Reigns (video game)
A card-swipe strategy game about ruling a medieval kingdom.
Reigns is a 2016 strategy video game developed by Nerial and published by Devolver Digital. Players control a medieval king who must make decisions by swiping cards left or right, affecting four kingdom aspects; if any aspect becomes too unbalanced, the reign ends and a new monarch begins. The game is notable for its Tinder-inspired swiping mechanic and its narrative centered on breaking a curse created by the Devil.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Reigns
- Developer
- Nerial
- Publisher
- Devolver Digital
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Android / iOS / Linux / macOS / Microsoft Windows / Nintendo Switch
- Released
- Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows · 11 August 2016 · Nintendo Switch · 20 September 2018
- Genre
- Strategy
- Modes
- Single-player
- Designer
- François Alliot
- Artist
- Mieko Murakami
- Composer
- Disasterpeace / Mateo Lugo
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Reigns was developed by the London-based studio Nerial. Developer François Alliot, inspired by the dating app Tinder, created the swiping gameplay. The writing was influenced by the Oulipo French literary movement and designed to be quick and simple, with subplots running parallel to the main narrative. The plot involving the Devil was introduced near the end to explain repeated dialogue and justify continuing as a new king. The soundtrack was composed by Disasterpeace, and the art by Mieko Murakami. The game was featured at the AdventureX convention in December 2015 and released on 11 August 2016, delayed a week due to translation issues. A Nintendo Switch port launched on 20 September 2018.
Reader's Guide
Reigns received positive reviews from critics for its gameplay and presentation, though some said it became repetitive over time. Review aggregator Metacritic rated it 'generally favorable' for iOS and PC. Critics praised the inventive card-based decision system and the weight behind each choice, but some found the binary decisions limiting and the game shallow after many scenarios. The game inspired a franchise: a standalone sequel Reigns: Her Majesty (2017), a Game of Thrones adaptation (2018), a science-fiction entry Reigns: Beyond (2020), a Netflix-exclusive Reigns: Three Kingdoms (2022), and a Witcher-based entry (2026). By August 2019, Reigns had sold two million copies.
Did You Know?
- The game's swiping mechanic was inspired by the dating app Tinder.
- Developer François Alliot was considering leaving the games industry before pitching Reigns to Devolver Digital.
- The plot centered on the Devil was added near the end to justify repeated dialogue and the cycle of reincarnation.
- The game was delayed a week from its planned release due to translation problems.
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