Citadels, developed by Games Distillery s.r.o. and published by HandyGames, is a medieval real-time strategy title that clearly aims to evoke the spirit of classic castle-building and siege-focused RTS games. With a setting loosely inspired by the collapse of Arthurian Britain, it attempts to combine narrative-driven campaigns with traditional resource management and large-scale battles. On the surface, it promises a return to familiar territory for strategy fans—but once you spend time with it, the experience reveals itself to be far more troubled than nostalgic.
The game offers two opposing campaigns, allowing players to experience the conflict from different sides. The premise itself has potential, centering on the struggle for power in a fractured kingdom after the fall of King Arthur. Unfortunately, the storytelling does little to capitalize on that foundation. Narrative delivery is handled through static text and illustrated panels, with minimal presentation or pacing to support immersion. Without voice acting or dynamic sequences, the story often feels detached from the gameplay, making it difficult to stay invested in the events unfolding on screen.
At a mechanical level, Citadels follows the expected RTS structure. Players gather resources, construct buildings, recruit units, and attempt to overpower enemy forces. The basic loop is recognizable, but the way it is implemented creates constant friction. Core systems such as building placement, worker management, and resource flow lack clarity, and the game does little to guide the player in understanding how these systems function together. Even simple tasks can feel unintuitive, leading to a sense of confusion rather than strategic engagement.
Combat, which should be the highlight of a game like this, is particularly problematic. Units frequently behave unpredictably, struggling with pathfinding and failing to respond reliably to commands. Battles often devolve into disorganized clashes where outcomes feel inconsistent, not because of tactical decisions but because of how the game handles unit behavior. Siege mechanics, a central feature of the experience, suffer from similar issues, with weapons and units failing to perform as expected. This undermines the core appeal of building and defending fortresses, as the results rarely reflect the player’s intent.
The lack of variety further compounds these problems. While the game includes both campaign and skirmish modes, the content feels limited, and missions do not evolve in meaningful ways. Objectives repeat, strategies remain largely unchanged, and there is little sense of escalation or progression. Without additional layers such as multiplayer or deeper customization, the experience quickly becomes repetitive, offering few reasons to continue beyond the initial stages.
Visually, Citadels presents a subdued and somewhat outdated aesthetic. The environments aim for a grounded medieval look, but the execution lacks detail and vibrancy. Buildings and landscapes blend together, and unit designs do little to stand out, making it harder to track activity during larger battles. Animations are stiff, and the overall presentation feels static, which further reduces the sense of immersion the game tries to establish.
The most significant issue, however, lies in the game’s technical state. Bugs and inconsistencies are not occasional occurrences—they are persistent problems that affect nearly every aspect of gameplay. Units become stuck, commands fail to register, and mission triggers can behave unpredictably. These issues disrupt the flow of the game to such an extent that they overshadow any potential strengths. Instead of focusing on strategy, players are often left dealing with the game’s shortcomings.
What makes Citadels particularly frustrating is that its core idea is not without merit. The concept of a fortress-focused RTS with a narrative backdrop has clear potential, and the foundation of its mechanics could have supported a compelling experience. However, the lack of refinement and the prevalence of technical issues prevent those ideas from being realized. Rather than feeling like a tribute to classic strategy games, it comes across as an incomplete attempt that never fully comes together.
In the end, Citadels is a difficult game to recommend. While it offers a familiar framework and an interesting premise, its execution is undermined by fundamental design flaws and a lack of polish. For players seeking a reliable or engaging RTS experience, there are far stronger options available. Even for those interested in its concept, the frustration caused by its technical issues makes it hard to fully appreciate what it tries to achieve.
Rating: 3/10
