From Press Release:
September 16, 2026 – Hooded Horse and Sad Socket are excited to announce that their hit roguelite strategy game of bloodthirsty, otherworldly dominion, 9 Kings, is ready to leave early access! The game launches into 1.0 for PC via Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store on November 12, 2026. It will also be playable via PC Game Pass.
Become the King of Kings through decades of war and strife, battling against endless siege waves. Pick a King to play as and harness everything from sentient mushrooms and blaster wizards to kamikaze bombers and undead hordes, even channel the power of nature itself to repel the onslaught and protect the kingdom. Expand and upgrade a small-but-mighty fortress, utilizing a curated deck of cards to rapidly adapt tactics in the face of relentless opposition.
The 1.0 update introduces:
- Custom deck creation: mix and match cards from all of the Kings to build a unique starting deck. There are also plenty of rule modifiers to tweak for a perfectly curated experience.
- A new daily quest system to test players’ deckbuilding skill with random challenges.
- Even more Rainbow Cards to spice up gameplay with powerful boosts and plot level-ups.
- Over 27 new Decrees that will further shape the overall strategy with dynamic rule shifts.
- New animations, UI improvements, and much, much more!
Since launching into early access, the team at Sad Socket has pushed nearly 30 patches, both major and modest. Among the usual rebalances and quality-of-life improvements, 9 Kings now features a full roster of Kings, Multiplayer and Quest Modes, a Casual Play option, and sinister Champions of Chaos boss fights.
Anyone itching to try the game before the 1.0 launch can check out the free demo, available on Steam.
9 Kings is available in early access for PC via Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store for a base price of $19.99 / £17.99 / €19.99 / ¥1,980. It’s also available via PC Game Pass. The game currently holds a 92% “Very Positive” rating with over 21,000 reviews.
9 Kings is also coming to mobile via iOS and Android on October 12th via a partnership with Playdigious.
Sidekick Publishing is assisting Hooded Horse in the GAS region, covering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.-End-
About Hooded Horse™
Hooded Horse is a publisher of deep strategic and tactical games, including Manor Lords, Against the Storm, MENACE, Old World, Norland, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, and 9 Kings. With people and partners around the world, our goal is to empower and support developers in doing what they do best: creating world-class experiences for their audiences.
You can find out more about us on our Steam publisher page or website, as well as our social channels: Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, YouTube, and Discord.
About Sad Socket™
Founded by two childhood friends who tried (and failed) to make a AAA game when they were 11, Sad Socket is one of Brazil’s leading game companies, bringing ideas they are passionate about to life. They are a collaborative group that both develops their own games and helps publish other titles from the region by sharing expertise in game design and the creative industry.
You can find out more by visiting the official website, as well as Twitter and YouTube channels.
About Sidekick Publishing™
Sidekick Publishing is an indie game publisher from Germany, born out of creative agency INSTINCT3. Drawing on deep roots in gaming culture, community building, and influencer marketing, Sidekick blends traditional publishing expertise with a creator- & community-first approach. The team focuses on bringing unique indie titles to market with tailored strategies that integrate influencer collaborations, community engagement, and bold creative campaigns from day one.You can find out more about Sidekick Publishing on the Steam publisher page and the official website.
