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King of Thieves (video game)

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King of Thieves
Logo
Publisher(s)Zeptolab
ReleaseFebruary 12, 2015
Genre(s)Platformer
Mode(s)Multiplayer

King of Thieves is a multiplayer PvP platform video game developed by ZeptoLab for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. The players must steal gems from user-generated dungeons and fortify their dungeon to protect against attacks.[1]

Gameplay

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King of Thieves is two-dimensional one-screen multiplayer game.[2] The game incorporates PvP and platforming. A player controls an acrobatic blob-like creature,[3] with a one-tap control scheme.[4] Every player owns a home base, also known as the dungeon, where their golds and gems can be stored. Each dungeon is equipped with a totem, where gems can be combined into one, leading to a gem with higher value. Since the gem storage is limited, players must continue combining to obtain more gems. However, there is a catch: while performing the gem-combining ritual, the totem becomes vulnerable to theft attempts from other players.[3]

In order to raid other's dungeons, players need to use lockpicks to unlock the lock to the door. The lock has several decoys and only one true keyhole, and the player has to guess which is the true keyhole, and sometimes has to spend multiple lockpicks to enter the dungeon. The lockpicks are in a limited quantity.[3]

Kotaku and VentureBeat described the game's asynchronous gameplay as being similar to Clash of Clans.[5][6]

Development and release

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After 16 months of development,[7] the game had its iOS release on 12 February 2015.[8] The Android release followed on March.[8] In 2016, the game reached 24 million downloads.[7] It is made with Box2D physics engine.[9]

video icon Official release trailer

Reception

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King of Thieves has received mixed reviews.

The game's lockpick system was a common source of criticism. Gamezebo said that the randomness of the lock can be frustrating, as some lock may take many lockpicks before opening, exhausting the player's supply.[3] TouchArcade said that this was a "poor implementation of an energy system" and that an rate limit is against the heart of a challenging trial platformer.[2] Pocket Gamer wrote "the monetisation element which borders on the contentious are the lockpicks".[14] Another Pocket Gamer article said that the key system breaks immersion when the player is "just getting into things".[12] IGN said that the lockpick system forces players to wait and can be irritating.[11] However, Windows Central had a more positive view, saying that "it didn't feel as restrictive as other models".[15] Common Sense Media said that the biggest flaw was the key system, where 10 or more lockpicks may be used.[1] GryOnline wrote that "entire session with the game ends after a few minutes" due to the limited amount of keys.[16]

Kotaku criticized the game's asynchronous multiplayer system, which allows players to prevent raids on their stash. They mentioned instances where players stay online, under a shield, or already under attack, making it impossible for others to retaliate.[6]

Common Sense Media gave an age rating of 13+.[1]

Year Award Category Result Ref
2016 International Mobile Gaming Awards Best Multiplayer Game Nominated [17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "King of Thieves App Review". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  2. ^ a b c Dotson, Carter (2015-02-17). "'King of Thieves' Review – Can't Pick the Lock to My Heart". Touch Arcade. Archived from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  3. ^ a b c d e Oxford, Nadia (2015-02-12). "King of Thieves Review: Great Thief, Terrible Locksmith". Gamezebo. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  4. ^ a b Thomas, Pugliese (February 21, 2015). "Un lucchetto di troppo" [One lock too many]. Multiplayer.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  5. ^ "Cut the Rope creator Zeptolab shoots for midcore audience with King of Thieves". VentureBeat. 2015-01-23. Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  6. ^ a b "I'm Getting Really Sick Of People Stealing My Stuff, King Of Thieves". Kotaku. 2015-02-17. Archived from the original on 2017-06-04. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  7. ^ a b Suckley, Matt (2016-03-16). "ZeptoLab's Eugene Yailenko on lessons learned from King of Thieves". PocketGamer.biz. Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  8. ^ a b Jordan, Jon (2015-03-16). "Is ZeptoLab's King of Thieves stealing any app store gold?". pocketgamer.biz. Archived from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  9. ^ "Box2D Games". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  10. ^ "King of Thieves". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  11. ^ a b Zampini, Alessandro (16 February 2015). "Touch Me #94: i giochi per smartphone e tablet della settimana" [Touch Me #94: From the brute force of Tempo to the delicacy of Staying Together]. IGN Italia (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  12. ^ a b Slater, Harry (2015-02-12). "King of Thieves". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  13. ^ Allen, Jennifer. "King of Thieves Review". 148Apps. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  14. ^ Suckley, Matt (2015-03-18). "How ZeptoLab uses randomness to monetise King of Thieves". PocketGamer.biz. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  15. ^ Ponder, George (2016-01-04). "Stealing shiny things with King of Thieves for Windows PC and Windows Phone". Windows Central . Archived from the original on 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  16. ^ "King of Thieves". GRY-Online.pl (in Polish). January 27, 2015. Archived from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  17. ^ "King of Thieves". International Mobile Gaming Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
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