Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade

About

"Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade" is a 4X strategy game with a wholesome story and exceptional single-player campaigns. It boasts impressive graphics, engaging gameplay, and a good soundtrack. However, it can be very grinding with some bugs, but the ability to create your own civilization can make the journey worthwhile.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade screenshot

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,999 reviews

graphics589 positive mentions

monetization649 negative mentions

The game has great graphics and smooth gameplay, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
There is a lot of content and variety, including different civilizations and commanders, which keeps the gameplay interesting.
The alliance system fosters a sense of community and teamwork, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

The game is heavily pay-to-win, making it difficult for free-to-play players to compete effectively against those who spend money.
There are frequent crashes and lag issues, especially during battles, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
The verification system is overly intrusive, requiring players to complete verification tasks frequently, which can hinder the gaming experience.

graphics
879 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
30%
3%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their quality, detail, and aesthetic appeal, with many players noting the vibrant art style and smooth animations. However, some users have reported performance issues, particularly during large-scale battles, leading to lag even on lower settings. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered impressive, there are calls for further optimization and enhancements, especially in battle scenes.
- “The graphics are high quality and the frame rate is very nice.”
- “The graphics are amazing and the gameplay is smooth, but don't bother with this game it is 100% pay to win.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the mechanics are nice and I, overall, recommend you install this game rather than others that aren't so good.”
- “The game is good, but it still needs more optimization, because even though the graphics is at its lowest setting, its still lagging mainly when it comes to war, I can't render the graphics quick, I hope Lilith will fix it.”
- “The only downside is that I'm personally not a fan of some of the cartoony aesthetics.”
- “I didn't like the graphics, it was hard to differentiate the buildings because it was all made of brown huts.”
gameplay
844 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, smooth controls, and rewarding progression, making it enjoyable for many players. However, it faces criticism for being heavily pay-to-win, leading to an imbalance where free-to-play players struggle to compete. Additionally, numerous reviews highlight issues with misleading advertisements that do not accurately represent the actual gameplay experience, as well as technical problems such as lag and crashes during intense battles.
- “The gameplay is amazing and the graphics are amazing.”
- “Gameplay is fun seeing your armies march with the troops you made is fantastic and I've already called some of my friends in the game to play with me.”
- “The gameplay is smooth with few glitches.”
- “The gameplay is unfair.”
- “The gameplay is boring and repetitive, just ripping off the Age of Empires mobile formula with nothing refreshing to offer.”
- “The gameplay is completely different.”
monetization
787 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
11%
82%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it features in-app purchases, they are not overly intrusive and do not force players to spend money to enjoy the game. However, there is significant criticism regarding the misleading advertisements, which often depict gameplay that does not accurately represent the actual experience, leading to frustration among users. Overall, while the game allows for free play without constant ads, the aggressive marketing tactics and perceived cash grab elements have left some players feeling disillusioned.
- “Unlike some similar games, while it does have in-game purchases, it doesn't shove them down your throat.”
- “The game has in-app purchases, but you don't need to use them as you can progress easily without paying.”
- “It's a solid game, no ads, in-app purchases are a bit annoying but it's an all-round good game, doesn't take too long to march, and if it's long it's super easy to get gems.”
- “The game itself is... okay, but the issue I have is the advertising for the game that is a complete misrepresentation of the actual gameplay and visuals.”
- “The ads for this game are really bad and they don't really show what the game actually is; the ads make the game look bad even though the game is really good.”
- “The ads are misleading and annoying, and the gameplay feels recycled.”
grinding
239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely described as tedious and time-consuming, often leading to frustration among players, especially free-to-play (F2P) users who feel overshadowed by pay-to-win (P2W) competitors. While many enjoy the variety of activities available, such as farming, upgrading, and battling, the repetitive nature of resource gathering and long upgrade times can make the experience feel like a chore over time. Overall, while the game offers engaging mechanics and social elements, the grinding can become overwhelming, particularly in the late game.
- “There are sometimes long upgrade times, but thanks to the fact that boosts are given very regularly, upgrading isn't tedious or annoying at all.”
- “The pace is just terrible and gameplay is tedious at best.”
- “Bottom line, the game is fun for a short while in the beginning, but eventually becomes a long and tedious chore.”
- “You'll be grinding for years, yes years to get anywhere now to be anywhere near competitive against pay-to-win players who have gotten to where you are in a third of the time, maybe less.”
story
189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
72%
4%
The game's story is generally well-received, with players appreciating its engaging quests and character dynamics, though many express a desire for a more structured main storyline or campaign. While the graphics and immersive gameplay enhance the experience, some users find the quests repetitive and lacking depth, suggesting that additional narrative elements could improve player engagement. Overall, the game offers a fun and addictive experience, but it could benefit from a clearer narrative direction and more diverse mission types.
- “The graphics, storyline, and quests are all amazing.”
- “I love this game, it has a fun dynamic and interesting missions; every day I find something new to do, so I really like it.”
- “Great controls, storyline, and gameplay!”
- “As far as the game, same old story, they release commanders all the time, making all the old ones unplayable.”
- “The single player campaign was repetitive for at least the first 22 missions.”
- “Sometimes mixing old popular concepts doesn't make a good game, it makes a mess that lacks a clear story or concept and is very uncreative.”
stability
167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
96%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and glitches, particularly after recent updates. While some users enjoy the gameplay and find it addictive, the technical issues, especially with the chat system and loading screens, significantly detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game appears to require substantial improvements in stability to enhance user satisfaction.
- “Game runs great on phone, and the developers ensure there is anti-cheat software and even human verification. You expect that from console games, not mobile games. I can't suggest this game more for casual players or aggressive go-getters or in-between. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Have a good day or night.”
- “This app has no glitches, lags, or flaws at all.”
- “The game feels smooth, and there are no glitches.”
- “Since the update, my phone is stuck loading at 6% and freezes the screen.”
- “The game freezes and flashes since the last update.”
- “Every time I log in, I have to do it 2 or 3 times because it freezes.”
optimization
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
48%
22%
Overall, the game's optimization is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent crashes, lag, and performance issues, particularly on lower-end devices. While some players experience smooth gameplay, the majority express a need for better optimization to accommodate a wider range of hardware, especially for older smartphones. Additionally, there are calls for improvements in server stability and graphical performance to enhance the overall gaming experience.
- “I love the graphics, but my current smartphone can't handle the output, so I think the crash is on my part. If you could do a bit more optimization for older, slower smartphones, I would be grateful.”
- “The gameplay and overall concept is also very good and seems to be well optimized as I have been able to play it on every device I try.”
- “Last update is good, new sound effects make the game more enjoyable, and movement optimization makes the gameplay more interesting.”
- “I think this game is poorly optimized, because it constantly crashes on less powerful devices, as the game crashes every minute.”
- “However, the bugs that have been in the game for months (chat bugs, wandering troops, screen delay) do not get patched quickly enough, also the game performance is not optimized and, after a while, becomes almost unplayable without reinstalling.”
- “Game is terribly optimized and you will lose whatever you invest.”
music
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack as surprisingly great and fitting for the game's atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and desire more variety. Many users appreciate the unique musical themes associated with different civilizations, but express disappointment that these themes are not consistently present during gameplay. Overall, while the music enhances the experience for some, others feel it could benefit from more diversity and improvements to avoid repetition.
- “Great job guys, as a PC civilization veteran, this game is the closest I've found to it in the mechanics, graphics, and music.”
- “The day and night cycle plus the awesome background music make it very relaxing to play.”
- “The music is actually stellar; I usually hear cheesy soundtracks from these kinds of games, but with Rise of Kingdoms, the soundtrack is surprisingly great.”
- “There is no sound and music.”
- “Music is repetitive.”
- “Instead you start with extremely generic music and a medieval looking town.”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
87%
13%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of amusing elements, such as funny ads and quirky character interactions, which some players find entertaining. However, many reviews highlight that the humor can be overshadowed by frustrations related to gameplay balance and aggressive monetization strategies, leading to a sense of irony in the game's challenges. Overall, while there are moments of genuine humor, the negative aspects of the game often detract from the fun experience.
- “It's a very funny game, but I think it would be more funny if every civilization differed from the other by all troops, not only one kind of unit.”
- “The good: tons of events, funny historic characters, like Sun Tzu, Joan of Arc, etc., that have different skills and uses in battle.”
- “The backstabbing is hilarious sometimes, but it is very annoying. Great game though; hope it gets more content.”
- “It's not funny anymore when the only way you can stay in the game is paying hundreds of dollars a month.”
- “But one thing makes this game unplayable and unfunny; that's why I gave it 3 stars.”
- “I love this game and I play it on my iPad recently, but your ads are screaming in front of my face while I'm enjoying my video on YouTube. That's not funny, dude. I mean, I don't have a problem with ads as long as they are still entertaining or relevant, for example, just showing how good your 3D animation is or with good built-up storytelling. But suddenly I see a kid screaming in my face. Goodbye, Rok.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often feeling a sense of loss when alliances fall apart or cities are lost, reflecting the time and effort invested. The community aspect fosters strong bonds, making victories and defeats feel personal and impactful. However, the emotional investment can lead to frustration, especially when gameplay becomes challenging or when financial disparities affect competitiveness.
- “This game is great, and I'm not gonna lie, I got emotional watching some of my alliances fall and disband after I made many friends in them.”
- “Very fun and addicting game; once you get into an alliance, you really don't want to stop playing. It gets to a point where they treat you like family, and it can get emotional when something devastating happens.”
- “This game has made me gain a lot of friends all over the world. It's not easy; I cried, laughed, felt stress, and excitement. The creator of this game is very broad-minded. Whether you're a spender or not, this game is about strategy, tactics, and leadership.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
13%
13%
Overall, the character development in the game is highly praised for its visually appealing and well-executed designs, which enhance the overall experience. While players appreciate the artistic style and animation, some express a desire for more historical characters and diverse activities beyond alliance-focused gameplay. The character designs contribute significantly to the game's addictiveness and enjoyment.
- “The character design is one of the best things about the game, but on that note, more historical characters could be introduced. The map is huge, but most of the activities are mostly alliance-oriented.”
- “I love the character design; it makes them really easy to look at.”
- “A simple RTS game that has fantastic character designs, numerous events to do, and an addicting power system that always makes you want to grow stronger. Overall, it's a good game.”
- “Biggest complaint is character designs.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game offers significant replayability, particularly in its team-based strategy elements, appealing to both free-to-play and pay-to-play players. However, concerns about the increasing pay-to-win mechanics have led some users to feel that the game's enjoyment and balance have diminished, impacting long-term engagement. Overall, while many still find it fun and playable, the monetization strategy has raised questions about its sustainability and fairness.
- “It's a fun, team-based strategy game with a ton of replayability.”
- “This game is fun, and has a lot of replayability.”
- “Good game 🎮 4 months later still 5 stars, I play free-to-play and pay-to-play; both are playable and nice.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a competitive edge, appealing to strategy enthusiasts, but it is marred by a pay-to-win dynamic that can detract from the experience. While players can still enjoy the game without spending money, the presence of toxic behavior and hostility among some users adds to the negative atmosphere.
- “I am truly addicted, and for anyone looking for a strategy game with a competitive atmosphere, look no further.”
- “It's certainly a pay-to-win atmosphere, but it's not a necessity to enjoy the game.”
- “Yes, there has always been a 'spend more, get more' atmosphere to the game, but that is just the nature of mobile games.”
- “Yes, there have always been people who spend more to get more atmosphere in the game, but that is just the nature of mobile games. It now appears to be only about those who pay, leaving others behind.”
- “This game has some serious problems, not the least of which is the pay-to-play atmosphere and the horrible people full of hate always attacking you for no reason.”