BumbleBear Games' Killer Queen Black is out now for PC and Nintendo Switch, with an Xbox One release later this year. It's an esports sensation, an arcade hit that has drawn a huge following with its addictive yet straightforward structure. Players can win three matches against a rival team in several ways.
So far we've covered the first two ways: winning by an aggressive victory over the rival team's queen and leading a snail to victory by a goal point. But there is also the third way to win, which relies more on the economy.
Most of the time, you have twelve spots available on your team's dashboard, which you fill with berries. The team that fills their table with 12 berries first wins the match. It might not be as aggressive as knocking a rival's queen into oblivion, but it's a fun and strategic way to win the game.
Collecting is the key
Berries are scattered at each stage. These are small purple objects that are usually stacked two to six. They are easy to spot.
Drones can pick up these berries and bring them back to their tray. From there they will slip in, leaving the berry in storage, then come out again, ready to harvest another. You will be able to very easily track the number of berries present and the number of berries needed to win the game.
Picking up these berries is easy. With your drone, step on it, and you should be able to grab it. Then just go back to the board, and it will automatically sneak in and place it for you. This is really it: you have to repeat the process 11 more times.
Remember, you won't be the only one picking berries. The enemy team's drones are also chasing them. And they may try to jump on you in an attempt to stop you. Of course, Queens and Warriors can also come and take your drone out quickly, leaving the berry porting process blocked.
Picking berries might not seem like a fun way to win, but it's pretty smart. The Killer Queen Players are usually too focused on what's going on with their rival Queens / Warriors and Snails to find the other team's board filling up with berries. Some may notice this and try to kill the drones that join their board later in the round. But for others, it might be too late until they see "Aww, they had the last berry!" It's a perfect way to win.
The best way to collect Berry
Depending on the stage setup, there may be an ideal way to pick berries. With so many people scattered throughout each level, the best way to go is to find the piles closest to the board.
This is because the drone has the shortest path to pick them up and add them. They don't have to worry too much about opposition if a stack of berries has two or three platforms at the bottom.
You just have to understand that these will eventually run out and force you to scatter a little more on the stage to access other bays. This can be tricky, mainly because other drones collect their berries for their boards. But you have to watch out for stacks that have more berries, while keeping an eye out for enemies lurking in the area, like a queen or a warrior. The goal here is to find the best route from point A to point B to transport your fruits, complete the board and win the game.
For those new to the game, watching other players in action doesn't hurt. They could give you an idea of the collection and what may work for you. For the most part, being the best way to get in quickly and not get noticed from enemies. Take your berries, get to the point and start over. Don't party or exhibit, it's economic victory.
With these steps, you complete the board and become a master of Killer Queen Black before you know it - even without a sword!
Killer Queen Black is available now for Nintendo Switch and PC. It will be released later this year for Xbox One.
