“Stormbound is like a more thoughtful and strategic version of Clash Royale,” says Paladin Studios CEO Derk de Geus. It’s certainly a helpful comparison – where in Supercell’s brilliant real-time strategy game your decisions are all made against the clock, Kingdom Wars’ battles unfold at your own pace, with each player taking turns to lay their cards down.
“You'll want to think things through and then make a move,” de Geus tells us. We can vouch for this; fail to think your strategy through and you’ll almost inevitably lose. This game is about taking your time and carefully assessing your options. And with 96 different cards to place down on the battlefield (and dozens more planned), there’s no shortage of tactical approaches to consider. Don’t be daunted, though; the tutorial does a good job of explaining the mechanics and the developer has taken extra care to keep things accessible while retaining a competitive edge.
And then there’s the art. Stormbound’s got that clean, angular style familiar to players of Monument Valley which lends each battle a strange sense of serenity. Developer Paladin Studios is proud of this game’s look, and rightly so. “We have spent a lot of time on finding the right art style, finding a unique tone of voice for the game,” adds de Geus. “It’s fantasy, but it’s not your average orcs-and-wizards type of fantasy. The visuals are not screaming in your face, we tried to make it minimalistic and elegant because we love that kind of art style.”
So do we. The game's look reflects the considered pace of play beautifully, and besides, it gives players plenty to gaze at while they’re plotting their next move. If you’ve ever wanted a Clash Royale-style game with the calming aesthetic of Monument Valley, look no further.