Rise of Kingdoms

What you are actually playing

Rise of Kingdoms starts you with one small city and a civilisation to lead: Rome, Britain, China, Japan, the Vikings and a dozen more, each with its own bonuses and special unit. Around the city is a single huge map shared with thousands of other players, and everything on it happens in real time.

Your armies march across that map to gather resources, clear barbarians and fight other players, and you can watch them move. The city grows behind them, and the two halves feed each other: a stronger city fields bigger armies, and armies bring home what the city needs.

The first hour

A guided start that builds the first buildings with you, trains the first troops and sends them out against barbarians. It moves quickly and hands out speed-ups generously, so the first hour feels like steady progress rather than waiting.

Two choices matter early: the civilisation, which can be changed later, and which commanders you put at the head of your armies. Nothing in the first hour asks you to pay.

How progression works

The city hall sets the pace: each level unlocks the next buildings, troop tiers and research. Upgrades take real time, short at first and hours or days later on, and speed-ups are the currency the game revolves around.

Commanders are historical figures, from Caesar to Joan of Arc, and they level up and gain skills as they fight. Which commanders you pair, and with which troops, is where most of the strategy lives.

Where the money appears

Gem packs, speed-ups, a VIP level that grows as you spend, and offers that pop up as you progress. Everything can be earned in play, but money buys time, and in a game built on timers time is power.

In the big kingdom-against-kingdom wars the players who spend most are hard to beat. A free player can still matter, mostly by being active and organised inside a strong alliance.

Playing with other people

Alliances are the heart of the game. Members help speed each other's building, share territory, rally together against strong targets and plan the large wars between kingdoms. Playing alone is possible, but the game is at its best in an active alliance.

How it runs

It started on phones, and the version linked here is the Windows client, which shows far more of the map at once and is easier to manage with a mouse. Your account is the same on both, so a city started on a PC can be checked on a phone.

What it does better than the rest

• A real-time map where you can watch every army march.
• Historical civilisations and commanders that each play differently.
• Alliance warfare at a scale few strategy games reach.
• A fast, generous start that does not ask for money.

Where it falls short

• Timers get long, and speed-ups become the whole economy.
• Big spenders dominate the large wars between kingdoms.
• Offers and pop-ups appear often.

Your first week, in five moves

• Pick a civilisation whose bonus fits how you want to play.
• Never let your builders sit idle, even when you log off.
• Join an active alliance on the first day.
• Focus on two or three commanders instead of levelling them all.
• Keep your speed-ups for the upgrades that take longest.

Who it is for

People who enjoy planning, building and coordinating with a team over weeks and months, and who like checking in several times a day. Not for anyone who wants a game that is finished in one sitting.

The verdict

One of the most complete real-time strategy games of its kind, at its best inside a good alliance. Expect timers and offers; if you can play at its pace, it is easy to stay with for a long time.

Questions people ask

Is Rise of Kingdoms free to play?

Yes. Everything can be earned in play; money buys gems, speed-ups and a higher VIP level.

Does it run in a browser?

No. The version linked here is a Windows client, and the same account works on phones.

Can I change my civilisation?

Yes, with an item the game hands out early, so the first choice is not final.

Is it pay to win?

Spending speeds everything up, and in the large wars the biggest spenders are hard to beat. Day to day, an active free player can do well.

How much time does it take?

A few short check-ins a day keep a city growing. Alliance events and wars ask for more.