Summary
Roleplaying games are famous for their promise to let players step into anybody’s shoes, from the lowest commoner’s footwraps to the fanciest noble’s lacquered boots. There are plenty of fantasy RPGs that have the protagonist take quests and go forth on behalf of their monarch (orattempt to dethrone the evil ones), but few let the hero actually take their place on the throne as an absolute ruler.
Whether it’s overseeing daily kingdom business or participating in the act of winning the kingdom and the divine right to rule, these games not only let players choose what kind of person they want to be with skills, attributes, and other meaningful personal choices but also how they would shape their dominion or empire.
Each game in theFableseries sees the player go from a hapless kid to a heroic (or horrific) figure in history. After crossing their older sibling, the protagonist ofFable 3finds themselves exiled and later becomes the leader of a rebellion effort. The latter half ofFable 3has the player manage their kingdom right before aneldrich-style invading entity. As the new monarch, players have to make decisions that will affect the future of Albion.
While some of the ethical choices the player is asked to make are questionable (blue wallpaper in the palace for good, red for evil, for example), there is still an engaging exploration of what it means to be a leader to be had. The ticking of the clock and lighthearted-adventure-to-kingdom-management genre whiplash makeFable 3a contentious end of the original trilogy, but anyonelooking to make moral choiceson the backs of their peasants with a surprisingly extensive landlord management system will appreciate this regal finale.
InNi No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom, players assume the role of Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, a young king deposed from his throne (and possibly the reincarnation of the last United States president sent to another world by a barrage of nuclear warheads). In addition to the usual traditional RPG elements,Revenant Kingdomhas the player engage with building mechanics. Much of the game will be taken up with wholesome side quests, which means that players won’t see much stoic throne-squatting that kings typically get up to, but they will get to experience the rise and growth of their own kingdom.
Players are tasked with rebuilding their kingdom from scratch, which means filling coffers, recruiting citizens, managing resources and storage, and constructing buildings to improve the kingdom’s output and security.Revenant Kingdomcleverly mixes the kingdom-building system with thetraditional adventure and real-time combat system, meaning that engaging with one side of the game will also benefit the other. For example, building a training ground increases experience point gain.
Suikodenis famous for its massive cast, epic storylines that cross history and countries, and heroic battles. InSuikoden 2, the protagonist never takes a crown upon their head but is nonetheless responsible for recruiting an army, refurbishing a castle (after taking it from a vampire), and leading a rebellion against an encroaching evil empire. In addition to the regular battles that are a staple of the JRPG genre,Suikoden 2also has players take part in massive-scale battles.
After taking ona massive partyof over 100 potential members, following their related questlines, and charging into battle with them, it’s easy to feel like a true ruler of a people. However, those looking for an adventure involving bonafide royalty should also check outSuidoken 5, in which a Prince must fight off usurpers of the crown with the help of sympathetic factions and magically-charged runes (although, unfortunately, there doesn’t look to be a remake rerelease ofSuidoken 5any time soon).
InDragon Age Origins, it is possible to end the game with the main character ascending to the throne, but they hardly get a chance to exercise any power. In the third installment,Dragon Age: Inquisition, players are thrust into the role of the Inquisitor. With the title comes the fortress of Skyhold, from which the Inquisitor and their companions make their home. It isn’t just having a fortress on a majestic mountain that will make players feel regal.
The Inquisitor may not have a crown upon their head to declare their sovereignty, but they do regularly exercise their judgment against the people of Thedas, all while sitting upon a lofty throne. Some judgments are life, death, or a fate worse than death. As well as being customizable and expandable, Skyhold also contains a war room from which the Inquisitor can sendtheir finest warriorsout on grand military, scouting, or diplomatic operations, which influence the fate of the world (and the Fade beyond).
If there’s only one crown for a game that combines all the elements of moment-to-moment adventure roleplaying kingdom building and management, the reigning monarch is undoubtedlyPathfinder: Kingmaker. Players explore the Stolen Lands in search of the Stag Lord and, upon defeating him, are given a charter to claim the land as their own and build it into their very own kingdom. In the first half of the game, the player makes their avatar and bands together with a group of adventurers, while the second half is dedicated to the management of their realm.
Kingmakerperfectly evokesan authentic tabletop roleplaying feel. For example, the party’s travels are represented by a wooden game piece traveling across a table-lain map. Just as its combat system is a faithful recreation of the tabletopPathfinder’sdeeply intricate system,Kingmaker’s kingdom management does an excellent job of simulating the workings of a fantasy realm’s economy, politics, and crises. The style of the kingdom that the player creates as an end result of their efforts even has theme music (and a general vibe) determined by their moral alignment.
