A new building game on Steam makes you the ruler of your own kingdom. As such, you will have to make decisions that will put your moral compass to the test – and all of this for under €22.
Which game is being talked about? Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown is a building game that transports you to a medieval fantasy world. There, you will build a kingdom according to your vision. Your decisions are meant to have consequences.
Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown launched in Early Access on November 6, 2024, on Steam. Until November 13, you can get the game 20% cheaper, so for only €21.59 instead of the usual €26.99.
You can watch a trailer for the Early Access launch here:
Genre mix in a magical medieval world
What is the game about? Your people have set out for the land of Nysamor to seek a new home. As the ruler, it is your task to restore the kingdom to new glory – whether with sweet words or with the sword.
Gameplay-wise, Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown combines elements of a city-building simulation with RTS battles and a world map inspired by 4X games. At the beginning, you gather the necessary resources to build and supply your first city.
If your city is big enough, you will raise your first armies. You will need them, on one hand, to avoid being conquered by your neighbors, and on the other hand, to expand your own realm. Alternatively, you can also take the diplomatic route.
Like in Frostpunk, you will repeatedly face decisions in Thrive that are meant to have a lasting impact on your reign. Whether you are a benevolent ruler or a tyrant – both have their advantages and disadvantages and will advance you in the game.
Is there a free demo for the game? Unfortunately not. If you want to try Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown, you will have to purchase the game. However, you can take advantage of the refund option on Steam if the game does not convince you within the first two hours.
For those who like to be really evil in video games, there is supposed to be another building game on Steam. In it, you earn your money by “recycling” souls. You can read more about it here: A new building game on Steam turns hell into a business – and you are the manager
