Drop Duchy: Deckbuilder Tactics on Tetris Battlefield is well received
Drop Duchy is a strategic roguelite cover builder with Tetris mechanics and a medieval setting. Players first create a playing field out of maps, then engage in a short tactical skirmish. The mix is coming: the recently released indie game is rated “very positive” on Steam.
Deckbuilder Tactics on Tetris Battlefield
In Drop Duchy, the goal is to defeat the opponent in a series of battles. First, one is chosen from three factions, each offering different strategies and play styles. Each faction also has a different starting deck card. These have different mechanics that can be used strategically to train troops, gather resources, or convert fields. The game principle works like this: Blocks are placed in a Tetris-like field, just like in the game. Without time pressure, but with a different terrain. In addition to the blocks in meadows, forests, mountains, and, for example, fields, there are buildings that are shuffled under the terrain blocks as cards in the player’s deck. In this respect, unlike Tetris, there is not an infinite number of blocks, but only about 20 to 30 each. These are gradually drawn and can be placed immediately or packed into the reserve, but there is always only space for one block card. As soon as the building blocks fill a horizontal line, they do not disappear, but provide a resource bonus.
Strategy is the be-all and end-all in Drop Duchy – because the title doesn’t convey stress in the sense of time pressure, players can think about their next move. Not only is filling the lines important, but also the mechanics of the building cards. The Watchtower, for example, recruits archers if there’s a meadow. This prompts you to place the meadows around the watchtower. Other buildings work similarly. The highlight: the building cards, and thus the opponent’s units, must also be placed by the player. Here, it’s important to place the possible building blocks in such a way that no neighborhood bonuses take effect.
The best preparation for the boss
If all the blocks have been placed from the stack or there are no more spaces, the battle begins. Different troops are recruited by different buildings. The number of troops depends on the characteristics of the buildings and the terrain placed. The enemy also has units, as many of their buildings have a base value of troops that will always fight for them. There are sword fighters, archers, and axe fighters that counter each other in the paper-scissors principle. Archers, for example, are stronger against axe fighters, but weaker against swords. Troops can be strategically sent into opposing camps in a sequence to emerge victorious at the end.
Drop Duchy
After each round, there’s a new building card to choose from, and a sort of path decision for meta-progression. Between regions with or without combat, resource dealers, or building cards, it’s important to choose what makes the most strategic sense. At the end of the path, a boss opponent awaits, and to be well prepared, there are card upgrades that can be purchased with resources. The new cards can be activated via a progression tree. Each boss introduces additional mechanics into the fight, which the player must integrate or tactically circumvent.
The Tetris-Deck Bubbles are well received by players.
The French single-player game is rated “very positive” on Steam with over 600 reviews. 90% of reviewers recommend the game. This is often due to the interesting mix of roguelite, superior bubilder, Tetris, and a charming medieval atmosphere, which should provide stimulating tactical gameplay. The overall implementation is successful; Drop Duchy is simply fun. Critics, in turn, argue that tactical depth arises considerably above the cards and their placement, but not in actual combat on the Tetris battlefield.
Small Discount
Drop Duchy is available on Steam and the Epic Games store for nearly 14 euros. The title is currently discounted by 10 percent; it is normally 15 euros. Drop Duchy offers a German text edition.
Topics: strategy games, indie games, games
A lifelong video game enthusiast, Julien reviews the latest releases and explores the technologies transforming the gaming world.
