We all know how city-builders work at this point. You hover around the map to meticulously place each building and construct infrastructure. Well, what if I told you it could be more hands-on than that? The new co-op builder Overthrown turns all that on its head by having you literally haul your kingdom with your own two hands. From carrying whole buildings to tossing trees right into the lumber mill, Overthrown is all about adding some fun to everything you think you know about the genre – and you can play it right now.
Developed by Brimstone, the team behind the charming Banzai Royale and rocket-riding Lance a Lot series, comes Overthrown, one of the most unique and chaotic building games yet. And what makes any game even more topsy-turvy? Your friends. That’s right, Overthrown is also a multiplayer game, letting you build your kingdom with up to five other players at once.
Unlike most builders, Overthrown is more of a third-person sandbox game where you build and manage your kingdom from the ground up. Now, that might sound like a bit of a nightmare to control, but that’s where the ability to lift and lob anything comes into play. Not a fan of where your forge is? Simply pick it up and carry it to its new home. Is a boulder getting in the way of your master plan to expand your territory? Lift it with your legs and hurl it somewhere else. Farming in particular becomes incredibly chaotic with this mechanic, as you’ll be picking up tomatoes and pumpkins before lobbing them one by one to their destination.
Be careful where you throw objects, however, as you can cause collateral damage (although, that’s part of the fun). Plus, there’s something inherently amusing about seeing a windmill rusting through the trees in the distance as another player decides to do some landscaping.
There’s much more to Overthrown than building a kingdom though, as it also features fast-paced combat. Whether you go out looking for a fight or your kingdom is under siege, you’ve got lots of tools at your disposal. There are various melee weapons from massive hammers to the classic sword and board setup, and enemies you hit are sent flying from your attacks. When it comes to defending your home, you can employ different guards to join in on the action while your villagers frantically flee.
All this is just the start, too, as Overthrown releases into early access today, Thursday, December 5, on Steam and Xbox Game Preview. You can check out the game via the Overthrown Steam page here.
Over the course of early access, the developers are planning four major updates. The first, currently slated for January 2025, includes additional livestock, equipment, and various quality-of-life features. Throughout the year, the next three updates will add everything from perks and powers to pirates and pollution. Check out the latest roadmap for more.
Combining elements of the best management games with the most fun aspects of the best co-op games makes Overthrown a building sim worth keeping an eye on throughout early access.
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