Empires & Puzzles Review [The Match 3 RPG] • Old Cynic (2024)

I’ve been playing Empires and Puzzles (E&P) for 3½ years, and blogging about it for over 2, and it’s finally time to review what is possibly the best match-3 puzzle combat game available on iOS or Android.

This is the first in a new series of mobile game reviews that I’ll be posting over the coming months. If you want to get an alert when I post a new one, be sure to Subscribe.

Once they’re posted, you’ll be able to find them here.

Is worth playing in 2023?

Defo and I’ll explain why…

An Introduction To Empires & Puzzles (Epic Gameplay Experience)

Empires & Puzzles was created by Small Giant Games and is available to download at the Google Play Store (Android) and Apple App Store (iOS) respectively.

At its core, it’s a free-to-play, Match-3 puzzle game with a twist.

The twist is that you have Heroes who charge their Special Skills as you match tiles.

Each battle is a contest to defeat your enemies, be it a Titan, Monsters, or Player Defenses (PvP).

A dynamic world has been created around this concept, and as you make progress in the game, you’ll begin to notice how your decisions directly influence the outcome of battles.

It’s a simple idea masterfully applied.

Here’s a screenshot of a normal “Raid” battle (PvP):

You can also check out this YouTube video to see how it all works.

Outside of puzzling, there are also buildings to upgrade, Heroes to discover, and new friendships to kindle. And it’s the friendship-making via the in-game Alliances, that really sets Empires & Puzzles apart.

The Pros of Empires & Puzzles: Possibly the Best Puzzle Combat Game

Empires & Puzzles is so good that you could easily play it daily for years without so much as a second thought!

The game assembles all the components required to create a captivating world inside of your mobile device.

The main storyline is currently on Season 5 (Dynasty Of Dunes), and there’s also loads of other stuff to do, like Events, Tournaments, Alliance Wars, Raids, Base-Building, Hero Leveling, and soon the recently announced, Hero League.

The Heroes in Empires & Puzzles are imaginative and their Special Skills can Synergize to help you win battles (meet Devana):

There are so many Pros to E&P that it’s easier to break them down using bullet points:

• It’s a Free game and you can progress without spending a penny (Free 2 Play)
• It’s possible to obtain good/top Heroes from Free Summons (although, you’ll need lots of luck)
• The in-game animation is swift and responsive
• Graphics and Hero design are pretty cool most of the time
• Battles are well-designed and rely on strategy, sometimes feeling more like a game of chess
• There are buildings to level and Hero/Troop Training options
• Weekly Tournaments are the most fun you can have on your mobile phone
• And the multiplayer aspects of Empires & Puzzles are phenomenal (you can join Alliances and have fun together)

The Cons of Empires & Puzzles (Gacha Money)

Empires & Puzzles is a business like any other, and the goal is to make profits.

The way E&P does this is by selling in-game currencies (Gems or Coins) that are used to (try and) obtain Heroes from the Summoning Portal [it’s a Gacha-style game with additional Micro Transactions available].

And when you first start playing E&P it can be tempting to try and chase a Hero you like the look of. -Meaning, you could easily spend more money than you’re comfortable with.

But the odds are very low and your money could simply disappear without so much as a digital fart in the wind.

And here’s how it impacts the game:

• There is a “Power Creep” (new Heroes are stronger so they appear attractive to players)
• Stronger Heroes can unbalance the game, or through sheer saturation leave you feeling apathetic about them
• There can be up to 6 Pop-Up Ads to purchase in-game deals whenever you open the App or navigate from one place to another (this is annoying)

It also has the potential of impacting your wallet.

But these issues can be overlooked, depending on your personal threshold.

Fact is, most modern games apply this type of monetization and you’ll likely find a variation of it elsewhere. -So always think hard before spending money, no matter the game.

Empires & Puzzles: Match-3 RPG Review (My Final Thoughts)

I’ve been writing about Empires & Puzzles for over 2 years now and that says a lot.

E&P is particularly addictive because it’s both challenging and rewarding.

My most enjoyable moments are found when helping my Alliance mates in the twice-weekly Alliance Wars, or when going against other “Defences” in the weekly Tournament.

Empires & Puzzles is an incredibly well-conceived and precisely put-together mobile game.

That said, we have recently experienced a changing dynamic brought about by the “Power Creep”. And that can mean sometimes facing insurmountable teams, no matter what strategy you employ.

This affects the PvP World Leader Board and other Events, however, most of this gigantic game is still pretty much assessable to all, even to Free To Play players.

The bottom line is, if you’re looking for a fun game that challenges you, keeps you interested, and offers you ways to make friends and work together, then Empires & Puzzles is by far the best choice I’ve come across.

It’s a fantastic game with a substantial and passionate player base.

Be sure to check out my Top 10 Tips to get you started.

And feel free to have your say in the comments below!

If you’re looking for a new mobile game to play, you can find all of my reviews over here!

Old Cynic’s Grade:

Note: This review was based on the Apple App Store version of the game.

Copyright: oldcynic.com
Images are screenshots used by way of review/tutorial