Medieval city building ARPG Dungeons and Kingdoms just keeps looking better

I play a lot of Dungeons and Dragons - far too much Dungeons and Dragons, in fact. I have a character for every occasion, a stupid idea for every life-or-death scenario, and a good ol' lute to play if it all goes to hell. High fantasy worlds are my favorite to explore, and the aptly named Dungeons and Kingdoms offers all of that and more. Blending the weighty, boss-focused combat of soulslikes and the best RPGs with the city building and resource management of Manor Lords, it's coming to Steam later this year, but there's a demo set to drop before then. Adventuring shoes, activate.

You are the leader of a weary band of refugees who have taken to the high seas to escape their "unliveable" homeland. After months of searching, you've found your new paradise: a bountiful, vibrant fantasy world that's just waiting to be explored. Emerald plains stretch on into the distance, and secrets await around every corner. Part city building game, part action RPG, Dungeons and Kingdoms gives you the keys to your own, well, kingdom and says "have at it."

As with all the best survival games, you'll have to carve out your new life from the ground up. Your early hours will be spent crafting pieces of equipment, foraging through the local foliage, and engaging with low-level creatures. The new trailer shows off an adorable, cubic fox getting a well-deserved pat on the head, so it looks like you can recruit animal companions as you go.

As your village grows from a dusty hamlet to a functioning citadel, you'll be able to terraform the land so that your farmers have an easy job, build deep valleys to ward off intruders, and craft roads to improve trade. There are over 500 building types to choose from, and further down the line you'll be able to create your own then share them to the Steam Workshop.

But this gorgeous new world isn't without its dangers - that's where the 'dungeons' part of 'Dungeons and Kingdoms' comes in. You'll need to take down all kinds of predators to secure your lands, and delve into mysterious underground caverns to score new gear that can, in turn, upgrade your city's technology. We see a variety of enemy types, including everything from a burrowing snake-like creature to a huge demon and, of course, a dragon, with combat looking slow and methodical.

But, for me, the thing that ties all of this together is Dungeons and Kingdom's art style. It's got the angular pixel feel of games like Valheim and even Old School Runescape. As someone who loves pretty games, developer Camlann is ticking all of the right boxes.

Dungeons and Kingdoms will arrive in Steam Early Access in Q4 of 2025, with the precise release date set to be revealed during Steam Next Fest in October. Speaking of SNF, there'll be a free demo to try from Monday October 13 to Monday October 20. In the meantime, you can wishlist it here.

If you love all things mighty and magical, check out our list of the best fantasy games. Alternatively, if you're looking for something a little more Kingdom Come Deliverance than Fable, we have a rundown of all the best medieval games.

Has Dungeons and Kingdoms piqued your interest? Let us know what reeled you in over on our Discord server.