Reigns: Her Majesty is a strategy video game developed by Nerial and published by Devolver Digital. The game is a standalone sequel to 2016's Reigns. Set in a fictional renaissance world, it places the player in the role of a monarch who rules the queendom by accepting or rejecting suggestions from advisors. The game was released digitally for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Microsoft Windows in December 2017. Reigns: Her Majesty and its predecessor were released for Nintendo Switch, under the collective title Reigns: Kings & Queens, in September 2018.[1]
| Reigns: Her Majesty | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Nerial |
| Publisher(s) | Devolver Digital |
| Designer(s) | François Alliot |
| Programmer(s) | François Alliot |
| Artist(s) | Arnaud De Bock |
| Writer(s) | Leigh Alexander |
| Composer(s) |
|
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | Android iOS Linux macOS Microsoft Windows Nintendo Switch |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
A third entry in the Reigns series, Reigns: Game of Thrones, was released in October 2018.[2]
Gameplay
editThe base gameplay is the same as in Reigns, but instead of playing as a medieval king, the player assumes the role of a queen. The player swipes left or right on a card depicting an advisor, in order to accept or reject their suggestion. Each decision will have a consequence, changing the balance between the four pillars of the society: the church, the people, the military, and the economy. The queen's reign ends whenever one of the four metrics becomes too high or too low, and the game continues with the player controlling their heir.[3] There are between 1200 and 1300 different cards in the game, up from 800 in the original game.[citation needed]
Throughout the course of the game, the player may experience different kinds of events, which are scripted or caused by the player's decisions. Such events can have one-time or recurring effects on the game, such as causing the death of the next advisor if their suggestion is rejected.[3]
A new gameplay element in Reigns: Her Majesty is the addition of items. The player can collect items throughout the game, and use them in certain situations. Items can bypass the choices offered and offer new options.[3]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | PC: 81/100[4] iOS: 81/100[5] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| PC Gamer (US) | 82%[6] |
| Hardcore Gamer |   [7] |
| Gaming Nexus | 8/10[8] |
| GameSpace | 8/10[9] |
| TouchArcade | iOS: [10] |
The game has been described as "smart and surprising" sequel[6] with "fun and minimalist" mechanics,[11] and an "improved and captivating story",[7] but critics have said that it suffers from repetition.[12] It has been compared to services such as Tinder because the player makes decisions by swiping left or right.[citation needed]
The Verge felt the game allowed experimentation throughout different lives, and liked how progress carried over through playthroughs, "Majesty does a remarkable job at making each life feel unique, and giving you enough information to feel at least somewhat in control of your destiny".[13] Kotaku praised the game's approach to approaching sexism, saying "Her Majesty isn’t one of those stories about women that’s meant to empower them by showing a rise out of adversity. It’s more a fun friend, laughing with you about all the irritating little things that happen to you when you’re a woman that other people sometimes don’t believe".[14] Game Informer disliked the gameplay, writing, "Her Majesty has a couple of interesting moments but largely follows the formula of the first game and fails to evolve into something special".[15]
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Game Developers Choice Awards | Best Mobile Game | Nominated | [16] |
| 14th British Academy Games Awards | British Game | Nominated | [17] | |
| Develop Awards | Writing or Narrative Design | Nominated | [18] | |
| Golden Joystick Awards | Best Storytelling | Nominated | [19][20] | |
| Mobile Game of the Year | Nominated | |||
| 2019 | Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards | Best Writing in a Video Game | Won | [21][22] |
References
edit- ^ Romano, Sal (11 September 2018). "Reigns: Kings & Queens launches September 20". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ "Reigns: Game of Thrones launching October 18th - Gamezebo". gamezebo.com. 23 August 2018. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Webster, Andrew (7 December 2017). "Reigns: Her Majesty turns the life of a queen into a wonderfully tense strategy game". The Verge. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Reigns: Her Majesty for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ "Reigns: Her Majesty for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ a b Roberts, Samuel (7 December 2017). "Reigns: Her Majesty review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ a b LeClair, Kyle (8 May 2018). "Review: Reigns: Her Majesty". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ Gamble, Dave (12 December 2017). "Reigns Her Majesty Review". Gaming Nexus. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ Ford, Suzie (7 December 2017). "Reigns Her Majesty – Long Live the Que..." GameSpace. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ Hodapp, Eli (7 December 2017). "'Reigns: Her Majesty' Review – This Queen Reigns Supreme". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ Chan, Stephanie (9 December 2017). "Reigns: Her Majesty review — it's a royal ball". VentureBeat. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ V, Alex (8 December 2017). "Reigns: Her Majesty Review". New Game Network. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ Webster, Andrew (7 December 2017). "Reigns: Her Majesty turns the life of a queen into a wonderfully tense strategy game". The Verge. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Reigns: Her Majesty: The Kotaku Review". Kotaku. 7 December 2017. Archived from the original on 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ Reeves, Ben. "Reigns: Her Majesty Review - A Royal Bummer". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ Gamasutra staff (5 January 2018). "Breath of the Wild & Horizon Zero Dawn lead GDC 2018 Choice Awards nominees!". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ Makedonski, Brett (12 April 2018). "BAFTA names What Remains of Edith Finch its best game of 2017". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ MCV staff (21 May 2018). "Announcing the Develop Awards 2018 nominations shortlist". MCV. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ Hoggins, Tom (24 September 2018). "Golden Joysticks 2018 nominees announced, voting open now". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ Sheridan, Connor (16 November 2018). "Golden Joystick Awards 2018 winners: God of War wins big but Fortnite gets Victory Royale". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- ^ "WRITERS' GUILD OF GREAT BRITAIN AWARDS 2019: SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED". ALCS. 5 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "Writers' Guild Award winners 2019". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. 14 January 2019. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2019.