Sort the Court: A Whimsical Kingdom Management Game

What is Sort the Court?

Sort the Court is a free, indie simulation game developed by Graeme Borland in 2016, originally created as part of a game jam. Available on platforms like itch.io and Kongregate, it casts you as a monarch—either a king or queen—ruling over a quirky medieval kingdom. The game’s premise is simple yet captivating: you make decisions by responding “yes” or “no” to a variety of requests from an eclectic cast of characters, including peasants, adventurers, witches, talking animals, and even dragons. Each choice impacts three key resources—gold (wealth), population, and happiness—shaping the fate of your kingdom. With its charming pixel-art style reminiscent of early 2000s Flash games and a lighthearted tone, Sort the Court blends humor, strategy, and randomness into a unique leadership simulation. While it’s not in active development anymore, it remains a beloved browser-based title (with downloadable versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux) and has a mobile fan-made port called Sort the Court: Royal Builder on Google Play. Whether you’re building a thriving empire or accidentally plunging your realm into chaos, the game offers a delightful, low-stakes romp through royal decision-making.

How to Play

Playing Sort the Court is delightfully straightforward, making it accessible to all ages and skill levels. Here’s how it works:

1. Start as Ruler: You begin as the monarch of a small kingdom, greeted by your Royal Adviser who introduces the basics. Your throne room is the hub of activity.
2. Face Visitors: Each “day” in the game, a new character approaches your throne with a request, question, or proposal. These range from mundane (a farmer asking for a new barn) to bizarre (a wizard offering a risky spell).
3. Make Decisions: For each visitor, you choose “yes” or “no” by clicking the corresponding button. There’s no complex interface—just a simple binary choice mechanic.
4. Manage Resources: Every decision affects your kingdom’s gold, population, and happiness, displayed at the top of the screen. For example, funding a festival might boost happiness but drain gold, while rejecting a shady deal could preserve resources at the cost of morale.
5. Watch the Kingdom Evolve: Over time, your choices lead to growth (new buildings or characters) or decline. There’s no strict endgame—you can play indefinitely, aiming for milestones like joining a council of rulers or simply balancing your realm.
6. Save Progress: In browser versions, you can save by clicking the save button, though some versions (like Kongregate’s) may not retain progress unless downloaded.

The game’s randomness keeps it fresh: a decision might yield unexpected results, like a treasure haul or a plague. There’s no combat or micromanagement—just pure, distilled decision-making.

Why Play?

So, why should you dive into Sort the Court? Here are some compelling reasons:

• Simplicity Meets Depth: Its “yes or no” mechanic is easy to grasp, yet the ripple effects of each choice add surprising complexity, making it both relaxing and thought-provoking.
• Quirky Charm: The game’s whimsical characters and humorous dialogue—from a chatty dog to a vampire seeking a trade—bring a playful, lighthearted vibe that’s hard to resist.
• Replayability: With randomized events and outcomes, no two playthroughs are identical. You might succeed by saying “yes” to everything one time and fail spectacularly the next.
• No Pressure: Unlike hardcore strategy games, Sort the Court is forgiving. Even if your kingdom falters, there’s always a way to bounce back, making it a stress-free escape.
• Creative Freedom: Rule as a benevolent leader or a ruthless tyrant—your style shapes the narrative, offering a sandbox for experimenting with governance.
• Free and Accessible: It’s free to play online or download, with no in-app purchases, and the unblocked versions work anywhere, perfect for quick breaks at school or work.

Fans of choice-based games like Reigns or quirky simulations like Monster Loves You will find Sort the Court a delightful gem. It’s less about winning and more about enjoying the absurd, endearing journey of ruling.

Tips and Tricks

To thrive (or at least survive) as a monarch in Sort the Court, consider these strategies:

• Balance is Key: Aim to keep gold, population, and happiness in harmony. Extreme lows in any area (like zero gold or happiness) can spiral into trouble—think declining population or missed opportunities.
• Learn the Characters: Recurring visitors, like the Adviser or the Hunter, often have patterns. Saying “yes” to the Hunter’s expeditions might cost gold upfront but yield big rewards later.
• Risk vs. Reward: Wizards and shady figures often propose gambles. If your resources are stable, take a chance—spells might bring fortune, though they can backfire with plagues or curses.
• Prioritize Long-Term Gains: Short-term boosts (like a happiness spike from a festival) are nice, but investments like funding builders or explorers often pay off more over time.
• Don’t Fear Refusal: Saying “no” to risky or costly requests can preserve stability. Continuous refusals might lower happiness, but moderation keeps things manageable.
• Watch for Milestones: Reaching certain thresholds (e.g., a large population or wealth) unlocks events like joining the council of rulers. Push toward these for a sense of achievement.
• Experiment: There’s no “game over,” so try wild strategies—like saying “yes” to everything or consorting with dark creatures—to see how the kingdom reacts.

With these tips, you’ll navigate the throne room’s chaos with a bit more finesse, though the game’s charm lies in its unpredictability—expect the unexpected!

Sort the Court is a hidden treasure in the world of indie games, blending simplicity, humor, and strategy into a bite-sized yet endlessly entertaining experience. Whether you’re a casual player or a simulation enthusiast, it’s worth a royal decree or two!