Deal | Medieval Tetris: Quirky strategy hybrid drops under $6 for the first time on Steam

Fans of Tetris and city-building strategy games may find plenty to enjoy in Drop Duchy. Developed by Sleepy Mill Studio, the game combines familiar block-placement mechanics with medieval warfare, resource management and deckbuilding. Until November 18, the unusual genre mashup is 60% off on Steam, bringing the price down from just under $15 to $5.99. According to SteamDB, the previous biggest discount was 40%, making this the lowest price the game has ever reached.

The similarities to Tetris are immediately apparent. Players place different blocks on a grid-based board, but completing a row doesn't make it disappear. Instead, the tiles remain in place, gradually forming a medieval duchy. Rather than simple geometric shapes, players work with forests, meadows, rivers and buildings, with careful placement being the key to success. Farms, for example, produce more food when positioned next to meadows.

The resources generated can then be used to recruit troops such as swordsmen and archers, who take on enemy armies in automated battles. The ultimate goal is to defeat the opposing forces and capture their fortress. Which buildings, terrain types and technologies are available depends on the player's deck of cards. Between rounds, players can choose their next destination on a branching map, visit markets and guilds and acquire new cards or upgrades.

The unusual blend of genres has gone down well with players. On Steam, 89% of around 3,400 user reviews are positive. British newspaper The Guardian awarded the game 4 out of 5 stars, praising its clever mix of Tetris, deckbuilding and city-building strategy, as well as its strategic depth and satisfying progression system. However, the reviewer also noted that the many interconnected mechanics can feel overwhelming for newcomers, particularly given the relatively high difficulty and the frustration that random elements can cause.

That reliance on luck doesn't appeal to everyone, as the ratings on Metacritic suggest. While Drop Duchy has earned a strong Metascore of 83 from professional critics, its user score is considerably lower at 6.5. Some players criticize the heavy influence of randomness and the occasionally tedious progression system. However, the user score is currently based on just 20 reviews, so it should be taken with a grain of salt. On Steam Deck, Drop Duchy is officially rated "Playable."

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