Forge of Empires: Build a City is a free strategy mobile video game wherein you get to build your very own empire. Developed by InnoGames, this 3D isometric game offers city-building and management gameplay, as well as the chance to experience the timeline of world history as human civilization improved.

Forge of Empires: Build a City is usually likened to SimCity and Clash of Clans but it’s also reminiscent of Sid Meier's Civilization series. Here, you create a village that eventually transforms into an empire throughout the ages as you continue to develop technology and conquer lands.

Is Forge of Empires any good?

Originally a browser-based strategy game released in 2012, Forge of Empires: Build a City has you establishing a city—evolving it from the Stone Age to the Colonization era and more. Like other city-building games, you have to construct buildings for various purposes: housing your population and generating your resources, amongst other things. Not only must you keep your city happy and functioning, but you also have to develop your technology.

This gives you access to more objects to help you in expanding your territory. The game also features combat for this, with turn-based strategy elements to give you more control over how your battles will turn out. This is helpful since some enemies will be harder to beat the further along the world history you go. Alternatively, you can try to negotiate with your enemies instead. 

Aside from the main campaign, you can also enter PvP and fight other people in multiplayer mode. The game has cross-platform capabilities but can’t be played offline. The biggest drawback here, however, is that the higher levels need a lot of grinding if you don’t want to purchase the in-game currency. It’s annoying to harvest resources, as well, because of the wait time that’s absurdly long compared to other games.

Gets pretty grindy later on

All in all, Forge of Empires: Build a City is a nice mobile version of the original hit browser game. While it does fall victim to some of the common mobile game failings, it’s enjoyable enough for any player regardless of their experience with the city-building genre. The inclusion of a PvP mode also entertains competitive players and keeps you busy if you’re bored of the main campaign.