Clash Royale

Pros

• Easy to play
• Lets you collect cards and unlock new cards
• You can play with your friends online
• Available as a free or premium/paid game
• Suitable for most ages
• Gives you access to special events
• Updates are available to keep the fun going

Cons

• Hard to level up
• Includes a lot of microtransactions
• Free version isn't as fun as the paid version
• Can feel repetitive

Clash Royale is a strategy game available for Windows computers and devices. It features the same motley group of characters you loved from Clash of Clans as well as some similar scenes and action. You can choose the free version as a casual player to have fun when you have free time or opt for the premium version. Paying for the season pass helps you unlock more things to do along with more weapons. The free version offers just as much fun for players of all ages.

Gameplay

This game lets you start each match with three towers. While the tower near the front has a few crowns hidden inside, the two further back have more crowns. Those towers are also home to your king and princess. When you look across the playing field, you'll see that your opponent also has three towers. You have two goals in each match, defend your towers and destroy the other player's towers. Don't assume that this is as easy as it sounds though. It takes a lot of skill to make it through each level. If your opponent knocks out your towers, you lose all of your crowns and the match ends.

Clash Royale is also challenging because you need to keep an eye on the clock. The clock appears in the upper corner of your screen and gives you just three minutes to complete your mission. You need to both defend your towers from the opponent and knock out their towers before your time runs out. Make sure you keep your eyes out for the time cards that pop up on the field. Each time one of your warriors grabs one, you get more time added to the clock.

If the gameplay sounds confusing, don't worry. As soon as you play a few matches, you'll get the hang of things. Clash Royale puts you in control of a simple field with three towers. Each one shows you who is inside and their player level. You can also see the towers your opponent has and who is inside each one. You get both characters and weapons to help you complete your goals. Not only can you change where you place your canons and other weapons, but you can also move your characters around the board. It can take a while before you feel confident finding the right places for all of them.

As you play, you have the chance to fire your weapons and target specific towers as well as send your warriors out to fight. As you work on the towers, look for the red line that appears above each one. This shows you how much damage you did and gives you a good idea of how much more you need to do. While similar games let you set up your base and then leave, Clash Royale happens in real-time. You only need to devote three minutes of your time to a quick match.

Unlock New Arenas

Playing on the same field multiple times can make a game feel boring. That's why the minds behind Clash Royale give you the chance to unlock new arenas and find new challenges in each one. One arena puts you in the center of a fiery pit with huge ogres trying to keep your opponent's towers safe. While they add some more challenges, you'll have fun figuring out how to get around them and demolish the towers before your time runs out.

Find New Cards

One thing that sets Clash Royale apart from other strategy battle games is that it lets you collect and unlock new cards. You'll find a variety of cards scattered across each level. Every time one of your guys walks over one, it appears in your collection. Many cards show you two options and let you pick which one you want. You might have the choice between an upgrade for one of your players or a new weapon. Other cards allow you to level up your characters. Every time you hit a different level, you unlock a new weapon or a bonus like money to spend in the game.

When you play Clash Royale for the first time, you have a basic deck of cards that limits what you can do to defend your towers. This deck also includes just a few characters. As you find new cards, you expand your collection and your battle deck. The main menu allows you to check out your battle deck and see the level of each card you have. This helps you come up with the right strategy for each level that includes the right weapons and warriors.

Play Special Events

Both the PC version and app version of Clash Royale give you access to special events. These events only run for a limited time, which usually ranges from a few days to a full week. During these events, you pick two cards you want to use in each match. As you compete, you can pick up the new cards you see on the field at the same time you knock down your opponent's towers. The top of your screen shows you all of the cards that are available during the event. You'll want to keep an eye on them to make sure you complete the full deck before the event ends.

Clash Royale also allows you to play with your friends as long as you have an internet connection. You need to pick a username when you set up the game and then go online to search for your friends by their usernames. Once you add them to your team, they can help you get through some of the tricky levels that you have trouble completing on your own.

Players have some problems with Clash Royale though. One issue is that you need to use microtransactions to get further. While you can stick to the free version, you won't get as far as if you paid for upgrades in the game. Clash Royale has a tendency of assigning players at different levels to the same match. When you start out at Level 1, playing against a Level 6 player is tough. It also makes it hard for you to upgrade and get to a higher level.

Cons

Some players also found that the game feels boring once they hit a higher level. At the highest levels, you lose some of your trophies when you lose a match. You might lose 30 trophies during one battle and only win 20 the next time you play. This makes it very hard to both level up and retain your level, which also makes it harder to defeat your opponents. You also need to stay connected to make sure you don't miss any of the new updates.

Bottom Line

Fans of Clash of Clans will have just as much fun playing Clash Royale. You'll love that you can collect cards and upgrade your players as much as you love the special events and the ability to play online with friends. Have fun coming up with the right strategy for each match and event when you download Clash Royale.

Pros

• Easy to play
• Lets you collect cards and unlock new cards
• You can play with your friends online
• Available as a free or premium/paid game
• Suitable for most ages
• Gives you access to special events
• Updates are available to keep the fun going

Cons

• Hard to level up
• Includes a lot of microtransactions
• Free version isn't as fun as the paid version
• Can feel repetitive