.
- Overheating issues (weight 0.02): Some users have experienced overheating issues while playing the game on their laptops.
- Low-quality assets (weight 0.02): Some users have noted that the game has low-quality, low-polygon count assets, which may affect the visual experience.
- Readability issues on Steam Deck (weight 0.02): There are concerns about the text size and readability on the Steam Deck, which may affect the user experience.

Recommendations:
- Worth buying at full price (weight 0.14): Many reviews suggest that the game is worth its price, especially for fans of the genre who are looking for a unique strategy experience.
- Highly recommended for tower defense fans (weight 0.12): The game is frequently praised as a must-buy for those who enjoy the tower defense genre, often being described as one of the best in its category.
- Great game overall (weight 0.08): The game is generally well-received, with many reviews describing it as a great game, especially considering its price.
- Recommendations for specific player types (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for various types of players, including those who enjoy strategy games, indie games, and fans of specific games like Kingdom Two Crowns.
- Suggestions for future updates (weight 0.06): Players are hoping for more updates and additional content, indicating a desire for continued support and improvement of the game.
- Good for casual play (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for playing in between other activities, suggesting it is suitable for casual gaming sessions.
- Multiplayer mode requested (weight 0.03): There are requests for the addition of a multiplayer mode, indicating a desire for more social and interactive gameplay options.
- Support the developers (weight 0.03): Some reviews encourage supporting the developers by purchasing the game, highlighting the importance of backing indie creators.
- Consider playing on casual mode (weight 0.02): Some reviews suggest playing the game on casual mode without modifiers for a more enjoyable experience.
- UI improvements needed (weight 0.02): There are suggestions for small tweaks, such as UI improvements, to enhance the player experience by making key bindings more accessible.

Other player notes:
- Desire for modding (weight 0.04): Players have expressed a strong interest in having modding capabilities, which would allow them to create and customize their own levels.
- Great for travel (weight 0.02): The game is easily playable while traveling on a train or plane, making it convenient for on-the-go gaming.
- Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.02): There is a notable mention of the game's compatibility with Steam Deck, indicating interest in playing the game on this platform.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.37): Players enjoy the game's strategic depth, variety of gameplay options, and engaging mechanics. The mix of tower defense, base building, and customizable strategies, along with the game's challenging yet simple design, provides a fun and addictive experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.14): Players are frustrated with the game's high difficulty, balance issues, and control mechanics. Difficulty spikes, lack of building freedom, and UI problems contribute to a challenging and sometimes unfair experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players are satisfied with the game's strategic depth, replayability, and overall quality. The adjustable difficulty, variety of content, and engaging gameplay mechanics provide a well-rounded and enjoyable experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Players are excited about the game's strategic and challenging gameplay, replayability, and variety of strategies. The lack of ads/microtransactions and the game's high replay value contribute to an engaging and addictive experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Players are disappointed with the game's lack of innovation, limited maps, and mechanical limitations. The game's high price, lack of strategic freedom, and repetitive gameplay loop contribute to a less enjoyable experience.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Players find joy in the game's charming aesthetics, variety of strategies, and overall positive experience. The game's enjoyable mechanics and pleasant art style contribute to a delightful and engaging experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's detailed perks system, minimalist art style, and developer responsiveness. The game's depth, challenge, and thoughtful design are well-received.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Players have a positive experience with the game's strategic elements, simplicity, and engaging content. The game's ease of play and enjoyable mechanics contribute to a favorable impression.
- Happy (weight 0.02): Players are happy with the game's balance, variety, and unique mechanics. The game's accessibility, strategic depth, and overall enjoyable experience contribute to a sense of happiness.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's minimalist art style, quality, and evolution of the tower defense genre. The game's well-balanced gameplay and overall enjoyment are highly regarded.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Players approve of the game's quality, design, and art style. The game's concept and mechanics are well-received and positively reviewed.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's aesthetic and gameplay style, which reminds them of past games like Pixel Junk Monster. The familiar elements evoke a sense of nostalgia.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope for more building options and DLC in future updates or sequels. The anticipation for additional content and improvements contributes to a sense of hope.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players love the game's features, mechanics, art style, and music. The game's premise and overall design are highly appreciated and enjoyed.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the game's replayability, variety of strategies, and positive experience with the art style and gameplay. The game's potential to become an instant classic adds to the excitement.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Players are satisfied with the game's value for money, content, and design. The enjoyment of the game's difficulty settings and overall quality contributes to a sense of satisfaction.
- Frustrated (weight 0.01): Players are frustrated with the game's limitations, lack of developer support, and confusing mechanics. Issues with soldier attributes, building placement, and difficulty settings contribute to a frustrating experience.
- Angry (weight 0.01): Players are angry due to the presence of a mobile game duplicate and perceived plagiarism. The lack of originality and potential copying of content contribute to feelings of anger.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Players experience boredom due to the repetition of levels and the ability to kite the last boss. The lack of variety and repetitive gameplay elements contribute to a sense of boredom.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the game's diversity and replayability. Discovering more content than initially expected contributes to a sense of surprise and delight.}