Dokapon Kingdom: Connect for Windows

A fusion of conquest and chaos

Set in the colorful but tax-deprived Kingdom of Dokapon, the narrative unfolds as a swarm of monsters seizes the land’s towns, causing a financial crisis for the local monarch. Dokapon Kingdom: Connect, developed by IDEA FACTORY CO. LTD., is a distinctive hybrid that merges the competitive nature of board games with the depth of role-playing mechanics. In a desperate attempt to restore his wealth, the King summons adventurers to liberate the kingdom, offering the ultimate prize of the throne and the hand of Princess Penny in marriage.

The game follows a turn-based board game structure where movement is governed by a roulette spin. Players navigate across seven vast continents, with each space on the board triggering specific events, including random item finds, shop interactions and high-stakes battles.

Engaging board-based adventuring

Central to the gameplay is the liberation of towns; players must defeat monsters occupying these locations to claim them as assets. Controlled towns provide a steady weekly income and serve as free resting spots for the owner, while rivals who land on these spaces are forced to pay fees. This economic layer transforms the game into a race for net worth, where physical strength is merely a means to secure financial dominance.

Combat strategy and the Roshambo engine

When two players occupy the same space or encounter a monster, the game initiates a specialized combat sequence that utilizes a refined rock-paper-scissors psychological system. Each battle is a duel of anticipation, where the attacker chooses between a standard Attack, a powerful Strike, or a Magic Spell, while the defender must predict and counter with moves like Defend, Counter, or Magic Guard.

As characters level up and acquire new gear, this system evolves from simple guesswork into a strategic exercise, rewarding those who can read their opponent’s patterns and exploit weaknesses in their equipment or class-specific stats. It’s important for players to note that success if often dictated by the luck of the roulette or battle card draws, which can occasionally undermine a player’s long-term strategy.

Multi-mode engagement for different play styles

The game offers several distinct modes to cater to different sessions lengths and group sizes. The Story Mode provides a lengthy, objective-driven campaign across eight chapters, while Normal Mode allows for a customizable race over a set number of weeks. For more focused competition, the Battle Royale mode offers specific challenges like Town Race or Kill Race. This game mode also includes integrated online connectivity, which allows for cross-device multiplayer with features such as autosaving and the ability to replace disconnected players with AI. However, there is a heavy emphasis on sabotage and stealing that can lead to genuine social tension, making it unsuitable for players who prefer cooperative play.

Test of friendship and strategy

Dokapon Kingdom: Connect is a unique blend of competitive frustration and strategic depth. By stripping away the cooperative tropes of the RPG genre and replacing them with the cutthroat pursuit of capital, it creates a social space where every spin of the roulette carries the weight of a potential betrayal. While its long play sessions and heavy reliance on luck may be taxing for some, its various game modes and flexible multiplayer options offer a rewarding experience for players who enjoy the chaos of an unpredictable race.