King of the Hill (game) facts for kids

A detail from Pieter Brueghel the Elder's painting Children's Games

King of the Hill is a fun children's game. It is also known as King of the Mountain or King of the Castle. The main goal of the game is to stay on top of a hill, a pile of something, or any special area. The player who stays on top is called the "King of the Hill."

Other players try to push the current King off the hill. If they succeed, they take the King's spot. Then, they become the new King of the Hill. The rules for how the King can be removed often depend on what players agree on. Usually, pushing is allowed, but hitting or kicking is not. Because the game can sometimes get a bit rough, some schools do not allow it.

The idea of King of the Hill is also used in other games. You can find it in airsoft and paintball. It is also a popular game mode in many first-person shooter video games.

How to Play King of the Hill

There are many ways to play King of the Hill. Players often make up their own rules. Here are some common versions of the game.

Classic King of the Hill

This is the simplest way to play the game:

• The first player to reach the top of the hill becomes the King.
• To become the new King, you must climb the hill. Then, you need to push the current King off.
• The game ends when players decide. The last player on the hill wins.

Team King of the Hill

In this version, players work together in teams. There can be two or more teams.

• The leader of the first team to get on the hill becomes the King.
• To become the new King, the leader of an opposing team must get on the hill. They then push the current King off.
• Team members (allies) can push players from other teams off the hill. But they cannot push the King.
• Players from other teams (enemies) can push allies off the hill. They cannot push the King either.
• The game ends when agreed upon. The King and their team win.

Royal Family Version

This version is played with teams of four. Each team has a King, Queen, Prince, and Princess.

• The team that gets on the hill first becomes the "royal family."
• Players from other teams can push off their matching "royal" role. For example, an opposing Prince can push off the current Prince.
• The King or Queen has a special power. They can "kick" an opponent from the hill. This sends that player back to their team. In return, a player with the same role from their own team can come back.

King of the Hill as an Idea

The name "King of the Hill" is often used as a metaphor. It describes any competition where only one winner is chosen. Many people compete, and only one can be at the top. To win, you must take the place of the person who was there before. It is like a ladder where you climb higher by moving others down.

King of the Hill in Sports

The idea of King of the Hill is also used in sports. In tennis, there is a game called King of the Court.

• One player is the "king" or "queen." They stand on one side of the tennis court.
• Other players line up on the opposite side.
• One challenger steps up and plays a single point against the "king."
• If the challenger wins the point, they become the new "king." They then move to the "king's" side of the court.
• Sometimes, the challenger needs to win two or three points in a row. This game helps players practice playing single points in tennis.

King of the Hill in Video Games

The King of the Hill idea first appeared in video games in the 1980s. It was used in a game called Core War. Players would make computer programs (warriors) fight to survive.

Today, King of the Hill is a popular game mode in many video games. It is very common in first-person shooter games. Some famous examples include Halo: Combat Evolved and Perfect Dark. More recently, it has been in Gears of War 2. Team Fortress 2 helped make this game mode very popular. Overwatch has a similar mode called Control.

In these video games, players or teams must control a specific area. This area is not always a literal hill. They need to hold the area for a set amount of time. When the time runs out, the round might end. Or, a new area might be chosen on the map. In video games, players usually remove opponents from the "hill" by defeating them.

See also

In Spanish: Rey de la colina para niños