Description: Rising Empires is a strategy game for Android that’s steeped in a traditional fantasy setting with all of the lore you might expect from an Elder Scrolls game. This is not a game for those looking for a third-person adventure game, instead, this is for those with imagination of their own and those more interested in the details than anything else. There are six races to choose from, you can customize your Empire with such detail as their religion and goals, attitudes and more. You could almost think of this as a simplified mobile version of Civilization set in a fantasy realm. From the moment you start building your Empire, you quickly start to realize that there’s more than meets the eye with Rising Empires.
How it Works: First of all, you need to download the game from the Play Store, where there is also a free version to try out, too. When you first start playing, you’re tasked with creating your Empire, with such options as choosing a Race:
As well as choosing your Race, you can also choose a religion and a focus for your Empire:
When you first start playing the game in earnest, once you’ve created a template for your Empire, it might seem a little daunting. The developers have you covered however, as there are lots of tutorials on their website. The game works on a turn-by-turn basis and you’ll have to plan accordingly, especially if you want to go on the offense:
Everything you might expect of a game like this is included, such as researching new weapons:
Of course, you’ll also have to navigate your way through various terrains and level designs:
Detail is not so much in the graphics but, in the amount of information the game gives you while you’re playing.
Opinion: There’s something to be said of this type of game, certainly it’s only going to appeal to a certain audience but, it serves that audience incredibly well. Graphically, the game isn’t much to look at but, those with an imagination will really love the amount of detail the developers give to players through text, including figures, descriptions and more. Once you get into the rhythm of the game, it’s a lot of fun to play but, prepare to lose a good chunk of time into the game as it takes some time to get much done and the turn-by-turn system can make the game feel like a grind at times. For the most part though, this is a great strategy game built for RPG and fantasy fans.
Ratings
- Speed (3.5/5) – Strategy fans will really enjoy the pacing here but casual gamers will find it a little slow.
- Features (5/5) – If you’re looking for an in-depth game to get stuck into, Rising Empires is that game and there’s no reason you shouldn’t devote time to it.
- Theme (3.5/5) – Honestly, the visual look here isn’t going to look great to a lot of players but, the detail given in prompts and descriptions really help paint a picture.
- Overall (4/5) – The core gameplay in Rising Empires is great and while it doesn’t look all that pretty it’s got a lot to offer RPG and strategy fans.
Pros
- Lots of content on offer for fantasy and RPG fans.
- Detailed comments and deep mechanics really help create a picture and experience for players.
- There’s no linear story at play here, you can pretty much play the game you want to play.
- Lots of replayability with Rising Empires, the Premium Version is almost an investment.
Cons
- Doesn’t look great on Android tablets.
- Could do with some improved graphics but, if that doesn’t bother you, then the presentation is fine.
Conclusion: Rising Empires is a game that not everyone will take to but, that’s okay. There’s a certain audience of players out there that appreciate games like this and if you’re one of them, Rising Empires has a lot to offer you. The graphics aren’t the best but, they’re serviceable and the detailed comments and lore will really help paint a picture for those. It also leaves your Empire and world up to you, you can imagine whatever world you like, with the game itself serving up mechanics and cold stats. It’s a shame that the game doesn’t work great with tablets, such as the Nexus 7 but, it’s not too big a problem and with a game of this scale, you’d rather take it everywhere on your phone anyway. All-in-all, Rising Empires is a game that plays great, offers strategy and RPG fans a whole bunch of replayability and is a great game to get stuck into this winter. The latest version of Rising Empires with a whole raft of enhancements is now live in the Play Store!