King Pins

King Pins is a small-scale real-time strategy game inspired by the Age of Empires series, featuring local multiplayer support with controllers. Players collect resources, expand their territory, and defend their king unit, as losing the king results in defeat. The game offers a campaign mode with challenging levels, four distinct civilizations each with unique playstyles, and the ability to play against AI or up to three other players locally. With random generated maps and various buildings, units, and upgrades, King Pins provides endless strategic possibilities.

King Pins: A Micro-RTS Masterpiece

Introduction

In the vast landscape of real-time strategy (RTS) games, King Pins stands out as a refreshing and innovative entry. Developed by the indie powerhouse Sokpop Collective, this game distills the essence of the RTS genre into a compact, accessible, and highly replayable experience. Inspired by the grandeur of Age of Empires, King Pins offers a unique blend of strategy, simplicity, and charm. This review will delve into the game’s development history, narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, world-building, reception, and legacy, ultimately arguing that King Pins is a standout title that deserves a place in the annals of RTS history.

Development History & Context

The Studio Behind the Game

Sokpop Collective, a Dutch indie development studio, is known for its prolific output and innovative game designs. The studio operates on a unique model, releasing two games per month through their Patreon program, funded by over 1,500 patrons. This model allows them to experiment with various genres and mechanics, resulting in a diverse portfolio of games. King Pins is a testament to their ability to create polished, engaging experiences within a short development cycle.

The Creators’ Vision

The vision behind King Pins was to create a micro-RTS that captured the essence of larger-scale strategy games like Age of Empires but in a more accessible and compact form. The game’s design emphasizes quick, intense matches where players must manage resources, build armies, and protect their king—a central unit whose demise means certain defeat. This focus on simplicity and accessibility makes King Pins appealing to both casual and hardcore strategy fans.

Technological Constraints and the Gaming Landscape

Released in October 2020, King Pins entered a gaming landscape dominated by large-scale, complex RTS titles. The game’s development was constrained by the need to create a product that could be completed within the studio’s two-week development cycle. Despite these constraints, Sokpop Collective managed to create a game that feels polished and complete, thanks to their expertise in GameMaker Studio, the engine used to develop King Pins.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot and Characters

King Pins features a short campaign mode that serves as a tutorial, introducing players to the game’s mechanics and four distinct civilizations: humans, goblins, elves, and the undead. Each civilization has its unique units, buildings, and upgrades, adding depth to the gameplay. The campaign is designed to teach players the basics of resource management, unit production, and combat strategy.

Dialogue and Themes

While King Pins is not heavily narrative-driven, it does feature light storytelling elements that add charm and context to the gameplay. The dialogue is minimal but effective, providing just enough lore to make the world feel alive. Themes of warfare, strategy, and survival are central to the game, reflecting the core mechanics of resource gathering and territorial expansion.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loops

King Pins is a real-time strategy game where players collect resources (food, wood, and gold) to build structures and train units. The primary objective is to protect your king while attacking and defeating the enemy king. The game features a grid-based map, which adds a tactical layer to unit movement and positioning.

Combat and Character Progression

Combat in King Pins is straightforward but engaging. Units have different strengths and weaknesses, and players must strategize to outmaneuver their opponents. The game features a variety of units, including melee fighters, archers, and magical units, each with unique abilities. Character progression is tied to the upgrade system, where players can enhance their units and buildings to gain an edge in battle.

UI and Innovative Systems

The user interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy for new players to pick up and play. One of the game’s innovative features is its support for local multiplayer with up to four players using controllers. This makes King Pins a great party game, allowing friends to compete in fast-paced, strategic battles. The game also features random map generation, ensuring high replayability.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

King Pins takes place in a fantasy world filled with diverse environments, from lush forests to eerie graveyards. The game’s art style is charming and cartoony, with bright colors and simple animations that give it a unique visual identity. The atmosphere is lighthearted yet strategic, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Visual Direction

The visual direction of King Pins is a significant strength. The game’s pixel-art style is reminiscent of classic RTS games but with a modern twist. The maps are detailed and varied, providing a rich backdrop for the strategic battles that unfold. The unit and building designs are distinct and easy to recognize, even in the heat of battle.

Sound Design

The sound design in King Pins is effective, with clear sound effects that enhance the gameplay experience. The music is upbeat and energetic, complementing the fast-paced nature of the game. While not particularly memorable, the soundtrack sets the right tone for the strategic action.

Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

King Pins received a very positive reception from players, with an 84/100 player score on Steam as of October 2025. Critics praised the game’s accessibility, charm, and strategic depth. The game’s local multiplayer mode was particularly highlighted as a standout feature, making it a great choice for group play. Commercially, King Pins was a success, selling well on platforms like Steam and itch.io.

Influence on Subsequent Games and the Industry

King Pins has influenced the indie RTS scene by demonstrating that smaller, more accessible strategy games can be just as engaging as their larger counterparts. Its success has encouraged other developers to experiment with micro-RTS designs, leading to a resurgence of interest in the genre. The game’s emphasis on local multiplayer has also inspired other developers to prioritize couch co-op and competitive play in their designs.

Conclusion

King Pins is a masterful example of how to distill the essence of a complex genre into a compact, accessible, and highly replayable experience. Its charming art style, engaging gameplay, and innovative multiplayer features make it a standout title in the RTS genre. While it may not have the depth of larger strategy games, its strategic depth and accessibility make it a must-play for fans of the genre. King Pins has carved out a unique niche in the gaming landscape and deserves recognition as a modern classic in the world of real-time strategy games.