Puzzles & Conquest
- December 20, 2019
- 37GAMES
- 3h median play time
In "Puzzles & Conquest," the once-prosperous Saurland is under threat from the Undead Army, and players must unite various races to form an alliance and strategize in match-3 battles against the evil forces. They can recruit legendary heroes from different mythologies, explore a vast continent for resources and treasures, and join forces with allies worldwide to save the continent from destruction.
Reviews
- The addition of a match-three puzzle element makes the gameplay more enjoyable compared to similar games.
- The game is addictive and keeps players engaged with a variety of tasks and events.
- The graphics and character designs are impressive, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- The game heavily favors pay-to-win mechanics, making it difficult for free-to-play players to progress.
- The tutorial is excessively long and forces players to follow specific moves, limiting their ability to play freely.
- There are frequent bugs and connectivity issues, causing frustration and hindering gameplay.
- graphics197 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their quality, vibrant colors, and engaging art styles. However, some users express disappointment, noting discrepancies between the advertised graphics and the actual in-game visuals, as well as issues with loading and readability. Overall, while the graphics are often highlighted as a strong point, there are significant concerns regarding performance and consistency.
“The graphics are amazing.”
“Great graphics and engaging content and cool design.”
“I love the graphics on this game, easy paced and RPG amazing.”
“For a matching puzzle game, it shouldn't need to use any data, but yet it gobbles so much that the graphics often don't even load properly.”
“This game will suck you in with its fancy 3D graphics ads, but trust me, the game itself looks nothing like their fancy ads; it's not 3D at all and in reality is very plain and looks like most castle/kingdom app games out there.”
“The game looks nothing like shown in ads, neither graphics nor gameplay.”
- monetization152 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received significant criticism for its misleading advertisements, which do not accurately represent the actual gameplay, leading to a sense of betrayal among players. Many users describe the game as a "cash grab," with a heavy reliance on microtransactions and in-app purchases that are often necessary to progress, despite some noting a lack of intrusive ads. Overall, the consensus is that while the game can be enjoyable, the deceptive marketing and monetization strategies detract from the overall experience.
“Also, the game doesn't seem to be greedy; almost no ads, I think I really like it.”
“I am loving this game at the moment; you can get by without having to pay for any in-app purchases if need be.”
“There's no ads and plenty to do.”
“The bank system is extremely stingy, and the ads don't permanently go away.”
“The game pushes ads left and right, glitches throughout, and the economy could use a tweak.”
“After a certain point, battles suddenly jack up to an unwinnable level that all but ensure you have to resort to microtransactions to progress at all.”
- gameplay112 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its mechanics and enjoyable match-3 battles, while others criticize the misleading advertisements and excessive filler content that detracts from the core experience. Many users noted issues with lag, pay-to-win elements, and an overbearing tutorial, which can hinder enjoyment. Overall, while there are elements of fun and creativity, the gameplay often falls short of expectations set by promotional materials.
“The gameplay control and style is perfect.”
“Excellent gameplay, and a whole world beyond the match-3 game.”
“Great gameplay, very easy to get started, enjoy the simplicity of layout and controls.”
“Genuinely, you will not see almost any of the gameplay advertised in the actual game.”
“The gameplay for this game is not accurately reflected in the advertisement that popped up on my phone.”
“Forced tutorial goes on for days, garbage mechanics, pay to win; it's like they set out to make a stereotypical garbage mobile game.”
- story103 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and enjoyable, while others criticize it as bland or overly dramatic. Many users appreciate the graphics and character design, but feel that the narrative is often overshadowed by lengthy tutorials and a pay-to-play model that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the storyline has its moments, it tends to be seen as a secondary aspect to the gameplay itself.
“Great graphics and an engaging storyline.”
“Love the gameplay and story line!”
“Great game, engrossing storyline, likable characters, visually stunning.”
“The storyline is mediocre at best.”
“Boring, lame, and annoying; it holds your hand through the simplest rules and then forces you to sit through the boring story, only to hold your hand through an even worse section of the game!”
“The tutorial is unnecessarily long and tedious, and the story is... well, there is no real story as it is all over the place.”
- stability30 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is severely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent freezes, glitches, and crashes that disrupt gameplay. Many players experience the app freezing upon startup or during battles, leading to frustration and the need for repeated reinstallation. While a few users have had positive experiences without significant issues, the overwhelming consensus highlights a need for urgent improvements to address these stability problems.
“The game pushes ads left and right, glitches throughout, and the economy could use a tweak.”
“Game freezes up every 2 minutes so you can't actually play it.”
“Every time there is a maintenance upgrade, here come the glitches. I've been playing for 4 months, and the game freezes a lot, with black screens at times and total boot from the game.”
- grinding19 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over long tutorials and constant building tasks that detract from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the combination of gameplay elements, the grind can quickly become boring, especially when compared to more engaging experiences. Overall, the game may appeal to those who enjoy grinding, but it risks alienating players seeking a more dynamic and less monotonous experience.
“I almost couldn't finish the tutorial because it was so long and tedious.”
“It was fun for 2 days... but the constant building and timers got really grindy super fast.”
“It's so freaking boring to mess with that aspect of the game constantly rather than just farming for the things you actually want to do.”
- music13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it overpowering and repetitive, leading them to turn it off entirely. Others appreciate the music, describing it as awesome and enjoyable, although there are suggestions for seasonal updates to enhance the experience. Overall, while the gameplay and graphics are praised, the music tends to be a divisive aspect among players.
“The music in this game is awesome.”
“Nice game with excellent music♥️♥️”
“I would change the music to match the season or holiday.”
“I try using fix game, nothing... I tried rebooting the phone, nothing... money spent and then the game won't let me advance; it just sits there playing that cheesy music!”
“The graphics and gameplay are great, but I don't like the music. I wish the NPCs were better; good backstories though if you pay attention to them.”
“Very repetitive music.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be enjoyable, particularly highlighting the comedic elements of specific events, such as the escort mission. While some feel the overall story lacks excitement, the humor adds a lighthearted touch that enhances the gameplay experience.
“I only started playing a few days ago, but it's funny.”
“The escort event is hilarious; I hope they design more events like this one.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, with engaging characters and significant events that resonate with players. Reviewers note that the developers have effectively tailored the game's ambiance to its target demographic, creating an inviting environment that encourages continued play.
“The characters, the scenes, and the atmosphere are awesome.”
“Everybody really gets into it; events feel like they are important. There are a lot of games out there that play similarly in mechanics and gameplay, but I feel like the developers did a really good job of fitting the game to the target demographic and the atmosphere of it all really well, so they all build off each other.”
“The game seems to have an inviting atmosphere; I will consider playing it more often.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding the story boring and overly simplistic, while others appreciate its wholesome themes, particularly for a Christian audience. Overall, the narrative fails to engage many players, leading to frustration rather than emotional investment.
“Boring, lame, and annoying; it holds your hand through the simplest rules and then forces you to sit through the boring story, only to hold your hand through an even worse section of the game!”
“Boring story.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally decent, with satisfactory performance, graphics, and user interface; however, it suffers from slowdowns and glitches during network lag, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its depth, some users feel it leans towards being a money grab.
“The optimization in this game is impressive; the performance, graphics, and user interface are all well-executed.”
“Despite some monetization issues, the game offers a deep experience with solid optimization across the board.”
“The graphics and performance are optimized nicely, making for a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience.”
“A match 3 game that runs slowly and flakes out over momentary network lag would have been something to be ashamed of in 2010.”
“Putting aside the terrible Tapjoy experience, this game is a money grab, but really deep -- performance, graphics, and UI are all decent.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its depth and quality, but players note that those with limited budgets may struggle to fully experience it due to the reliance on purchasable packages.
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to truly shape their heroes' personalities and skills throughout the game.”
“I love how the character arcs evolve based on player choices, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
“The variety of customization options for character development really enhances the gameplay experience, giving players a sense of ownership over their journey.”