Forge of Empires

About

Forge of Empires is a massively multiplayer historical real-time strategy game with beautiful game mechanics, fantastic graphics, and outstanding music. Build your civilization from the stone age to modern times, researching new technology and constructing sector by sector while fighting battles and managing goods. However, be prepared for lots of grinding, occasional bugs, and annoying ads.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,999 reviews

graphics260 positive mentions

monetization401 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a mix of city building, strategy, and resource management.
No intrusive ads, allowing for a more immersive experience.
Ability to progress without spending real money, making it accessible for all players.

Slow progression, especially in the early and mid-game, requiring significant time investment.
Limited space for building, making it difficult to expand and manage resources effectively.
Recent updates have introduced ads and increased reliance on in-game purchases, frustrating long-time players.

monetization
571 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
16%
70%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, primarily due to the recent introduction of intrusive ads that were previously absent. Many players express frustration over the necessity to watch multiple ads to progress, with some feeling that the game has shifted towards a "pay-to-win" model, undermining its original appeal. While a few users appreciate optional ads for bonuses, the overwhelming sentiment is that the current ad saturation detracts from the overall gaming experience, leading to a decline in player satisfaction and engagement.
- “There are literally no ads, which is a great bonus.”
- “No ads, free to play, strategies make the game interesting and friends/guild cooperation helps out.”
- “You don't have to spend money on in-app purchases to enjoy this game.”
- “The game was fine before ads.”
- “Game ruined with advertising updates; the game worked fine before.”
- “I've played for years, and still do, but the ads they've added recently are overwhelming.”
graphics
388 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their quality, detail, and aesthetic appeal, particularly in city-building and event designs. However, some users criticize the graphics as outdated or lacking in vibrancy, comparing them unfavorably to other games or expressing disappointment with recent updates. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, there are calls for improvements and more dynamic elements to enhance the gaming experience.
- “Excellent graphics, especially the asteroid belt background.”
- “The graphics are amazing, it's an adventurous game, it has a lot of character, and it is so fun download this game and have fun.”
- “I absolutely love the graphics and how it all comes together with the eras along with their organization by timeline.. it's just a true masterpiece.”
- “The latest change, however, has aesthetically ruined the game with incident chests littered around the city with big clapperboard symbols to watch adverts!”
- “Graphics nowhere close to the ads, poor at best.”
- “Very bad graphics.”
story
354 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
79%
4%
The game's story is generally well-received, with players appreciating the engaging quests and the historical themes that enhance the gameplay experience. However, many users express frustration with the quest mechanics, particularly the high costs associated with completing certain tasks, which often require diamonds or resources that are difficult to obtain without spending real money. Additionally, some players feel that the quests can be repetitive and overly challenging, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story progression.
- “The game has a great graphic and a good storyline for events.”
- “I love how you can choose who you can be and the story quests don't force you to complete certain things only through a certain way.”
- “Great game, story is good and the level of activity is good.”
- “The storyline quests are a pointless waste of time.”
- “Not to mention that the story quests are almost impossible to complete.”
- “The game punishes you for being a free thinker; if you complete a task before the quest occurs, you are screwed.”
gameplay
241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
50%
7%
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with many players noting a slow progression that often feels tied to monetization strategies, leading to frustration over the need for in-game purchases to advance. While some appreciate the strategic depth and variety of mechanics, others criticize the frequent ads and timers that hinder enjoyment. Overall, the game offers engaging elements but is marred by a perceived focus on profit over player experience.
- “The gameplay is excellent.”
- “Great gameplay and graphics.”
- “I really enjoy the mechanics of the game and the strategy.”
- “Slow, drawn out gameplay.”
- “Good graphics and interesting visuals, but slow and uninspired gameplay is designed solely to bore and frustrate you into spending real money.”
- “Overall gameplay is very poor, another game where you pay to win rather than being any good at the game.”
stability
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
1%
97%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of freezing, glitches, and crashes, particularly after updates. Many players experience issues such as the app failing to load, freezing during gameplay, and requiring multiple restarts to access features. While some users enjoy the game, the persistent technical problems detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction.
- “I've been playing this game for just a little bit and this is a great experience. I've been playing every day and have not encountered any glitches; this is a great game.”
- “On my second day playing and I'm hooked! I love RPGs; they're my favorite. I appreciate the creativity and hard work that was put into it. There aren't many awesome games like this one on mobile. No glitches, smooth gameplay, and real-time messaging. I absolutely love it!”
- “I joined today and have been playing for under 30 minutes. So far, everything works super smoothly and is not buggy at all!”
- “I have been playing for years, but with the last couple of updates, the game randomly freezes.”
- “Good game, but it crashes all the time. It's rare I get to play for more than around 90 seconds before the app freezes and I have to relaunch it.”
- “The game freezes often, and it regularly fails to load at all, randomly stops, logs me out, and freezes (sometimes to the point of needing to restart my device to clear it).”
grinding
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the game features significant grinding, particularly in the early stages, which many players find tedious and repetitive. While some enjoy the mix of farming and strategy, the slow progression and the necessity of grinding for resources often lead to frustration, especially for those unwilling to spend real money to expedite their advancement. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a major drawback, making the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience for many players.
- “The gameplay is exciting enough for the first two or three days, and sufferable for the rest of the first week, and then it's nothing but endless grinding.”
- “Fun for a few days, until you discover that the only way to progress at a decent pace is to throw money at it; otherwise, very slow and tedious.”
- “Progress through the game is slow, and many of the things you must do to maximize your progress are tedious.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall experience for players. However, some users express frustration over the lack of options to customize or turn off the music, with a few noting that recent changes to the soundtrack were disappointing. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the ambiance, there are calls for more variety and control over audio settings.
- “I actually find the music and the style soothing and good for anxiety.”
- “The music is very relaxing.”
- “The best part for me is the music.”
- “The music change was horrible.”
- “The game went from having zen-like music in the background to something that sounds like cats fornicating in a blender.”
- “Sadly though, I'm just kinda sad that there is no off switch for the music since I want to listen to Spotify while playing.”
optimization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it generally runs smoothly on various devices, recent performance issues have emerged, particularly on mobile platforms and with bandwidth usage. Players have reported difficulties with login and control responsiveness, indicating that certain aspects of the game could benefit from further tuning. Despite these challenges, the game remains enjoyable for long-term players, though some express frustration over its reliance on microtransactions and the impact on performance.
- “The app loads quickly and runs smoothly.”
- “I would rather have the game run smoothly than have a new fancy feature.”
- “Well designed, it runs smoothly on desktop, laptop, and Android phone.”
- “However, something has changed drastically in game performance on mobile over the past 2 months.”
- “The game is very good itself; I've played it for almost 4 years now, but my problem is the poor optimization for bandwidth use - I am a sailor and the game is basically unplayable over the ship's internet - most of the time it doesn't even let you log in.”
- “Lacks optimization while logging in; even though the internet is working, it shows no internet connection.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
25%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it entertaining and amusing, particularly in its quirky elements like starting as cave people and humorous interactions with characters like Ragnar Lodbrok. However, some players express frustration with the game's community dynamics, where negative experiences overshadow the humor, leading to mixed feelings about the overall social aspect of the game.
- “It's challenging, rewarding, funny, and very entertaining!”
- “We start as cave people; that's funny.”
- “Cool game, I really liked on the Viking village where Ragnar Lodbrok is your guide, it's funny!”
- “Not funny.”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
- “I expected more laughs, but the humor was stale.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of nostalgia and frustration regarding the emotional experience of the game. While some reminisce about past enjoyable moments, others feel that the current gameplay lacks emotional engagement and fun, describing it as a slow grind with technical issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “A slow mildly addictive grind, missing the element of fun and emotional payout.”
- “Hahaha I remember how I tried to play this game on Nokia 5800 back then I got emotional. Now, I downloaded a flash-supporting browser and tried to play, but my device just couldn't run. I remember those nice days.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its genuine and tranquil feel, reminiscent of classic titles, allowing players to immerse themselves fully. Reviewers appreciate the relaxed ambiance and RPG elements, suggesting the addition of a "golden age" phase to enhance the majestic atmosphere further.
- “After the space age on Mars, there should be 'The Golden Age'; it's a prosperous time with a calmer, more majestic atmosphere.”
- “The game has a genuine feel to it, reminiscent of AOE times, where I would lose myself in the game's tranquil atmosphere.”
- “But a couple of suggestions: after the space age on Mars, there should be 'the golden age.' It's a prosperous time with a calmer, more majestic atmosphere.”
- “I love the relaxed atmosphere, the RPG elements, and the surprises that I've encountered so far.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Users express mixed feelings about replayability; while some find the game offers significant depth and challenge that enhances its replay value, others feel frustrated by gameplay issues and lack of support, leading them to seek more engaging alternatives.
- “It turned out to be a really good game that has a lot of depth, and a tremendous replay value.”
- “The replay value is there, and challenge.”
- “The replay value is there, but the challenge is lacking.”