When my colleague Kyle Orland introduced Tetrisweeper as one of Ars’ top anticipated games not from 2024, I reacted with, “That’s great for you, but not for me.” As a casual Tetris player, the thought of juggling multiple game mechanics while simultaneously working to clear lines filled me with trepidation. It felt akin to tackling a standardized test while simultaneously trying to bake an elaborate three-layer cake.
Yet here I am, immersing myself in rounds of Drop Duchy (Steam, Epic, available for Windows and Linux via Proton) during personal breaks, weekend mornings, and various snippets of free time. Much like what Tetris offers, Drop Duchy expands on the block-dropping genre by incorporating a multitude of strategies. Players must:
- Align different terrain types to gather resources
- Position their own troops alongside those of their adversaries
- Decide which cards to enhance, sell, or utilize in battle
- Choose which types of terrain to forgo
- Advance a tech tree based on achievements
- Create battle sequences for optimum impact
Despite its quirky nature and the imperfect amalgamation of its inspirations, Drop Duchy keeps drawing me back, even as I face formidable challenges on Normal mode due to choices made in earlier rounds. The game engages like a moderately complex board game played at high speed, as someone times how quickly you can sort your tiles.
Combining roguelite deck-building with Tetris-like tactics and worker placement
Drop Duchy unfolds without necessitating attention to any overarching narrative, inviting players to dive right into gameplay. You begin with three buildings and an assortment of the enemy’s structures, all shaped like Tetris blocks, mixed into a pile of terrain types such as plains and forests. Filling horizontal lines yields resources like wheat, wood, and stone but does not clear the lines.
Strategically developing large plains areas allows players to drop a “Farm” piece that enhances those plains. Placing a “Woodcutter” within a forest section converts it into plains. Alternatively, a “Watchtower” can recruit archer units based on the number of surrounding plains tiles, with increased recruitment from richer fields. Combining these elements, for instance, by placing a Woodcutter near a Farm and a Watchtower, can yield impressive strategies through layering effects from your timely placements.
However, mistakes can lead to defeat. Sometimes intuition leads you to over-rely on heavily armored units when your opponent has numerous powerful ranged ones. Familiarity with Tetris also brings the dread that one miscalculation made several rounds back could cost you the game. Unlike traditional Tetris, lines in Drop Duchy do not clear; instead, boss battles specifically target players who run out of strategic placements.
A strategic upper layer complements the tile aligning gameplay. Players select from various paths leading to each boss, contending with different resources, battles, and trading opportunities. After winning encounters, players draw cards for their decks, whether focused on military, production, or general technology upgrades. The quest for balance between upgrading cards and maintaining a strong defense life meter adds complexity to the game dynamic, as every loss chips away at this meter. Should it deplete, so does your chance for victory.
A game distinctly its own
Each run offers a new mix of cards to upgrade, set aside for specific terrains, or ponder why they were chosen in the first place. Players will rarely regret upgrading cards—unless they forgo replenishing their overall defense.
The chosen path toward encounters and trading posts significantly influences gameplay in Drop Duchy.
Capturing elements of both triumph and adversities, Drop Duchy embodies its roguelite character. I have identified a few gameplay elements that could benefit from refinement.
The game demonstrates strong compatibility with devices like the Steam Deck; however, small text can pose readability challenges on compact screens. Many building designs appear similar, and the icons and written content can be hard to decipher. This may be particularly frustrating for players experienced with Tetris who rely on muscle memory. Drop Duchy employs unconventional block types, including single, double, and three-square corners. While rewards often accompany line clearance, players might encounter drawbacks when an enemy structure fits perfectly into your formation, enhancing their troop levels.
Players might find some aspects of Drop Duchy unbalanced or unnecessarily punishing. Boss encounters often necessitate several attempts to devise the right strategies for successive rounds. With a myriad of mechanics at play, I wouldn’t be surprised if players opt to engage repeatedly with tutorial rounds.
Yet, much like the nuances of golf, home repair, or server setup, the satisfaction of executing a flawless round, or achieving a critical alignment, can overshadow previous hardships. I consistently discover new approaches to previously insurmountable challenges in Drop Duchy, reinforcing my belief that, while improvements could enhance balance, the game remains an enjoyable pursuit.
