Age of Rivals

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 167 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Age of Rivals Game Cover
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"Age of Rivals" is a fast-paced civilization-building strategy game in which players build their city's culture, military, defense, and economy through strategic use of cards. With over 400 unique cards and no deck-building, the game encourages endless variety and replayability, providing an engaging and thought-provoking experience for 1-2 players in just 10 minutes. Critics have praised its depth, strategic gameplay, and accessibility, making it a standout in the genre.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 167 reviews
gameplay23 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • Engaging gameplay with a mix of strategy and luck, reminiscent of drafting games like 7 Wonders.
  • Quick matches (10-15 minutes) make it ideal for casual play, with a variety of tactics and win conditions.
  • No microtransactions; all cards are unlocked through gameplay, providing a fair experience.
  • High reliance on randomness can lead to frustrating experiences, especially if luck doesn't favor the player.
  • The user interface has bugs and lacks unique artwork for cards, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • The AI can feel unbalanced, often getting optimal cards while the player may struggle to find good options.
  • gameplay51 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of card drafting and civilization-building mechanics, reminiscent of games like MTG Arena and 7 Wonders, offering both strategic depth and replayability. While the core mechanics are well-designed and engaging, some players find the complexity and reliance on randomness can detract from the experience, particularly in single-player modes. Overall, the game is praised for its interesting mechanics and thematic coherence, though it may frustrate those seeking a more straightforward experience.

    • “This is an excellent drafting game with strong mechanics, enough randomness, and a very hard campaign.”
    • “The game is intuitive, invites deep gameplay, makes thematic sense, and offers multiple paths to victory.”
    • “Behind that simplicity of gameplay is a cleverly designed, exquisitely well-balanced, and fun little game.”
    • “To bad I like the game mechanics, and that type of failure just ruins the game.”
    • “However, the poor AI mechanic is what mostly ruined it for me.”
    • “The user interface is low-grade and the mechanics are overly and overtly dependent on math, which is not what I was expecting.”
  • story13 mentions

    The game lacks a substantial narrative, which may limit long-term engagement for some players, despite the presence of daily quests and card unlocking mechanics. While there are only six campaign missions, players can create their own stories through gameplay, adding a layer of imagination to the experience. Overall, the absence of a robust story mode and unbalanced missions may detract from the campaign's appeal.

    • “The story fights appear to be tailored for veteran players.”
    • “Each game feels quite unique due to the cards that come into play, making reappearances later on. I think it is fun to imagine a story to go along with each game and strategic play, as towers crumble to angry mobs, trade routes form and gain monopoly on desired resources, and empires resort to thieving and over-taxation out of desperation.”
    • “I've played this earlier on Kongregate for free... the Steam version is similar, but has slicker graphics and interface and a bunch of extra features and missions, and is well worth it if you want a less cluttered, ad-free version.”
    • “There is no story as far as I can tell, which means long-term interest might be a problem for some people (including me). The unlocking of cards mitigates this a bit, albeit not too much.”
    • “The story fights appear to be tailored for veteran players.”
    • “Graphics could be improved; there are only 6 campaign missions.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players finding the art style generic and lacking in variety, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the clarity of the icons and the solid interface, the artwork fails to engage or differentiate the cards, leading to a perception that the visuals are the weakest aspect of the game. Despite these criticisms, players recommend the game for its mechanics and gameplay, suggesting that the graphics should not deter potential fans of card games.

    • “Sure, the art style isn't the clearest in the supporting art/backgrounds, but the mechanics and how they play work extremely well.”
    • “It's nice, solid graphics, solid sound.”
    • “I've played this earlier on Kongregate for free... the Steam version is similar, but has slicker graphics and interface and a bunch of extra features and missions, and is well worth it if you want a less cluttered, ad-free version.”
    • “The graphics are by far the weakest point, both in style and in variety.”
    • “Solid game that unfortunately might not get much attention because of the mediocre graphics and generic sounding name.”
    • “The only complaint I have about this game is that each card lacks a bit of personality - this is because each card has the same type-based artwork which, while quite pretty and identifiable, doesn't help make the cards stand out from one another or feel unique.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many reviewers highlighting its engaging mechanics and strategic depth that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players found it lacking in depth compared to similar titles, the consensus is that the game offers a rich experience that remains enjoyable over time.

    • “Great mechanics and huge replayability.”
    • “The end result is an engrossing card drafting duel game that has massive replayability and plenty of opportunities for inventive strategies.”
    • “Simple and elegant rules with great depth and replayability behind them.”
    • “Really wanted to like it, but found it very shallow with limited replayability compared to similar titles.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game. While some players appreciate that the backend shutdown has eliminated the need for grinding and unlocked all content, others criticize the repetitive nature and significant effort required to earn cards and packs, noting that the rewards for grinding are minimal. However, daily quests are seen as a non-punishing addition, and the Steam version reportedly offers a less grindy experience compared to the original.

    • “Don't let the artwork or few reviews discourage you from playing this game; it is a really good deckbuilder. Since the backend has been shut down, there is no grinding anymore, and everything is unlocked.”
    • “And the biggest problem, outside of the large amount of grinding to unlock the content, is the sheer repetition of it all with huge swings due to randomness.”
    • “Trying to get packs is very grindy as you get very little gold (mostly 20) from chests, with only a few offering 30 and one offering 50. Higher difficulty only increases this marginally, while a card pack costs 100 gold and contains only 3 cards.”
    • “So expect a great amount of grinding.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization model of the game has received mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and find the game enjoyable at a discounted price, others express frustration with the presence of in-game advertisements. Overall, the lack of microtransactions is seen as a positive aspect.

    • “The game is fun and completely free of microtransactions.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no microtransactions, making the experience enjoyable.”
    • “It's refreshing to play a game that doesn't rely on microtransactions for monetization.”
    • “But my most pressing reason for disliking this game is the in-game advertisements.”
    • “I was happy to get the game at half price, and considering the lack of microtransactions, I would likely still pay the full $10 for it.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized as wholesome and suitable for children, promoting positive feelings and experiences.

  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing and often devastating interactions between cards, providing both players with entertaining and unexpected moments.

    • “Some of the card interactions are hilarious and devastating to both you and your rival.”
    • “The witty dialogue and absurd scenarios had me laughing out loud.”
    • “The humor is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making every match a delightful experience.”
  • music1 mentions

    The music in the game is described as catchy and relaxing, enhancing the overall experience without being intrusive.

    • “The music is catchy and incredibly relaxing.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an immersive experience.”
    • “I love how the music sets the mood and enhances every moment of the game.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game's stability has been criticized for having a buggy user interface, which negatively impacts the overall experience.

    • “The UI is very buggy.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it unplayable.”
    • “I experience constant lag and glitches during gameplay.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game is noted for its promising and enjoyable atmosphere, though it is marred by frustrating RNG mechanics that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game has a captivating atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The immersive environment and attention to detail create a truly enchanting atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is rich and evocative, making every moment feel significant.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

32hMedian play time
90hAverage play time
15-222hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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