Rise of Kingdoms, our take on the mobile 4X that's lasted since 2018

Released in 2018, Rise of Kingdoms has long outgrown “simple mobile strategy game” status: Lilith Games already reported over 100 million players by the end of 2023, and the title still receives regular content updates. It’s one of the most-installed 4X games on the market today, also available on PC through its Windows client.

A classic 4X carried by real historical civilizations

The core loop sticks to genre fundamentals: build and develop your city, unlock technologies, recruit commanders inspired by real historical figures (Caesar, Joan of Arc, Sun Tzu…), and manage resources. The game’s real identity comes from choosing among a dozen real-world civilizations, each with its own bonuses, and from an alliance system that structures the entire social and military layer — all the way up to large-scale kingdom-versus-kingdom wars between entire servers.

Depth that comes at a cost: your time, and sometimes your wallet

Rise of Kingdoms still pulls in plenty of 5-star reviews from genre fans, but recent feedback consistently points to the same trade-offs: a steep learning curve, a heavy real-time commitment (buildings and research running continuously), and real pressure to spend if you want to stay competitive in kingdom wars. This clearly isn’t a game for the occasional session — it’s a long-haul 4X built for players willing to invest over time as part of an alliance.

If you enjoy long-haul strategy and alliance play, Rise of Kingdoms has more than proven itself over nearly eight years of live service — just know what you’re signing up for before you commit seriously.