Kingmaker reproduces the look and play of the board game almost exactly, allowing the player to compete with up to five computer controlled factions.

The major change from the board game is the addition of a battle interface where the player can control his or her army in combat, but it is very simplistic and the option to resolve battles by the original method remains.

Approving of the "clever and varied AI", Coleman wrote, "Challenging and fun, despite its lack of high-tech glitz or multiplayer options, Kingmaker establishes a fine beachhead for AH's return to the computer wargame market.

"[1] The editors of PC Gamer US nominated Kingmaker for their 1994 "Best Historical Simulation" award, although it lost to Lords of the Realm.

However, he noted that it had outsold every Avalon Hill computer game released since, and that Avalon Hill's brand reboot on computers had not gone as hoped.