This Rise of Kingdoms review looks at Lilith Games’ real-time strategy MMO eight years after its mobile debut, now on version 1.1.12 and playable on Windows PC through an official client. It launched on iOS and Android in May 2018 as Rise of Civilizations, took its current name in March 2019, and reached Windows and Mac on April 6, 2022. The pitch is simple: pick a historical civilization, grow a clan into an empire, and fight it out with thousands of other players on one huge, seamless map.
The PC version is free on Windows. Play Rise of Kingdoms free on Windows PC.
Key Takeaways
- Free to play on Windows PC, Apple silicon Macs, iOS and Android, developed and published by Lilith Games
- 15 playable civilizations, each with its own starting commander and special unit
- Battles play out in real time on the world map, and anyone can join or leave a fight while it’s running
- Store ratings sit at 4.5 stars on both the App Store (188K ratings) and Google Play (2.55M reviews, 50M+ downloads)
- The biggest criticism, from critics and players alike, is pay-to-win pressure in the late game
Civilizations and the Seamless World Map
You start by choosing one of 15 civilizations: China, Greece, Rome, Germany, Britain, the Vikings, Egypt, France, Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire, Arabia, Spain, Korea, Japan or the Maya. Each comes with a starting commander and a unique unit. China gets Sun Tzu and the Chu-Ko-Nu crossbowman, Rome gets Scipio Africanus and the Legionary, Germany gets Hermann and the Teutonic Knight. My Rise of Kingdoms beginner guide covers which one to pick.
What sets the game apart is the map. Everything happens on one enormous world shared with other players and NPCs, with no separate battle screens. Lilith’s “infinite zoom” lets you pinch from your own city out to the full kingdom view. Fog covers the map at the start, so you send scouts to uncover lost temples, barbarian fortresses, caves and tribal villages.
Real-Time Battles and Commanders
Most mobile strategy games send troops along a fixed path and resolve the fight off-screen. Rise of Kingdoms doesn’t. You can give new orders to a march at any moment, retreat from a fight that’s going badly, or send troops into a battle that’s already happening to help an ally. You can also split your army between several commanders and run multiple actions at once. That’s why it feels closer to an RTS than to a timer simulator.
Commanders are the RPG layer. They’re historical figures such as Julius Caesar, Sun Tzu, Joan of Arc and Kusunoki Masashige, and each one levels up through battles and a talent tree. Pairing the right primary and secondary commander matters more than raw troop count once you reach the late game. My Rise of Kingdoms tier list covers which commanders are worth your sculptures right now.
Alliances, KvK and the Current Season
Alliances are where the game lives. The Google Play listing highlights live chat with built-in translation, officer roles and map markers for coordinating attacks. Alliances claim territory, capture mountain passes and fight for control of their kingdom.
The long-term goal is Kingdom vs Kingdom, or KvK. According to PocketGamer, you need a City Hall at level 16 or higher and must finish the Eve of Crusade event to unlock the Lost Kingdom, where alliances from several kingdoms push toward the Lost Ziggurat in the center. KvK runs in seasons: KvK 1, 2 and 3, then the ongoing Season of Conquest.
Lilith keeps changing these modes. The August 27, 2026 anniversary update moved the level 4 and 8 pass openings in Warriors Unbound and the level 4 and 6 passes in Siege of Orléans to Fridays and Saturdays. Version 1.1.12.20, released September 22, adjusted season matchmaking and domain rules, added individual season rank rewards, and put five more commanders into the Season of Conquest tavern: Choe Yeong, Shajar al-Durr, John Hunyadi, Philip II and Stephen III. The same patch started the Halloween event series and teased a new event called Radiant Rivalry.
Playing on PC
The official Windows client is a native app, not an emulator, and Lilith promises no lag or disconnects. Two features stand out. A shortcut lets you read alliance messages during a battle without opening the chat panel, and a launcher installs updates in the background. On a large monitor, the zoomable map and real-time marches are much easier to manage than on a phone. Mac players can also install it, but only on Macs with an Apple M1 chip or later.
Monetization and Player Opinion
Rise of Kingdoms is free, with in-app purchases, and the Google Play listing also notes that it contains ads. It’s been extremely profitable: Wikipedia cites more than $3.5 billion in lifetime revenue, and Lilith announced 100 million players in December 2023. The Play Store listing now says 180 million.
That money comes from somewhere. MMOHuts gave the game 2 out of 5, criticizing its monetization and PvP, and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette scored it 4/10 for its pay-to-win model while admitting it’s addictive. Free players can still compete, but top-end commander upgrades are where spending shows.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free on Windows PC with an official native client and background updates
- Real-time battles on one seamless map, with no separate combat screens
- 15 civilizations and a large roster of historical commanders
- Regular updates, with new events, commanders and season changes every few weeks
- Strong alliance tools, including chat with built-in translation
Cons
- Strong pay-to-win pressure in KvK and commander upgrades
- Late-game progress slows sharply without spending
- The Google Play version contains ads on top of in-app purchases
- KvK takes a real time commitment from you and your alliance
Rise of Kingdoms Review Verdict
I’d rate Rise of Kingdoms 7.5/10. Few mobile strategy games have a world map this alive: real-time marches, battles anyone can join, and alliances working across a whole kingdom. The catch is the same one critics named years ago. The deeper you go into KvK, the more spending matters. Play it for the strategy and the alliance politics, not to top the power rankings, and the PC client makes those long sessions far more comfortable. Download Rise of Kingdoms free for Windows PC.
FAQ
Is Rise of Kingdoms free on PC?
Yes. The official Windows client is a free download, with optional in-app purchases.
Who makes Rise of Kingdoms?
Lilith Games develops and publishes it.
Can I play Rise of Kingdoms on Mac?
Yes, but the official site says you need a Mac with an Apple M1 chip or newer.
Is Rise of Kingdoms pay to win?
Many critics and players say spending gives a big edge in KvK. You can play everything free, but top commanders take much longer to max out.
New players should start with my Rise of Kingdoms beginner guide, then check the Rise of Kingdoms tier list before spending sculptures. For another free strategy game, read my Tiles Survive review, or browse the MMO Strategy section. The PC download and Mac requirements are on the official Rise of Kingdoms website.
