Dokapon Kingdom: Connect Review (xxadonisxx)
If you've ever thought Mario Party wasn’t quite brutal enough, Dokapon Kingdom: Connect is here to show you what real betrayal looks like. This re-release of the cult-classic party-RPG hybrid throws turn-based combat, board game chaos, and RPG systems into a blender—and hits the "backstab" button.
Originally released on the PlayStation 2 and Wii, Dokapon Kingdom carved out a niche as the "friendship-ending game", and Connect adds online multiplayer to bring that drama to the global stage. So yes, you can now ruin relationships remotely.
At its core, Dokapon Kingdom: Connect is a mash-up of RPG mechanics and board game strategy. Up to four players take turns moving across a sprawling map filled with towns to liberate, monsters to fight, and loot to collect. Your goal? Accumulate the most wealth—whether by saving towns, stealing from rivals, or causing general mayhem.
The game is turn-based, but randomness rules all: spin wheels for movement, guess enemy attacks in rock-paper-scissors-style combat, and prepare to suffer ridiculous events. One moment you're the town hero; the next, you're cursed, bald, poisoned, broke, and in debt to a magic duck. It’s chaos—but intentional chaos.
The RPG elements are surprisingly deep: you can level up, change classes, equip weapons, learn spells, and sabotage your opponents in creative ways. But don’t expect fairness. The comeback mechanics can be savage, and no lead is ever safe.
The biggest draw of Connect is online multiplayer. The original game was couch-only, but this version lets you scheme, deceive, and insult your friends from afar. Matchmaking is smooth, and online play is mostly stable—though connection hiccups can still be disruptive during longer games (which can stretch into hours or even days).
Voice chat isn’t built-in, but trust that you’ll want Discord open to hear your friends scream when you rob their hard-earned gold or change their name to something embarrassing.
The graphics are faithful to the original—bright, cartoonish, and clean, but definitely dated. Don’t expect a visual overhaul. It’s colorful and functional, but not impressive. The soundtrack is cheerful and loop-friendly, even if some tracks wear thin over long sessions.
Still, the charm lies more in the absurdity of the gameplay than in flashy visuals.
What sets Dokapon Kingdom apart isn’t just the blend of genres—it’s the psychological warfare. This is a game where revenge is a legitimate strategy. Alliances form and dissolve. Friendships are tested. You can shave your enemy’s head, curse their stats, or steal their girlfriend. And then wave as they drop to dead last because of it.
And yet, you’ll keep coming back.
Dokapon Kingdom: Connect is not for the faint of heart—or the short of patience. It’s chaotic, unfair, hilarious, and endlessly replayable with the right group of people. The addition of online play makes this the definitive way to experience a game that’s half party, half RPG, and 100% sabotage.
Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when your group chat goes silent for a week.
A gloriously unfair mix of RPG strategy and party-game anarchy—now with Wi-Fi-powered betrayal.
Rating: 8/10