Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown
Release Date: November 6, 2024 Early Access
Strategy, fantasy, indie games, co-op, city builder, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
Steam
A complex city builder strategy. In Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown we build our own kingdom from scratch. We need to take care of our people, construct buildings, obstain resources and defend against mystical creatures. There are also tough choices waiting for us.
Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown is the first such extensive project from Zugalu Entertainment, a small studio from Canada. It is a city builder strategy game, also inspired by 4X type strategies.
Plot
The game's action is set in a fantasy world stylized as the Middle Ages. In Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown we learn the story of an enigmatic ruler who, along with the throne, inherited the ruins of the kingdom. The task of the new monarch is to restore prosperity to his people in the new land, and a team of advisors will assist him in this. The corruption that led to the fall of the previous kingdom is, however, on the way to destroy the next one.
Gameplay
In terms of gameplay Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown does not differ from other representatives of the genre. We start with a caravan in the middle of a green patch of land and then we slowly create the basic structures of the city. We take care of supplies, food warehouses, farms, houses, roads and allocate job positions. Our leadership skills are tested by random problems - fires, diseases, and opponents, including fantastic creatures.
One of them is the mysterious immaterial Waelgrim, whose presence is often accompanied by a dense fog. Therefore, we also need to take care of the defense of our settlement. The death of soldiers affects morale, ammunition needs replenishing, armor and weapons need repair, and units can become fatigued. The game also offers siege mechanics.
From time to time, our advisors contact us to discuss state matters. These dialogues can bring reward or punishment depending on our choices. We conduct trade with other settlements and maintain relations with the indigenous inhabitants of the land, which may lead to conflict.
In Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown we can play both solo and in multiplayer mode for up to four players.
Graphics
The graphic design of Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown mixes the style of oil paintings with 3D models that look like they're straight out of mobile games.
Videos and Screens
[1:23] Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown Early Access Launch Trailer
[1:25] Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown Early Access Release Date Trailer
The main pros of the game
- Intriguing Setting and Concept: The mix of city building, RTS elements, and a magical plague adds a unique twist to the gameplay, appealing to fans of the genre.
- Visuals and Graphics: Many players praised the graphics, noting they are better than those in other similar games, providing a more immersive experience.
- Multiplayer and Cooperative Play: The game supports multiplayer, allowing players to engage in cooperative or competitive gameplay, which is a significant draw for many.
- Potential for Depth: Some users highlighted the game's potential for deeper mechanics and engaging narratives, especially with choices impacting gameplay.
- Community Engagement: Players appreciated that the developers are active in the community and are responsive to feedback.
The main cons of the game
- Bugs and Stability Issues: A significant number of reviews mentioned game-breaking bugs, including issues with saving, loading, and general stability, making the game unplayable for some.
- Micromanagement and Busy Work: Many users expressed frustration with the level of micromanagement required, describing the gameplay as tedious and overly reliant on manual control rather than automation.
- AI and Combat Mechanics: The AI for both city management and combat was criticized for being unintelligent and frustrating, diminishing the overall experience.
- Resource Management Complexity: Players found the resource management system convoluted, leading to unsustainable gameplay where citizens constantly demanded specific resources, impacting happiness and productivity.
- Performance Issues: Some users reported high GPU usage and overheating, as well as performance drops as the game progressed.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Automation Options: Users expressed a desire for more automated systems for resource management and trade, allowing for less tedious gameplay.
- Improved AI Mechanics: A need for better AI behavior in combat and city management was noted, including clearer troop dispositions and actions.
- More Intuitive Resource Management: Suggestions included streamlining resource needs and expanding the areas of influence for buildings to reduce the need for excessive construction.
- Quality of Life Improvements: Players requested clearer labeling of points of interest, better keybinds, and overall enhancements to user interface usability.
- Accessibility Options: Some users highlighted the lack of accessibility features, particularly for those with visual impairments.
Summary
- Overall, while Thrive: Heavy Lies The Crown has a promising foundation and potential for future development, many players feel it currently suffers from significant issues that detract from the overall experience.
Summary generated on:
Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Zugalu Entertainment
Publisher: PlaySide
Age restrictions: 16+
Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-4690 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 980, 5 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5-7600 / AMD Ryzen 3 2200G, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce GTX 1060 / 8 GB Radeon RX 580, 15 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit