Automatic Kingdom is shaking up the strategy gaming world with its unique approach to city-building and automation. Developed by 1.5 Eyed Studio, this turn-based strategy game promises to deliver the satisfaction of optimization games like Factorio while incorporating the tactical depth of board games and the progression systems we love in city builders.
What Makes Automatic Kingdom Special
The core gameplay revolves around building your perfect kingdom through strategic placement of Citizens and Constructions. Think of it as digital city planning where every decision creates ripple effects throughout your realm. You’re not just placing buildings randomly – you’re creating synergies and combos that generate valuable resources and unlock new possibilities.
The game strikes an interesting balance between complexity and accessibility. While it offers the deep strategic thinking that veteran gamers crave, the turn-based nature means you can take your time to plan each move carefully. No rush, no pressure – just pure strategic satisfaction.
Core Gameplay Mechanics
Your kingdom operates on a card-based system where you’ll manage Citizens and Constructions to create efficient resource generation. Citizens need food every turn, so balancing your economy becomes crucial. The demo showcases farmers, lumberjacks, cobblers, and miners – each serving specific roles in your growing kingdom.
What’s particularly clever is how Citizens interact with each other. Place a cobbler at the front of your citizen lineup, and they’ll boost the output of the six citizens that follow. These synergies reward thoughtful planning and create those satisfying “aha” moments when everything clicks into place.
Automatic Kingdom’s Strategic Depth
The developers describe the experience as similar to long-term strategy games like Civilization, but with quicker, more focused gameplay sessions. You’ll face challenges that require both immediate tactical decisions and long-term strategic planning.
Prosperity serves as your kingdom’s progression meter. Reach certain prosperity thresholds, and you’ll unlock new tiers of cards with stronger abilities. This creates a satisfying feedback loop where successful resource management leads to better tools, which enable even more sophisticated strategies.
Combat adds another layer of complexity. When bandits attack your kingdom, you’ll need to deploy your soldiers strategically in battle slots. Poor preparation can result in your kingdom being plundered, adding tension to the peaceful building phases.
Resource Management and Optimization
Resources reset to zero at the end of each turn, which fundamentally changes how you approach economic planning. Instead of hoarding resources, you’re encouraged to spend efficiently and build momentum. This design choice keeps the pacing tight and prevents the game from becoming a tedious resource accumulation simulator.
Development and Release Timeline
1.5 Eyed Studio is targeting a Q4 2025 release for Automatic Kingdom, with a playable demo currently available on Steam. The developers actively seek player feedback, which suggests they’re committed to refining the experience based on community input.
Early gameplay footage shows a polished interface with clear visual feedback for synergies and resource forecasting. The art style balances functionality with charm, making it easy to understand complex interactions at a glance.
Who Should Play Automatic Kingdom
This game will appeal to fans of optimization puzzles, board game enthusiasts, and strategy gamers looking for something fresh. If you enjoy games like Splendor, Wingspan, or digital adaptations of complex board games, Automatic Kingdom offers similar satisfaction with added depth and progression systems.
The turn-based nature makes it perfect for players who prefer thoughtful decision-making over twitch reflexes. You can pause, plan, and execute your strategies without time pressure, making it accessible to a broad audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Automatic Kingdom be released?
The game is expected to launch in Q4 2025, with a free demo currently available on Steam for interested players.
What platforms will support Automatic Kingdom?
Currently confirmed for PC via Steam, with no announcements about console versions yet.
Is there a multiplayer mode planned?
The developers haven’t announced multiplayer features – the focus appears to be on single-player campaign and challenge modes.
How long does a typical game session last?
Based on demo feedback, individual sessions can range from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on your strategic approach and kingdom complexity.
Does the game include tutorial content for new players?
Yes, the demo includes guided tutorial missions that introduce core mechanics like citizen placement, resource management, and combat basics.
Can I customize my kingdom’s appearance?
While specific customization options haven’t been detailed, the card-based system suggests multiple visual themes and kingdom styles will be available.
Final Thoughts
Automatic Kingdom represents an exciting evolution in strategy gaming, successfully blending familiar mechanics in innovative ways. The combination of board game strategy, city-building satisfaction, and automation optimization creates something genuinely unique in the crowded strategy market.
With its Q4 2025 release window approaching, strategy game fans have good reason to keep this title on their radar. The available demo provides an excellent preview of what promises to be a deeply engaging strategic experience.