Become a ruler.
Build your kingdom..
Lead a massive army and conquer rival nations?
Kingdoms & Lords was a real-time strategy game from Gameloft, but it disappeared from the Play Store in 2018.
It thrived for a while - 5 million players accepted the kingship. But then it faded into oblivion. Why did Kingdoms & Lords gain so much fame, and why did it disappear from the Play Store in 2018? Let’s go back to its golden age… and explore its downfall.
This article explores every aspect of Kingdoms & Lords, from its gameplay mechanics to its strengths and weaknesses, giving you a full understanding of what made this game so special and what ultimately led to its disappearance.
Game Overview: Build, Conquer, Rule
Kingdoms & Lords is a medieval-themed strategy game where players start with a small village and slowly expand it into a powerful military empire. The game blends city-building, resource management, and tactical warfare, offering a casual yet engaging experience for strategy lovers.
The Rise of Real-Time Strategy Games
Real-time strategy (RTS) games hold a prominent place in gaming history, with classic games like Warcraft, Dune, and Command & Conquer setting the standard. More recently, mobile games like Clash of Clans have popularized the genre on smartphones. Kingdoms & Lords follows the same trend and offers a unique blend of empire-building and warfare for mobile players.
The Three Pillars of Power
- Build your kingdom - farms, barracks, stables - every structure mattered. No king ruled with starvation, so managing crops and gold was crucial.
- Train your army - swordsmen, archers, cavalry - every unit had its own strengths and weaknesses. But battles were turn-based, making combat simple but superficial.
- Conquer and make allies - Raid rivals, send gifts to friends, and form alliances. Social PvP kept players busy... until the pay-to-win strategy ruined the fun.
Cracks in the Castle Walls
1. The curse of microtransactions
"Diamonds" (the premium currency) ruled all:
- Eliminate wait times (buildings, troops, upgrades).
- Dominate PvP by spending more on opponents.
- Players who played for free were put off - progress was slowed down drastically unless they paid.
2. Shallow battles, repetitive drudgery
- Battles were like rock-paper-scissors (cavalry > archers > infantry > cavalry). No deep strategy, just coercion or paying to win.
- Endgame? Just raid, rebuild, repeat. Many players quit when the drudgery became more than the fun.
3. Downfall: Why it disappeared
In 2018, Kingdoms & Lords disappeared from the Play Store. Possible reasons:
- Decline in player numbers (due to fatigue with paying to win).
- Gameloft is focusing on new games.
- Outdated mechanics - mobile gamers wanted a more immersive experience.
Conclusion
Kingdoms & Lords was an entertaining mix of city-building and combat, ideal for casual players looking for a light-hearted strategy experience. However, its heavy monetization, repetitive combat, and eventual removal from the App Store limited its long-term success.
If you like games like Clash of Clans but prefer a medieval setting, Kingdoms & Lords could have been a great alternative. For now, it remains a nostalgic tale in the history of mobile strategy gaming.
