Gems of War

About

In Gems of War, a Puzzle/RPG/Strategy game, players match gems to power spells and skulls to battle enemies. An epic journey across realms Krystara offers heroes the chance to take on foes and forge a mighty empire. As a former software engineer at Infinity Plus Two, I contributed to updates 5.6 through 7.3, implementing new features, fixing bugs, and assisting the community team.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 41 reviews

monetization3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game is easy to follow and offers a fun mix of match-3 and card game mechanics, making it accessible for casual players.
It features a generous free-to-play model where players can progress without spending money, and the community is supportive with active guilds.
Regular updates and a variety of content keep the game engaging, with a good balance of strategy and luck involved in gameplay.

The game suffers from balance issues, particularly with AI difficulty scaling and card rarity, which can lead to a pay-to-win mentality.
Recent UI changes have been poorly received, with some players reporting physical discomfort and a decline in enjoyment due to the new design.
Connection issues and server problems can disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating experiences where progress is lost after battles.

story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The story in "Gems of War" is considered less compelling than that of the original "Puzzle Quest" series, but it still offers enjoyable questing experiences with humorous and interesting storylines. While the narrative may not be groundbreaking, the game's art and engaging gameplay mechanics contribute to a satisfying overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of genres and the rewarding system, making the story mode a decent addition for fans of the genre.
- “Then I stumbled over 'Gems of War,' and while the story mode is not as good as it was with 'Puzzle Quest,' questing in 'Gems of War' is an enjoyable experience so far.”
- “Gems of War has gorgeously rendered art, humorous and interesting storylines, fun match-3/CCG/MMORPG gaming, and, biggest of all, an awesome rewards system.”
- “Originated by the crew who brought you the 'Puzzle Quest' series before splitting up, 'Gems of War' retains the art, content, and storylines of the 'Puzzle Quest' series.”
- “If you haven't, pick up Puzzle Quest 2 instead.”
- “Originated by the crew who brought you the 'Puzzle Quest' series before splitting up, with Infinite Interactive (now Infinity + 2) keeping the art and content and storylines of the PQ series, while D3 got to keep the PQ series label for their off-shoot online cross-genre games.”
- “Guilds have simple goals, PvP is honestly PvC using another player's stats, and there are tons of missions with rewards.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The gameplay of Gems of War combines elements of MMOs and the puzzle quest series, featuring RPG mechanics and match-3 gameplay where players can engage in battles against AI or other players' teams. While many find it highly entertaining with hundreds of hours of potential gameplay, some criticize the developers for overhauling a previously enjoyable system instead of focusing on new content or improvements. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun and frustration, particularly due to its imbalanced squad dynamics.
- “It's by a wide margin the most fun I've had in this sort of game, and there's hundreds of hours of entertainment in this game for those that enjoy the fundamental gameplay.”
- “It's a mix of RPG and match-3 gameplay; there are multiple classes and a lot of creatures to create a squad out of (a squad being 4 characters, which can include your hero but isn't forced). You can earn the premium currency quite easily with the help of a guild. Yes, it's imbalanced, but the game is centered around making imbalanced squads and combos.”
- “The core gameplay is a mix between MMOs with different resources to grind/purchase (bad) and the earlier Puzzle Quest series.”
- “In Gems of War, the primary gameplay is broken down into games you either play against AI-created teams in a variety of scenarios, or in games you play against real teams created by other players that the AI controls.”
- “But instead of working on new content or improved gameplay, the devs decided to spend a ton of time and money completely overhauling a system that was already completely fine and good into something that actually makes me physically ill.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The graphics in the game are generally considered decent but not exceptional, with some users noting that the card artwork is "nice." However, the updated user interface has received criticism for being visually overwhelming. Overall, the game does not prioritize high-end graphics, focusing instead on gameplay quality.
- “If you're looking for fancy graphics, you won't find them here, but overall the game is very well done.”
- “A recurring problem with free-to-play games that don't just focus on aesthetic purchases.”
- “Update: the new graphics UI in this game hurt my head!”
- “If you're looking for fancy graphics, you won't find them here.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, but those who enjoy match-3 games may appreciate the opportunity to earn rewards without spending money. While it can be grindy, many feel that the fun and engaging gameplay outweighs this drawback.
- “Tedious.”
- “It's a little grindy, but tons of fun outweigh this disadvantage.”
- “Kinda grindy if you want to spend the time leveling your troops.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The monetization model of "Gems of War" is free-to-play, allowing players to enjoy the game without spending money, though there are numerous in-game purchases available for those who choose to invest financially. However, many players express a preference for not engaging in these purchases.
- “Monetization is well-balanced; you can enjoy the game without spending money, but there are options available if you choose to invest.”
- “Gems of War is free to play, but you can spend a lot of money on in-game purchases if you want to enhance your experience.”
- “The game offers a fair monetization model where spending is optional and not required to enjoy the full experience.”
- “Monetization - you can, but don't need to, and I wouldn't want to.”
- “"Gems of War" is free to play, but (of course) you can spend a lot of money on in-game purchases.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game demonstrates strong stability, with frequent updates addressing bugs and glitches promptly.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Gow is highlighted through its engaging and amusing storylines, which complement the game's visually stunning art and innovative cross-genre gameplay. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone that enhances the overall experience, making it both entertaining and rewarding.
- “Gow has gorgeously rendered art, humorous and interesting storylines, fun match-3/CCG/MMORPG gaming (one of the first to have a game with this kind of cross-genre), and biggest of all - an awesome rewards system.”