:Rise of Kingdoms

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{{Infobox video game

| title = Rise of Kingdoms

| developer = Lilith Games

| publisher = Lilith Games

| platforms = iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

| released = iOS and Android
{{Start date|2018|05|24}}
Windows and macOS
{{Start date|2022|04|06}}

| genre = Real-time strategy

| modes = Online multiplayer, Single player campaign

| image =

}}

Rise of Kingdoms, (full name Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade{{Cite web |title=Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lilithgame.roc.gp&hl=en |access-date=6 February 2025 |website=play.google.com |language=en}}), formerly known as Rise of Civilisations and commonly abbreviated to ROK,{{Cite web |last=Cooney |first=Darragh |date=14 November 2019 |title=Rise of Kingdoms doesn't rise, but falls flat |url=https://gameir.ie/review/rise-of-kingdoms-doesnt-rise-but-falls-flat/ |website=GamEir}} is a 2018 free-to-play real-time strategy mobile game released by Chinese game developer Lilith. In Rise of Kingdoms, players choose between a variety of real-world historical civilisations, each of which has its own strategic advantages. The game's gameplay includes building and expanding your city, unlocking new technologies, recruiting various commanders, gathering resources, forming alliances with other players, and real-time turn-based combat.{{Cite web |date=1 September 2023 |title=➤ Rise of Kingdoms: Everything you need to know about this game 🎮 |url=https://www.clashofgaming.com/en/rise-of-kingdoms-everything-you-need-to-know-about-this-game |access-date=18 January 2025 |website=➤Tricks and Guides for your Video Games {{!}} Clash Of Gaming ® |language=en}}

As of December 2023, Rise of Kingdoms has been downloaded over 100 million times.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Rise of Kingdoms has become known for its extensive online marketing campaigns; these come in many different forms. Some are fully animated, while others show staged social interactions between real people. These adverts have been satirised for their strange nature.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

History

On 5 March 2019, Rise of Civilisations changed its name to 'Rise of Kingdoms'. According to Lilith's official community announcement,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.facebook.com/riseofkingdomsgame/videos/338745250181557/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBqF5dVNJo3rxUQmQryLq2N3UpXHLd_uHueSsu8liNin5tfu60wCvglXSaZ3Unq_qRgwYpDio2APDD5Cmp_BSyjcRXouAcULRwqjQXK9Gd2TKfqypXFNcRu5kvi291scAZvlQYdHMgPEWqAr0BotfMXZIBgUE8VTMY2nf7RcBOG7xHwacqO8jpL0nI4tr-qnpiC65OrWcHQT6gG7ZFSEbJ_3jY9g-AErip5yeuVmdgGvGlKTp2Max0S2zZUh5hG5D0FOiCeroYU-C983H9-BbHdEoqSznNm6tTN_hn46ZwbY-QdnSt5Ly2V9IvfBl0V0g-RGP6Sw-6x6sAV7tJjYItwFFRQQZ6m |title=79K views · 2.1K reactions {{!}} Important Announcement - Name Change {{!}} Rise of Civilizations is changing its name. Watch the video to get the full details about why this change is taking place and be the first to see our... {{!}} By Rise of Kingdoms {{!}} Facebook |language=en |access-date=2025-02-04 |via=www.facebook.com}} the name change was done due to copyright restrictions in some countries: they wanted 'a unifying, global experience for all players'.

Development, release and marketing

= Advertising =

Rise of Kingdoms has become known for its notable use of marketing campaigns and advertisements, which have been described as 'bizarre'. One common format of such ads involves a social situation, which results in the person with the most in-game 'power' impressing the others and gaining increased social status. Sometimes then being followed with an explanation on how they had gotten so much 'power' which often includes describing the benefits of a civilization they picked. This is also used in animated adverts, which usually feature an in-game character with low power gaining it through conquering their enemies.{{Cite web |last=Hitchcock |first=John Alexander |date=17 April 2024 |title=7 Mobile Games With Strange Ads |url=https://gamerant.com/strangest-mobile-game-ads/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}

= Civilizations =

Upon loading Rise of Kingdoms, you are prompted to choose a 'civilisation'. These civilisations each have a starting commander and military unit, which are taken from their respective cultures and based on real-world history. The game includes many historical references - for example, upon reaching the 'Bronze Age' in game, the celebration screen displays artefacts from Sanxingdui, a major Bronze Age archaeological site located near Chengdu.{{Cite web |title=Conquer The World And Become The Author Of Your Kingdoms's History |url=https://rok.lilith.com/en#:~:text=When%20progressing%20from%20the%20Stone,work%20to%20visit%20Chengdu%20Museum. |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Rise Of Kingdoms Official Website}}

class="wikitable"

|+List of civilisations in Rise of Kingdoms:

!Civilization

!Commander

!Special Unit

!Unit Type

China

|Sun Tzu

|Chu-Ko-Nu

|Archer

Greece

|Pericles

|Argyraspide

|Infantry

Rome

|Scipio Africanus

|Legionary

|Infantry

Germany

|Hermann

|Teutonic Knight

|Cavalry

Britain

|Boudica

|Longbowman

|Archer

Vikings

|Björn Ironside

|Berserker

|Infantry

Egypt

|Imhotep

|Maryannu

|Archer

France

|Joan of Arc

|Throwing Axeman

|Infantry

Byzantium

|Belisarius

|Cataphract

|Cavalry

Ottoman Empire

|Osman I

|Janissary

|Archer

Arabia

|Baibars

|Mamluk

|Cavalry

Spain

|Pelagius

|Conquistador

|Cavalry

Korea

|Eulji Mundeok

|Hwarang

|Archer

Japan

|Kusunoki Masashige

|Samurai

|Infantry

Maya

|Wak Chanil Ajaw

|Spear-Thrower

|Archer

Reception

= Commercial reception =

Rise of Kingdoms has grossed over $3.5bn in total revenue,{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Iwan |date=3 June 2024 |title=Rise of Kingdoms has raked in more than $3.5bn in global sales |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/rise-of-kingdoms/3-5bn-milestone/ |access-date=27 January 2025 |website=www.pocketgamer.com |language=en}} and has over 50 million downloads on the Google Play Store.

= Critical reception =

Rise of Kingdoms has been praised for its scope and gameplay depth, with Luciano of Touch, Tap, Play describing the game as 'ambitious' and comparing it favourably to other mobile strategy games, which he describes as 'stripped back versions of their PC and console counterparts'. He praises Rise of Kingdoms's 'incredibly dynamic...gameplay', as well as its being 'playable in five-minute bursts if necessary'.{{Cite web |last=Luciano |date=19 August 2018 |title=Rise of Civilizations Is an Epic Strategy MMO for Mobile |url=https://www.touchtapplay.com/rise-of-civilizations-is-an-epic-strategy-mmo-for-mobile/ |access-date=6 February 2025 |website=Touch, Tap, Play |language=en-US}}

Nick Rowe of TechNuovo gave a generally positive review. He said that '[he] really enjoy[s] the game' and said 'it's [been] receiving ALOT[sic] of praise, and rightly so, it's a fun game.' He praised the commander system, calling it 'a nice addition'. He warned against spending money on the game, however, saying he 'dread[s] to think what some have spent getting to these crazy power levels.'{{Cite web |date=2 July 2020 |title=Rise Of Kingdoms Review {{!}} TechNuovo |url=https://technuovo.com/rise-of-kingdoms-review/ |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=TechNuovo {{!}} Bitesized tech news and reviews |language=en-US}}

Jason Parker of MMOHuts, however, gave the game a 2 out of 5, calling the monetisation 'greedy for the sake of greed'. He notes that the VIP system is 'convoluted' and concludes that 'if you want to dominate your foes, I cannot see a way to do it without spending tons of time or serious cash.' He also disliked the battle system, stating that 'PVP isn't about tactics, just raw power.' {{Cite news |date=22 October 2019 |title=Rise of Kingdoms Review {{!}} MMOHuts |url=https://mmohuts.com/news/rise-kingdoms-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721111549/https://mmohuts.com/news/rise-kingdoms-review/ |archive-date=21 July 2024 |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=MMOHuts |language=en-US |url-status=live }}

Jason Bennett of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette gave the game a 4/10, praising the game's 'addictive' nature and its 'interesting gameplay mechanics', but disliking its 'pay-to-win' model. He states that '[i]f you want to be the strongest governor, all it really takes is a credit card with a high limit' and complains of '[p]layers [being] bombarded by advertisements to buy more gems'. He also criticised the game's story, saying 'there's no real narrative to speak of' and 'no victory condition to the cycle of endless conflict'.{{Cite web |date=9 September 2019 |title=GAME ON: It's not pay to play — unless you want to win {{!}} Arkansas Democrat Gazette |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/sep/09/game-on-20190909/ |access-date=5 February 2025 |website=www.arkansasonline.com |language=en}}

References