Ranking city builders

What We Liked..

Graphical presentation and awesome tanks

Very tactical game

.. and what we didn't

Beginners may have a hard time with the game's level of difficulty

4.5 out of 5
Editorial vote: 9.0


Watch the trailer:

Genre: shooter, war

Setting: historical, city

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: guild or factions matches or duels PvP


World of Tanks is one of the first and only tactical MMOs set in the unstable theatre of World War II with over 150 tanks from either The United States, Germany or USSR.
The system of personalization in the game allows you to try all of them, one by one.

Would you prefer to destroy your enemies with powerful wind gusts aboard a light tank or would you rather crush them with one of the more burly options? Or would you like to take your enemy by surprise with a sniper tank?
It's all a matter of preference in World of Tanks. And each player will have their own.

But simply being at the controls of your favorite tank will not be enough to win. Here, everything is a matter of team-play: you all work together and create the best tactics to lead the team to victory. So what are you waiting for? Play!

➔ Main points:

  • WWII era Tank Sim with constant updates from the developers to keep the game up to nowadays standards.
  • Good graphics and physics engine.
  • Tactical team-based gameplay and fun progression
  • One of the most played MMO games ever.

What We Liked..

Clean user interface

Rich gameplay

Animated villagers and artwork

.. and what we didn't

No sound or music

Slow progression

4.1 out of 5
Editorial vote: 8.2

Genre: strategy, war

Setting: historical, sea, city

Graphics: animated artworks

PvP: PvP all vs all


Ikariam is an animated, historically-themed 2D browser-game that features a rich strategy game experience involving resource management, multiplayer PVP and empire building. The game advances in real time and while progression is slow, the gameplay offers plenty of choices for the player when it comes to being the ruler of their township on an island that is ripe for any plans of expansion.

Graphically, Ikariam is pleasant to look at with good graphics and surprisingly has animated motions of villagers getting to work and constructing buildings or collecting resources. Unfortunately, the lack of in-game sounds and music may be an immersion buzzkill for some players.

Ultimately, Ikariam is a great strategy game that players can play for no cost, even in the presence of an advantageous cash shop.

➔ Main points:

  • Rich gameplay that features plenty of content for empire building lovers
  • Animated villagers and good graphics
  • Slow character progression but well paced learning curve

What We Liked..

Gameplay is simple yet complex enough to keep the player engaged

Accelerated time keeps the game moving and interesting

Graphics are engaging and excellent

.. and what we didn't

Dangerously easy to rely on the game shop

Not good on battery life

Very time consuming as you level up

3.8 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.5

Genre: simulation, casual

Setting: present, city

Graphics: animated artworks

PvP: no fighting


Overview

If orange is the new black, then farming is the new popular app. With games like Farmville and Hay Day, players can immerse themselves into the artificial pleasures of farming. This includes things like growing crops, raising livestock, and delivering goods and services to awaiting customers. Like Farmville, Township got its start on the Facebook platform and evolved into a standalone app. But where Farmville and Hay Day focus strictly on farm-building, Township expands the player's reach into other areas of development, like house-building, factories, restaurants, movie theaters, and even a zoo. It blends farm and city building together into something that's less 'nostalgic farming' and more 'farming metropolis'. The game is also quick to catch on to, with a fairly basic tutorial that relies on simple animated GIFs that show the player exactly how to play, but leaves enough room to let the player explore on their own if they want.

With a fairly basic premise ("Congratulations on inheriting some property!"), a simple-yet-complex gaming structure that keeps you engaged, and amazing graphics, Township remains a top contender in the world-building simulation apps out there.

➔ Main points:

  • Blends both city building and farm building together
  • Grow your own crops, take care of your own animals, and sell the wares that you make
  • Build and grow things in real-time with accelerated speed
  • Focus on building your city into whatever you want it to be!
  • Game shop allows player to use real money to advance your level faster

What We Liked..

Historical accuracy and attention to detail

Beautiful graphics

Intuitive interface

Free-to-play model

.. and what we didn't

Slow pace of gameplay

Underdeveloped PvP

3.5 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.0

Genre: managerial, simulation, strategy, war

Setting: historical, present, city

Graphics: animated artworks

PvP: PvE


Rise of Cultures is a strategy game for browsers and mobile devices developed by InnoGames. The game takes players on a journey through different eras of human history, starting from the Stone Age and ending in the Middle Ages. Players must build and manage their cities, research new technologies, and engage in battles with other players.

One of the key features of Rise of Cultures is its emphasis on historical accuracy. The game provides players with a detailed representation of the cultures and societies of each era, including their architecture, technology, and military tactics. This attention to detail makes the game both educational and immersive.

In terms of gameplay, Rise of Cultures offers a variety of activities to engage in: you can build and upgrade buildings, gather resources, and train troops, both solo or with your fellow guild companions.

One of the biggest strengths of Rise of Cultures lies in its graphics. The artworks are stylish, beautiful and detailed, and they really bring the historical eras to life. The interface is intuitive and easy to use, making it extremely accessible to both new and experienced players.

Rise of Cultures also features a well-balanced free-to-play model. While it does offer in-app purchases, you can enjoy the full experience without spending any money, for real. This makes it a great option for players who are looking for a high-quality game without breaking the bank.

However, there are also some downsides...
Some players may find the pace of the game to be slow, as it can take time to gather resources and build up a strong city. Also, the multiplayer component is quite underdeveloped as the main emphasis of the game is on PvE: while somebody could consider it as an advantage, those looking for a hard challenge against other human players are going to be disappointed.

Overall, Rise of Cultures is a solid strategy game that offers a lot of worthy content. Its historical accuracy and attention to detail make it stand out from other games in the genre, and its free-to-play model makes it accessible to a wide range of players.

What We Liked..

Available on Steam

Fun and fluid combat

gorgeous art style

solid voice acting

.. and what we didn't

Combat gets repetitive after a while

lack of endgame content

English version has halved exp rates and double energy costs

obnoxious stamina system

too many P2P/P2W elements

server issues and long loading times

3.5 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.0

Genre: action, mmorpg

Setting: present, sci-fi, anime, city

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: PvE PvP


Anime MMORPGs are a rare breed. Good ones anyway, and for use anime and MMO fans, that’s a darn shame. So when a good Anime MMORPG comes around, we play it as long as we can and cherish it more than that all-red Pokeball.

SoulWorker is a refreshing entry into the somewhat sparse Anime MMORPG genre. The art style is just plain gorgeous, and the combat is fast and furious, no Vin Diesel required. And most importantly, the game is fun.

While it lasts at least. The game is still young, but in its’ current state, there just isn’t enough to do. Players will have a blast in the initial hours, but once the serious grinding starts, the fun drops off a cliff. The endgame is pretty nonexistent, and what little there is to do, isn’t very enjoyable. Soul Worker is an instanced based, dungeon hack and slash, and it can get very repetitive very quickly. And the alterations that Game Forge made to the game, make the bad aspects of Soul Worker even worse. In its’ current state, it doesn’t have much in the way of lasting power, but it’s a great way to spend a weekend or two with friends.

➔ Main points:

  • Downloadable Hack n Slash MMORPG
  • Fast and fun combo heavy combat
  • Get repetitive towards late game
  • Very little endgame content
  • English version of the game is a lot harder and more grindy than the SEA version
  • Too much P2W/P2P Elements in the English release
  • Lots of server issues

What We Liked..

Deep Customization

Nemesis System

Fun Gameplay

.. and what we didn't

Poor Graphics

Confusing HUD

Lots of premium content

3.5 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.0

Genre: action, mmorpg

Setting: sci-fi, city

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: PvE PvP


Based on famed table top game Champions, Champions Online is a recently free-to-play MMORPG created by City of Heroes developer Cryptic Studios. Champions online is a comic book lover’s ideal virtual world. While it has its issues, mostly related to graphics, playing through Champions is still an enjoyable romp filled with a plethora of well executed ideas. The game creates a rich yet traditional MMO experience, however much of the game’s systems and classes are locked behind a subscription-based paywall.

The combat feels, for the most part, very traditional. It’s a variation of the classic tab targeting system we’ve come to love, and expect from games like World of Warcraft and Star Wars: The Old Republic. What differentiates combat the most is the ability to enter combat with a unique ability called a travel power. Travel powers are pretty much exactly as the sound, superpowers that allow for different methods of travel. There are a plethora of travel powers to choose from, each compliments a certain class type, however you can choose whichever you are most fond of.

➔ Main points:

  • 2009 MMORPG
  • Superhero Themed
  • Unique Nemesis System
  • Plethora of Customization options

What We Liked..

Realistic Ortiental atmosphere

Rather exciting

Battle system that works well with the game

.. and what we didn't

The game's main shortcoming is its technical qualities

3.4 out of 5
Editorial vote: 6.7

Genre: action, mmorpg

Setting: present, city

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: guild or factions PvE PvP


Age of Wulin is a free-to-play MMORPG directly from China off of which all of the game's lore and environment is based. Age of Wulin’s gameplay also has a strong Chinese base, featuring martial art moves and abilities in place of the usual fantasy setting and abilities that are found in MMORPGs.

Once you create your character the game lets you pick one out of eight Schools of martial arts which decide the base attributes to which your character will have access . Luckily every skill is available to each class, leaving the game with a lot of customization.

Periodically Age of Wulin adds new content in the form of competitions which are
essential to your success, building your School based stats and also giving you access to new skills
You have the choice to either improve your hand-to-hand combat skills or instead, other equally important disciplines that have their own advantages compared to hand-to-hand combat.

If you're interested in a world of Oriental legend proportions, Age of Wulin is a game you must try

What We Liked..

The Marvel Universe

Free to play and balanced cash shop

Constantly updated

.. and what we didn't

Characters and costumes are expensive

3.4 out of 5
Editorial vote: 6.7

Genre: action, mmorpg, strategy

Setting: fantasy, city

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: matches or duels PvE PvP


Marvel Heroes has a strong foundation with Brian Michael Bendis (author of Marvel comics) and David Brevik (designer of Diablo) on the development team. Although the game didn’t get off to a great start in open beta , Gazillion has since listened to players and done a much needed overhaul. And the effort was worth it - this is a very entertaining game and if Gazillion continues to be as responsive as they’ve been so far, it’s only going to get better.

The gameplay is fun and the story will appeal to many people, drawing as it does from the rich and complex Marvel universe. Add to this a well-balanced cash shop and this title is a must for Action RPG fans and Marvel fans!

What We Liked..

Relaxing

Colorful

.. and what we didn't

Nothing (if you can live without killing everything that moves)

3.2 out of 5
Editorial vote: 6.5

Genre: managerial, simulation, strategy

Setting: present, city

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: no fighting


One day you receive a letter from your grandfather asking for your help. A strange stone circle has appeared in the peaceful world of Sunrise Village. The buildings are overgrown with thorny vines and everything else is shrouded in a mysterious thick fog. The events seem to be connected to an ancient story about legendary craftsmen who created six magical crystals to harness their elemental energy. Will you manage to find the crystals? Hurry up and help your grandfather to rebuild the village and uncover its secrets!

Meet friendly villagers on your way and help them repair their houses and workshops. Take care of your adorable farm animals: Chickens and cows need your attention. Harvest vegetables such as peas and produce goods such as hay, plywood, gravel - and even sweets! You'll need these and many other resources to generate energy, rebuild the farm, construct a hot air balloon, travel the countryside and finally solve the mystery of Sunrise Village.

Take a break from hectic city life, enjoy a pristine natural landscape and explore the breathtaking beauty of Sunrise Village, its forest and other locations in the area. Navigate the world map and unlock new areas. Let's go on an adventure!

What We Liked..

5 vehicle classes

Next- gen visuals

destructible landscape

continuous updates to game

.. and what we didn't

lack of realism with in game graphics

Only two pvp options

3.2 out of 5
Editorial vote: 6.5


Watch the trailer:

Genre: shooter, simulation, war

Setting: present, city

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: guild or factions PvE PvP


Satisfy your thirst for destruction with Armored Warfare, a modern day military game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Mail.Ru.
An open beta was launched on October 8, 2015 with optional premium accounts coming soon.

Armored Warfare has been noted for its competitive co-op battles and use of modern day tanks and artillery.
In this free-to-play MMO, you have the opportunity to take on your environment or your fellow players. The chance for ultimate destruction is guaranteed.

➔ Main points:

  • Captivating Story-line
  • Beautiful Next-Gen Visuals
  • Dynamic Destructible Environment
  • Engaging Team-Based Combat
  • Customizable Equipment