A Kingdom For Keflings

Sporting the new 360 Avatars is almost a good enough reason to buy this game right from the start - seeing your 'mini me' walk around and do your bidding is pleasing enough, and Microsoft have done a beautiful job balancing these characters out.

I was late in discovering A Kingdom For Keflings, for the reason most likely common throughout gamers that haven't played it yet; AKFK looks absolutely like a very childish game. Although I don't want to completely disagree with that conception, it's unfair to say that a game with kiddy graphics and cute characters does not have a beautiful mechanic behind it - because, oh God, it does.

A Kingdom For Keflings is a resource management game at heart. Imagine a cross between The Sims and Age of Empires, find a point between the two and throw in the fact you're a giant. The game starts you off with a single workshop and a few "Keflings" (unexplained small people) to begin your adventure. You can use Keflings for a number of things - collecting resources, moving resources, even manning buildings; and each kefling can be assigned to any job, at any time.

The objective, as is quite obvious right from the start, is to build a kingdom for the Keflings. This means creating buildings using a range of workshops, from various resources and assigning the Kefling folk to help you on your way. You gain blueprints from building, which leads to more building, and in no time at all you'll have a bustling metropolis of houses, lumbermills and workshops.

Although from watching videos and/or friends playing the game it may seem monotonous, the variation never lets it get to that state, and I personally found myself able to play solid for hours without getting bored of carrying towers across the (relatively large) map. The pain of gathering is removed by assigning Keflings to work for you, and there are even side-quests, although relatively boring, to keep you going and give you more rewards.

All in all I'd say A Kingdom For Keflings is a mighty fun game. The list of blueprints is varied and the game doesn't outstay it's welcome, although there's always value in coming back and having a little faff about with your town. It's a great family game, and the first 360 game my girlfriend has actually taken interest in. Unfortunately, although I've said there's some, there's not a LOT of re-playability value... Once you've made everything you become rather useless with little to do. A huge saving grace is the multiplayer mode, where you can build a kingdom with friends - this mode sports a fantastic drop-in, drop-out feature, and I've had a jolly good time making castle walls with complete strangers.


I'd absolutely recommend this game to a wide range of gamers, especially those who like to involve partners/family. The achievements are easily obtainable and the game can last up to twenty hours which, for 800MS points, is rather good.

I quite enjoyed this game and i think if people remember the Settlers and enjoyed that they'll love this. Its very simple but very addictive game.
Quite funny playing with your avatar as well.

I give it a 7/10