What do infamous hook-up app Tinder, indie gaming great Fez, and classic choose-your-own-adventure games have in common? They're all reference points that have been named in conjunction with an intriguing new iOS game called Reigns.
Developer Nerial has produced something special in Reigns - a genuinely fresh mobile adventure game that wouldn't feel as good on any other format. Here's why we think you should be playing it.
Tindering your assignation
At the heart of Reigns (download here) is a simple binary decisions system. As the young ruler of a medieval fantasy kingdom, you're fed a succession of decisions, each one generally corresponding to a year of your reign, with two possible choices.
These can range between a simple yes/no on whether to deciding whether to adopt an offensive or defensive stance in a duel. This swipe-based card system has led to comparisons with hook-up app Tinder. As improbable as that might sound, it's a sensible UI choice that gives Reigns an easy-going flow, placing all emphasis on the decision-making process it itself.
Regardless of the choice you make, it will have an effect on four core areas of your kingdom - the church, the people, the army, and your wealth. If any one element becomes too strong or too weak, it will mean the end of your reign (and quite possibly a grizzly death).
Legacy of failure
Your first game of Reigns will likely feel entertaining, if a bit of a novelty. But it's in subsequent games that the true depth of the game reveals itself.
It will soon become apparent that you don't actually go back to the beginning. Rather, the universe is persistent, with previous choices coming back to influence subsequent generations and steer the scenarios you're offered.
Accept that spooky doctor into your service, for example, and he'll stick around to help or hinder your successors. Unless you have him killed at any point, at which point he'll disappear from the ongoing story.
The more you play Reigns, essentially, the deeper and more involving it gets.
Hey, good lookin'
Besides a surprisingly sophisticated decision system, what sells Reigns is its presentation. Its cards have a beautifully stylised look to them, with characterful representations of people and pets that reflect the game's dark sense of humour.
Also noteworthy is the atmospherically pretty soundtrack, which is from superstar indie game soundtracker Disasterpeace. If you've ever played Fez, Hyper Light Drifter, or It Follows, you'll know how talented this chap is.
It's just another card in Reigns's considerable deck. We suggest you opt for 'yes' when you're offered the chance to buy it on the App Store.
