Right Click to Necromance: A Surprisingly Addictive Necromancer Simulator

Right Click to Necromance is a free-to-play action video game where players assume the role of a necromancer general, commanding an ever-growing army of the undead. Developed by Juicy Beast, this top-down, hack-and-slash, real-time strategy (RTS) game, created for the Indie Speed Run 2015 game jam, offers a surprisingly engaging, albeit rough-around-the-edges, gameplay experience. While its simplistic design and limited features might initially appear underwhelming, the core mechanics create a unique and addictive loop that keeps players coming back for more.

Simple Controls, Complex Strategy

The game’s control scheme is remarkably intuitive. Players control their undead army by pressing and holding the left mouse button, then dragging to direct their movement. Upon encountering enemy units, the battle commences automatically. The key to expanding your necromantic forces lies in the right-click mechanic: after defeating an enemy group, right-clicking on their corpses allows you to “consume” them, adding their numbers to your army. This simple mechanic is the foundation of the game’s strategic depth. Managing your army’s size and positioning to maximize efficiency becomes crucial as the number of enemies, and the difficulty, increases. The on-screen prompts clearly indicate the controls, further simplifying the learning curve for new players. However, this simplicity does not diminish the challenge; mastery requires careful planning and tactical execution.

The Perils of Perpetual Warfare

Despite its easy-to-learn controls, Right Click to Necromance presents a significant challenge. The game’s unforgiving nature stems largely from the relentless onslaught of enemy units. Players are immediately thrust onto a relatively small map teeming with enemies moving in seemingly random directions. These enemy groups frequently coalesce, rapidly increasing their numbers and posing an immediate threat. This can lead to overwhelming situations, particularly in the early stages, where even a slight misstep can result in the quick annihilation of the player’s army. The constant pressure necessitates quick thinking, skillful maneuvering, and a ruthless efficiency in consuming fallen enemies to bolster your own ranks. The dynamic and often chaotic nature of the battlefield requires players to adapt their strategy on the fly.

A Balancing Act: Growth vs. Performance

The game’s design introduces a unique balancing act: managing your army’s growth while simultaneously mitigating the potential for performance issues. As the player’s army expands and the number of enemies on screen increases, the game can struggle to maintain a smooth frame rate, even on modern hardware. The lack of in-game settings to adjust graphics or limit the enemy spawn rate exacerbates this problem. This performance limitation is a significant drawback, particularly considering the game’s already demanding gameplay. The inability to tweak game settings to manage the potential for performance issues limits the game’s accessibility and longevity for many players.

The Undead Horde: Army Composition and Tactics

While the core gameplay revolves around the simple mechanics of movement and consumption, the strategic element emerges through the composition and management of your undead army. Starting with a small force, the player’s ability to strategically engage and efficiently consume enemy units determines the size and power of their army. Larger armies offer greater combat effectiveness but also significantly increase the strain on the game’s performance. Therefore, players need to carefully balance the desire for a large, powerful army with the need to maintain a playable frame rate. This delicate balance pushes players to master the timing and execution of their movements and engagements, making strategic positioning and resource management crucial aspects of the gameplay experience.

The Boss Encounters: A Test of Might

Beyond the constant waves of smaller enemy groups, players encounter larger, more formidable boss units. These bosses are visually distinct, significantly larger than regular enemies, and pose a substantial challenge. Defeating these bosses requires a sizable, well-managed army and careful execution of strategic maneuvers. The significant health pool and superior combat abilities of these bosses demand a more considered approach than the frantic battles against smaller groups. Successfully defeating these bosses is a significant accomplishment, serving as a benchmark of the player’s skill and army management prowess. The thrill of victory against these powerful enemies is a key motivator, driving players to persevere through the game’s many challenges.

Missed Opportunities: Features Left on the Cutting Room Floor

While Right Click to Necromance offers a captivating core gameplay loop, its limited scope is apparent. The absence of key features, such as a settings menu to adjust graphics, difficulty levels, and enemy spawn rates, significantly hampers the overall experience. The lack of a proper tutorial or in-game explanation of the mechanics leaves new players to fend for themselves, adding an unnecessary layer of frustration to the already challenging gameplay. A difficulty selection would allow players to tailor the game’s intensity to their preferences, while options to modify the enemy spawn rate would alleviate performance problems. These omissions suggest that the game was released in a somewhat unfinished state, leaving players wanting more from this intriguing premise.

A Game of Potential: Room for Growth and Improvement

Despite its flaws, Right Click to Necromancer possesses significant potential. The core mechanics are solid, the concept is unique, and the challenge is substantial. With some polish and the addition of key features, the game could transform from a niche title into a much more widely appealing and accessible experience. The addition of more diverse unit types, varied map designs, and perhaps even a story mode could greatly enrich the gameplay. The current game serves primarily as a proof of concept, showcasing the engaging potential of its core gameplay loop.

The Verdict: A Surprisingly Engaging but Flawed Experience

Right Click to Necromance offers a unique and surprisingly engaging gameplay experience despite its shortcomings. The simple yet addictive loop of commanding your undead army, consuming fallen foes, and facing increasingly challenging enemies creates a compelling sense of progression. However, the game is marred by its performance issues and the lack of crucial features, limiting its accessibility and overall appeal. The game’s simplistic nature, though charming in its own way, is also its greatest weakness, particularly in its absence of options and settings adjustments. For players seeking a challenging and uniquely themed RTS experience willing to overlook its technical limitations, Right Click to Necromance offers a surprisingly rewarding, if somewhat frustrating, gameplay journey. However, players expecting a polished, feature-rich game might find themselves disappointed.