June 24, 2025 - Hooded Horse and Sad Socket are excited to reveal upcoming plans for 9 Kings, their successful roguelite strategy game that’s sold well over 400,000 copies in its first month of early access, representing one of the most successful games developed by a Brazilian developer.
With ten patches already in the bag, the developers have been hard at work responding to immediate feedback, adding new content, and improving the quality of life for the game. Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to look at what big changes are coming further down the line. Prepare yourself for more adversaries, more cards to combo, and more things mounted on boars:
- Meta-progression will be reworked as the perk system gets an overhaul to offer balanced longevity and strategic decision-making, with the first pass expected this month.
- There are still two Kings missing from 9 Kings, and the eighth King should drop over the summer.
- Meanwhile, the 9th King is due to arrive sometime in Q3, which will complete the “core” experience of the game as originally envisioned.
- The tail end of the year will see a new game mode introduced that will build upon the foundations laid beforehand.
Finally, regular content patches, bug fixes, and quality-of-life improvements will continue to drop between major updates. These will not only further optimize the game but also bring new content to the table, such as new decrees, perks, Rainbow cards, achievements, Endless mode improvements, and more!
This roadmap is subject to change, as the developers have plenty of ideas they want to pursue during early access. Read more in the official blog post.
The game is available now on PC via Steam Early Access for $14.99 / £12.00 / €14.99 / ¥1,860. It currently holds a 92% “Very Positive” rating with over 7,000 reviews.
INSTINCT3 is assisting Hooded Horse in the GAS region covering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
A press kit is available.
Press inquiries: press@hoodedhorse.com
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About Hooded Horse™
Hooded Horse is a publisher of deep strategic and tactical games, including Manor Lords, Against the Storm, ENDLESS™ Legend 2, Old World, Norland, 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 INSTINCT3
INSTINCT3 is an influencer marketing agency from Germany focused on creative campaigns and influencer management. The team, made up of pioneers from the German gaming and esports industry, sees its main mission as creating synergies between the brands of advertisers and those of influencers through exceptional concepts.
The company also represents an exclusive portfolio of influencers, including “HandOfBlood,” one of Germany’s most high-reach online personalities. In 2024, the agency expanded its operations to include a new business area in indie game publishing.