Last updated on December 10th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
Despotism 3k – Simulation Game Review
Despotism 3k is a Simulation/Strategy game from Nikolai Kuznetsov, first launched in 19th May 2019.
It’s rated 12+ and currently has 30+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Despotism 3k Stand Out
Humanity is enslaved by an AI… which is awesome, because we’re on the right side of the conflict. Exploit puny humans to extract power and build your own empire! You’ll have to keep track of them to make sure they don’t succumb to exhaustion and hunger… although the weakest ones can always be thrown to the Bioreactor.
In other words, this is a resource management sim with rogue-lite elements, dramatic plot, and an abundance of pop culture references. Also, jokes. Slaughter has never been so fun!
Key features:
1) Humor as dark as your ex’s heart. Immerse yourself in the life of a merciless tyrant!!
2) Resource management on steroids. Think fast, to the point, and abandon pity!
3) Rogue-lite (Almost roguelike) Every walkthrough is unique due to randomly generated events. And every failure is fatal — you’ll have to start over!
4) Easy to learn, hard to master. It only takes a couple minutes to figure out the game’s mechanics, but using them optimally is no small feat!
Core gameplay consists of transporting puny humans between various facilities using mechanical claws. They rest in one of the facilities and work in all the others. Puny humans are to produce energy for us (which is leaking constantly), they also have to reproduce and feed themselves. You need to plan your strategy and tactics in advance and track all your humans so that they don't die of exhaustion. The foremost roguelike element is that you can't save the game – you have to start from scratch every time. Besides that, a random event happens after every five feedings in the form of a text quest. A correct choice may provide some bonus, an incorrect one – well, you'll see! Many of the modifiers that you get due to the random events change the game's look significantly.
In the second campaign besides resource management you get a totally new "raid" mechanic. Send your humans on expeditions around a procedurally generated map and earn resources without any limits. Come on, you have to find the Time Machine lost in the wastelands of 3k-land!
This Simulation game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Despotism 3k is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 19th May 2021
Recent improvements include:
bug fixes
Download & Availability
Despotism 3k is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Requirements: Requires iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
Its 10/10, got it for free on steam and decided to buy on mobile to support the developer and our momentary addiction to it. Has a surprisingly big learning curve and is deceptively complex. Really would recommend for anyone who enjoys high apm economy management type games. Tip: when the event countdown starts, let it get to 1 and then click it for 19 seconds of free production. If it runs to 0 it you will have to pay ur electric/food bill.
We have so much fun playing this game we hope the developer ports the other title in the series.
Just spent a whole road trip ignoring our whole family playing this game. No regrets even as the sole survivor of the resulting car crash.
Love this game, and for the people complaining about the price. Grow up you have an iphone nothing is cheap with apple apps you peasant.
Have lot of fun its hard but still fun but wish there was something more to the game like to make things look different or something kool to add on.
We actually love this game. It reminds us of oxygen not included. However, we think right now its too simple. Its so based on random events that you really dont have a lot of control or even that many options for how to play. The only strategy is the order for upgrading, which just doesnt give you a lot of options for fun. The bones are there, but we think this game could be a lot better with more options for game play. For example: a skills system that allows you to upgrade features, pick different kinds of claws, different upgrades to the chambers, the ability to make more chambers. Maybe a more detailed breeding system, where the little humans can be bred for better skills in certain jobs, or something like that. Overall, cool game, but it feels too simple / incomplete.
This title leaves very little room for error, even on easy. Also, sometimes it doesnt register what Im directing. The random events slightly lean towards the more frustrating than fun side. But, its good overall. The dark humor is awesome. When events happen, they actually show up, which is cool, except that also means you have a constant reminder of how youre about to fail.
It would be nice if it was optimized for larger screens like the iPhone X and up.
4 instead of 5 because 2nd campaign is a little buggy. Would be cool if there were even MORE modifiers over time. YOU NEED TO BE OK WITH LOSING. A LOT! DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME IF FAILING AT BEING AN AI SLAVE MASTER MAKES YOU UPSET! If that's not a problem then buy it.
Didnt think it was much, but its actually fun. It took awhile to figure out how it plays but you start to pick up on trick. Its only $4, youll probably pay that on a drink.
Youre paying 4 dollars for a management game, a BORING management game. The only options that you get is the daily choices and how many people you want in your machinery. This game should be free, or at least 1 dollar. But if you think this tame is worth 4 DOLLARS, youre straight up insane.
Honestly just save your money its not worth $4.
Nothing like an evil robot with claws . 18+.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 1.0.8
- Size: 202.43 MB
- iOS: 9.0 or later
- Languages: EN, DE, JA, KO, PT, RU, ZH, ES
- Content Advisory: Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References, Frequent/Intense Cartoon or Fantasy Violence, Infrequent/Mild Sexual Content and Nudity, Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humor, Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes, Infrequent/Mild Medical/Treatment Information
- Developer: Nikolai Kuznetsov
Last updated: 19th May 2021 | Genre: Simulation, Strategy | Developer: Nikolai Kuznetsov