Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade review

Journey into a world of strategy and empire-building with Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade, a captivating game that puts you on the throne of a growing civilization. Developed by the respected Chinese studio Lilith Games, this title allows you to carve out your own path through history, whether you choose to be a benevolent ruler or a ruthless conqueror. 

A Multi-dimensional Gameplay

In Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade, you're the architect of your own destiny. Choose from a myriad of civilizations, each offering unique commanders, special units, and bonuses. You may start small, with an undeveloped city and a modest army, but as you level up your City Hall and nurture your city, your reign expands. The gameplay is rich and multifaceted, combining elements of real-time strategy and city-building genres. The diversity of features makes this game stand out on mobile platforms, even though it doesn’t bring anything revolutionary to the table.

Interaction with Other Players

One of the game's highlights lies in its MMO component. You're not alone in your quest for glory; the world is teeming with other players, each with their own ambitions. You can join alliances with like-minded individuals, sharing resources and protection. This cooperative gameplay adds a layer of complexity and dynamism to the game, transforming it from a solitary experience into a vibrant online community. 

Visual Appeal

Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade stands out with its cartoonish, colorful graphics reminiscent of Pixar-style animation. The game's charming visual style pairs well with its complex gameplay, creating a delightful blend of aesthetics and strategic depth. The alluring “infinite zoom feature” adds a nice touch to the game, allowing you to zoom in and out with remarkable flexibility.

Isn’t All Gold that Glitters

While the game has a lot to offer, it's not without its flaws. The most glaring issue lies in the game's balance between free-to-play and pay-to-win players. Those who choose to spend real money on the game have a significant advantage, making it challenging for free-to-play users to compete in the later stages of the game.

Pros:

• Rich and diverse gameplay combining elements of RTS and city-building genres;
• Vibrant online community with the MMO component;
• Charming, colorful graphics and an impressive zoom feature;

Cons:

• Significant advantage for pay-to-win players, creating an imbalance in the gameplay;
• The visual style, while charming, can feel generic;

Conclusion

All in all, Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade is indeed a thrilling journey into the world of strategy and civilization-building. Despite its imbalance between free-to-play and pay-to-win players, it offers a rich, diverse gameplay experience that can satisfy lovers of RTS and city-building genres alike. So, if you're ready to don the mantle of a ruler, give Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade a try, and carve out your own path through history.