Blog

Monarchy gives you your own little side-scrolling world. You’ll build a kingdom, manage resources, and fend off foes in vibrant, seasonal settings. With its unique art style and cooperative gameplay, the game offers a relaxed yet challenging experience perfect for fans of kingdom builders like Kingdom Two Crowns. This Monarchy review dives into the story, gameplay, and audiovisual design to uncover what works — and what falls short — in this cosy strategy game.

While Monarchy has unique mechanics, such as its building placement and cave exploration, it also leaves some aspects feeling unpolished. This 2D adventure can absolutely offer a few moments of fun but may struggle to hold your attention long-term.

Story – A Tale of Kings and Castles

Monarchy takes a minimalist approach to storytelling, prioritising gameplay over an in-depth narrative. You’re thrust into the role of a king or queen with the simple goal of building your empire, surviving nightly attacks, and exploring the surrounding forest and caves. While this hands-off approach gives you the freedom to carve your own story, it also leaves the world feeling a bit hollow.

Each game mode — Bandit Land, The Siege, and Winter Knight — offers unique challenges but no substantial narrative thread to connect them. Bandit Land tasks you with clearing caves of marauding bandits, The Siege focuses on storming castle walls, and Winter Knight throws harsh weather and unpredictable attacks your way. While these scenarios add variety to gameplay, they lack the depth needed to make the world feel alive.

For the sake of my Monarchy review, let me tell you about the fourth option. The Safe Lands are a woodland similar to the introduction, with no bandits. I preferred the Safe Lands because they allowed me to build without the threat of being killed. The Safe Lands definitely turn Monarchy into more of a cosy game.

Missed opportunities

Adding even a basic narrative could have transformed Monarchy‘s world-building into something more engaging. For instance, the inclusion of a central antagonist — perhaps a rival ruler — could have given players a more compelling reason to expand and defend their territory. Similarly, tying each game mode to a larger story arc, such as reclaiming a lost kingdom or uniting warring factions, could have added emotional stakes and a sense of progression.

Another missed opportunity lies in the lack of character-driven storytelling. Introducing NPCs with unique backstories or dialogue could have fleshed out the world and made it feel more inhabited. Imagine meeting a mysterious advisor who offers cryptic hints about an ancient curse or a wandering bard whose songs provide subtle clues about hidden dangers. These small touches could make the world feel alive and interconnected. You spend so much time with this one archer who’s always at your side. Who are they? Why do they follow you so devotedly?

Monarchy could also benefit from environmental storytelling. For example, abandoned ruins in the forest might hint at a fallen civilisation, or a mysterious artifact in a cave could spark a side quest. These elements wouldn’t need to overwhelm the gameplay but could reward curious players who take the time to explore.

Gameplay – Strategy, Simplicity, and Stumbling Blocks

Monarchy‘s core gameplay revolves around building your base, managing resources, and surviving nightly waves of attackers. Unlike other games in the genre, it offers a dynamic building system that allows for some degree of customisation. While you can’t build entirely freely — placement is limited by certain zones — it’s still satisfying to design your kingdom and watch it grow from a humble tent to a bustling fortress.

One of Monarchy’s standout features is the companion system. You start with an archer by your side, who can hunt animals for resources and fend off enemies. However, losing your companion is a permanent setback, adding more tension to your game. Combat mechanics are automated, with your trained troops engaging enemies independently. While this streamlines gameplay, it can feel impersonal and limits strategic depth.

Each level brings its own set of challenges. In Bandit Land, you’ll clear caves filled with enemies, while The Siege tests your ability to construct a trebuchet and breach castle walls. Winter Knight, on the other hand, introduces unpredictable attacks and environmental hazards. These variations keep the gameplay fresh, though the lack of a save system and limited guidance can make early attempts feel punishing.

Audio and Visuals – A Vibrant Yet Uneven Package

Monarchy shines with its detailed environments and lively animations. The seasonal themes for each stage give the game a sense of progression and variety. However, the audio design doesn’t quite match this vibrancy, with repetitive music and sparse sound effects that fail to improve the experience. Let’s cover this next in this Monarchy review:

Audio – A Missed Opportunity

The soundtrack in Monarchy leans towards an eerie, repetitive tone that feels mismatched with the game’s otherwise lighthearted aesthetic. During sunnier stages, the music detracts from the sense of adventure. Similarly, the lack of variety in sound effects, such as footsteps or combat noises, leaves the game feeling less immersive.

While the audio isn’t terrible, it’s clear that more attention to detail could have made Monarchy’s soundscape a highlight rather than an afterthought. A more interesting and emotive soundtrack that adapts to the player’s progress would have significantly enhanced the experience.

Visuals – Simple Yet Effective

Visually, Monarchy shines. The game’s vibrant colour palette and detailed environments make it a standout among 2D strategy games. Whether you’re exploring sunlit forests, storming castle walls, or surviving harsh winters, the art style brings each setting to life. Watching your kingdom evolve — from basic tents to stone fortresses — is deeply satisfying and adds a sense of progression to the gameplay.

However, the visuals aren’t without their flaws. The lack of clear visual cues for certain actions — like where to place buildings or where to explore next — can lead to unnecessary frustration. Adding subtle indicators or markers could make the game more intuitive without sacrificing its minimalist charm. I just wanted a little help during this game so I could write a decent Monarchy review. I didn’t want to spend an hour trying to figure out how to play.

Verdict – A Cosy Yet Familiar Adventure

Monarchy offers a charming take on the side-scrolling strategy genre, blending base-building, resource management, and light combat into a visually appealing package. Its relaxed gameplay and cooperative mode make it a great choice for casual players or families, especially those looking for a less demanding alternative to games like Kingdom Two Crowns.

However, the game’s lack of tutorials, clunky controls, and repetitive mechanics hold it back from reaching its full potential. While the building system and seasonal stages add variety, the overall experience can feel shallow for players seeking deeper strategy or narrative elements.

With its addictive simplicity and delightful art style, Monarchy is an enjoyable, if slightly flawed, addition to the genre. For my Monarchy review, I’m going to give this game a 6/10. For a cosy evening of kingdom-building, it’s worth a try — just don’t expect it to redefine the genre.

If you’re looking for other cosy games, may I suggest a quick look at my list of cosy games you can play on Netflix UK?

Join the discussion over in our Facebook community or tweet us on Twitter about your favourite cosy games to play!