| Price | Free |
| Version | 1.243.21 |
| Category | Strategy |
| Developer | InnoGames GmbH |
| Source | iOS, Android |
| Rating | (4.2) |
Forge of Empires is a solid strategy game developed by Innogames in which we will become leaders of a Stone Age tribe that we will have to guide until our days. To do this we will have to obtain resources, build cities, investigate our surroundings and of course, demonstrate our leadership skills on the battlefield. And as in any self-respecting strategy game, to guide your people through history you will need a good army.
FoE welcomes its players in a similar way to other strategy classics such as Civilization or Age of Empires. However, in a very simplified way as it is a browser game. We will start our adventure with a small settlement that we will gradually see grow. To do this we will have to build new buildings and plan conscientiously in what to invest our resources. And as it happens in titles like Clash of Clans, these will be vital for the development of our game and we already anticipate that they are not easy to get. Managing a city efficiently in Forge of Empires is somewhat more complicated than one might think. To do this we will have to decide what to build in it and always keep in mind what goods we will get when we improve it. These will be mainly gold and supplies, although we must not forget the happiness of our inhabitants. The wealth and good functioning of the kingdom depends on them, so we will also have to invest in cultural buildings, schools and leisure areas. But your role as a ruler will not only consist of designing and managing a city, but you will also have to take care of its technology. That’s why you’ll need to dedicate part of your points to research in order to unlock new constructions, improvements or units. The game is a slow process, since for every hour in real time you will only accumulate one point to invest in research.
Once you have familiarized yourself with the management of your city, it is time to explore its surroundings. Nobody can build an empire if they don’t venture into its surroundings. FoE allows you to send troops to explore with two main objectives: to conquer a new territory or to obtain new resources. As is usually the case with free-to-play titles, to explore you’ll need to invest part of your goods, in this case gold. Thus, if you want to discover the world you must pay to investigate the terrain and, after waiting a considerable amount of time, unlock it and have access to it. Although it is not the most enjoyable exploration mode in the world, it is consistent with the gameplay of the genre.
In order to conquer new territories or defend our cities, it is necessary to take up arms and start a bloody battle. These are the bread and butter of strategy games, and it is also in them that the player expects to find a large part of the excitement of a title of this genre. Although the combats in Forge of Empires are quite entertaining, unfortunately they are too simple and far from other similar titles such as Rise of Empires or Elvenar. At the beginning of a battle we will choose a total of 8 units to fight. Once the attack starts, we will be able to move our army in turns as many times as each unit allows. If we are using melee units we will be able to attack the enemies in adjacent spaces and our enemies will be able to counterattack. On the contrary, if we use ranged attacks we will be able to reach distant targets and not receive any counterattack. An interesting point of Forge of Empires is that if you are not very fond of battles or don’t want to waste time in them, you can automate them. This is especially useful for all those who enjoy the simulation and management functions of the game, but prefer to avoid these combats as much as possible.
Like any good MMO, Forge of Empires stands out for its social functions through guilds. These allow you to play with your friends and companions and let them help you in different aspects of the game. For example, guild members can help when constructing or beautifying a friend’s buildings, join battles between rival guilds or even create an expedition to explore the map. Fortunately joining or creating a guild is really simple. The only requirement for a player to have access to it is that they have first researched blacksmithing technology. After that you can create your own guild, apply to join one or if you wish, wait for a friend to invite you. Once you are part of it you will be able to access the group’s profile, see its members and even talk to them through its chat and forum. Although it is not a very new option, it adds a very entertaining and successful social dimension to the game.
Microtransactions are, unfortunately, a classic in freemium games and FoE is no different. In it we will find diamonds, a precious object that gives us important improvements and advantages in our games. These allow us to speed up constructions, access certain types of buildings, reduce the time it takes to complete an expedition, etc. To get them we need to buy them with real money in the game store, because in very few missions we will get them as a reward. However, unlike other titles such as Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming, they will not be necessary to advance and enjoy our game.
Forge of Empires is a good browser strategy game that will undoubtedly delight fans of the genre. Although it doesn’t risk too much in any of its proposals, its correct balance between simulation, construction and turn-based combat provides hours and hours of fun. In addition to this, the game has an interesting guild functionality with which you can immerse yourself throughout the story with friends from all over the world. Try it, you won’t regret it.
