Kingdomino Digital Edition Review: A Faithful Adaptation to a Family Favorite | The Gamerheads Podcast

Platform reviewed: Steam (PC)

Also on: iOS and Android

Price: $4.99

One of my family’s favorite board games is Kingdomino. It is easy to learn, mixes just enough strategy and luck, and most matches wrap up in under thirty minutes. When I saw it had finally made the jump to digital, I was pretty excited. I am happy to say it stays true to the physical board game and even adds a few smart features that make the experience feel fresh.

As the kingdom grows, new dominos need to match at least one terrain type next to where I place them.

If you have not played Kingdomino before, the game is very simple to pick up. I usually play it with my family, and it can be played with two to four players. At the start of the game, turn order is chosen at random, and the first player gets their pick from four dominos. Each domino has two terrain types, and there are six types total. Some tiles also have crowns on them, which are important for scoring.

Every player starts with a castle tile in the center of their kingdom. In the beginning, I can place any domino as long as it touches that castle. As the kingdom grows, new dominos need to match at least one terrain type next to where I place them. For example, if I already have a water and a grassland tile in play, I can place a domino that is all water, all grassland, or one that includes one of the terrain types.

Crowns are the most important part of scoring in Kingdomino.

After the initial placement, turn order is determined by which domino I chose in the previous round. Four new dominos are placed on the table, sorted from lowest to highest value. The higher-value dominos go toward the bottom of the list, and if I choose one of those tiles by placing my meeple on it, that means I will pick last in the next round. This creates a nice bit of strategy. I might really want the higher-value tile, but sometimes it is better to take a lower-value one so I can pick first in the next round.

Crowns are the most important part of scoring in Kingdomino. They determine how many points each area of land is worth. When I have a crown on a land type and that land is connected to matching tiles, I multiply the total number of connected tiles by the number of crowns in that group.

For example, if I have a wheat field with one crown and it connects to five other wheat fields, that gives me six total tiles. Six tiles multiplied by one crown gets me six points. If a group has more crowns, the score goes up fast. Some dominos even have two or three crowns, which is why they tend to show up near the bottom of the pick order. Once all tiles are placed and all areas are scored, the player with the most points wins.

The game is pretty straightforward overall, but it definitely gets more challenging near the end. There were a few times when I had to take a domino that I could not place anywhere because it did not match any of my existing terrain. I always aim to build a perfect square around my castle, but that depends entirely on what dominos I draw. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t.

There are several modes to choose from, including single player, local pass play, public online games, and private online sessions.

The digital version also adds a few optional modifiers that unlock as I play. These change the rules slightly and provide new ways to score points. For example, I unlocked one that gives me an extra ten points if my castle is placed in the center of my kingdom. That is a rule my family already uses when we play the physical version, so it was nice to see it included here too.

There are several modes to choose from, including single player, local pass play, public online games, and private online sessions. When I tried joining a public match, I did run into a small issue. A popup appeared asking whether I wanted to play with two or four players, but after I selected an option, the popup stayed on the screen and I could not connect to a game.

The game also features community events.

The game also features community events, where everyone works together toward shared objectives. During my review runs, the active event was called Goldrush. Every time I placed a mountain tile, I earned three gold pieces that went toward the community goal. If the first goal is reached, everyone earns a new avatar frame. If the second goal is reached, which takes more work, the reward is a new type of meeple to place on the dominos. Each event lasts about twenty days, so there is plenty of time to contribute.

Along with these events, there are also leaderboards that track high scores and show who has earned the most progress during the active community challenge. This adds a competitive aspect that isn’t in the physical version.

Another feature in the digital version is the mystery tile system. As I earn points, I collect gems, and once I have enough gems, I can buy a mystery tile. Placing that tile in my kingdom unlocks new cosmetics for the game, like different looks for my meeples or my castle. It is a clever system that gives me a reason to keep playing matches and earning new visual upgrades.

After I place a domino, the pieces come to life. Villagers start moving around the kingdom, gathering wheat, working in the mountains, or walking through the forests.

Aesthetically, the digital version looks great. After I place a domino, the pieces come to life. Villagers start moving around the kingdom, gathering wheat, working in the mountains, or walking through the forests. The whole kingdom has a clean, 3D isometric style that fits the tone of the board game. It adds a bit of fun to the experience and makes the digital version feel more alive.

Final grade: B+

The digital edition of Kingdomino is a fantastic adaptation of the physical version. There is a short tutorial that does a great job walking new players through how to play, and the digital-only features such as community events and unlockable cosmetics add something extra that the tabletop version cannot. With local play, single-player options, and online modes, it is a great way to bring family and friends together for a game night, even if that means doing it remotely.

Unfortunately, I was not able to get the online matchmaking working during my review time. Outside of that issue, I really enjoyed my time with Kingdomino and plan on coming back to it often, whether I am playing locally or contributing to the community goals.

Want to learn more about the game or where to wishlist the game, check out their site: https://game.page/kingdomino/gamerheadspodcast

Review copy provided by Keymailer