Often dubbed as the most addictive game on both iOS and Android game stores, this impressive title by Supercell earned all the accolades it deserved. It is a free game but with in-app purchases that combine elements from various games. For instance, if you’ve played Clash of Clans, a great title by the same developers, you’ll be familiar with the characters in this game. To be candid, I had more expectations for this title, especially since it was coming at the back of significant success. Thankfully, I and millions of downloaders on the respective app stores weren’t disappointed. The game is a perfect blend of card play, defense, and attack strategy. 

Since its release in March 2016, Clash Royale has been the most downloaded title on the Google play store, praiseworthy for a free game. It has also surpassed most A-list games in terms of revenue. One of the fundamental reasons for its enviable success lies in its impressive combination of various battle strategies and enticing graphics. Most players term it as a phenomenal title that is instantly addicting. Lose your first battle, and you might spend the whole day trying to get back at your enemies.

The gameplay, modes, and walkthrough

The game is a real-time battle strategy title that involves two players in a one versus one game mode. In some instances, you can play two against two. The aim is to destroy your opponent’s towers, but you will win the game immediately if you beat the King’s tower. The battle length is three minutes, with a potential for extra time in some cases. There are also three possible outcomes within these three minutes- win, lose, or draw. You get a win if you destroy the opponent’s King’s tower, or you demolish the highest number of forts within the battle time. A draw ensues if none of the players ruin any defense leaving them with the same health level. 

You will lose the game if you destroy fewer towers or your opponent destroys your King’s fort. In a typical battle, you must fight your opponent by releasing some cards from a deck. We shall talk more about the cards very soon. The aim, as we said, is to defend your archer and King’s tower as well as attack the enemies’ line. 

The game has a ranking based on the trophy amount you have in your name. You must update your cards if you wish to reach level 13, which is the maximum. If you play the more recent versions, you will observe that players at the highest level get experience points to upgrade more cards. If you wish to go up the ranks faster, play and win more multiplayer games. I must mention that all the battles typically take place in one of thirteen possible arenas, and you’ll qualify to join the official league once you gather up to four thousand trophies. 

As of today, there are up to 102 cards available to choose from for every battle. The developers classify based on specific rarities as some are more common than others. The game represents your spells and armies in the form of these cards, which you can deploy during any battle. You can build a deck containing eight cards to play against your opponent. The game chooses the first four cards randomly, while the last four are your choice. You will also notice that you need some elixir to play your cards. The game will give you some initially, and I noticed that the potions regenerate after about three seconds.

To make the game more fun and more straightforward, the developers’ designed trade tokens and emotes in recent iterations. You can trade cards with other players using these tokens to get from challenges and special offers.  The game also contains different clan options. Each clan has fifty maximum members, and you can join one as soon as you start the game if you wish to participate in clan wars. You will become clan mates as soon as you enter a team, and you can chat, trade, and share items with them as you wish. 

When you have enough gems at experience level eight, you can participate in tournaments. These tournaments are similar to regular battles but require gems to enter. After a successful outing, you will get chests containing several valuable items. Furthermore, as soon as your trophies reach a whooping four thousand, you will qualify for placement in leagues. These leagues are of various categories, and successful players get numerous rewards as they climb up the ladder. 

The things I like

The cheery visuals of this game are something that can’t go unnoticed. It created a perfect blend of fun and battle tension. The developers also made a good combination of card play and war strategy in making the gameplay. The cards, battle, clans all speak to the developers’ intent of creating something worthwhile. I particularly like that you can hardly go bored playing the game as there’s always a battle for you to pick. Lastly, you can play the game with one hand, which enhances convenience and immersion. 

The glitches I couldn’t overlook

The game is frustrating as it is exciting. At some point, I thought I had to pay to get through the levels as I kept losing every battle. Senior and higher level players buy to save their skin and climb up the ladder, but I thought I could fight my way through. Also, the game keeps pitting me against higher-level players with more health and cards. It’s as if they wish to set me up for a catastrophic outcome. 

Some players have complained about the uncensored chat rooms and contents. This setback is especially a concern for parents whose kids are addicted to the title. 

Verdict

This title is a free, fun, and enticing game. It is easy to play and addicting if you like challenges. It is the perfect game for anyone who wants battle setups and a little bit of card play. Apart from the minor glitches I observed in the title, Supercell has the sky as its limit regarding the game’s success and credibility.