Is it worth playing?
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As far as historical strategy mobile games go, Game of Sultans pioneers the genre practically, along with several other titles, at least on the mobile market. This game has it all – consorts, viziers, heirs, unions, armies, and the whole shebang packed into the not so familiar strategy simulation Empire RPG. And, we say ‘not so familiar’ because it truly has some unique moments, from the way it looks and presents itself, to the way many of the mechanics are handled. And, that is not all for despite some mixed feedback, this game has managed to build up quite a wide community, adding the MMO next to RPG, but in a very peculiar setting.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Development and reception
It was developed by Mechanist Games and GoS is arguably their #1 game…
The game was developed and published by Mechanist Internet Technologies, co. Ltd. or just Mechanist Games. They are based in Xiamen, China, but are an internationally present studio, with subsidiaries in New Zealand and the US, among others. They are behind such titles as War Clash, Heroes of Skyrealm, City of Steam, and Spirit Guardian, which are mostly respectful titles, but it is arguably their #1 game.
It scored 3.9 stars on Google Play and 4 stars on the iTunes App Store. Game of Sultans release date was back in 2018 and the initial mixed feedback was partly for the game did not fall into the standard mobile strategies popular during that time or earlier, like Game of War or Mobile Strike. Also, it was pretty advanced in terms of graphics and engine, thus reducing the target audience circle by a large margin, for the game was a bit too much for an average Smartphone 2 years ago. Thus far, average mobile tech has caught up and the game was tweaked with constant updates, achieving widespread critical and commercial success.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Atmosphere
GoS is a historical game set in the old Ottoman Empire Era…
Firstly, GoS is a historical game, with historically accurate Turkish Folklore. It is set in the old Ottoman Empire Era, in Turkey, and you control one of the many Sultans, as you try to rise to power, above all others. Here, you’ll see all of the Ottoman Empire hallmarks, like Harems, the soldier caste known as the janissary which the Ottomans supplemented by taking away firstborn sons of the conquered peoples, and other stuff.
The player comes in as the son of a dying Sultan. Fresh on the throne, you are acquainted with your duties and game mechanics, through beautifully looking animated models and even some dramatic storyline moments. However, the story is not that developed as the game is aimed as a re-playable multiplayer competitive experience more than a single-player campaign play.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Gameplay
The gameplay takes you through various rooms and places i.e. screens, with different purposes and roles, like your Harem, living quarters, army screen, and many more…
As an MMORPG, GoS has multiple servers you are assigned to when you first begin. You may change this of course, but certain progress is tied to the respective server and cannot be transferred. You can join a union on your server, which is composed of real players from all corners of the world. However, competition is the main aspect of playing in a massively multiplayer environment with all strategy games on mobiles, and here it’s no different. Also, there are cross-server in-game events offered in limited periods.
GoS has dedicated a fair amount of effort to develop the social aspect for all of the servers are worldwide. No server is region-oriented. The way this is achieved is that the game has a decent translation feature built-in for better communication. Besides unions, players can socialize in chat rooms, with censoring of course, and many other aspects.
The gameplay takes you through various rooms and places i.e. screens, all part of your kingdom, with different purposes and roles, like your Harem, living quarters, army screen, and many more. Of course, you also have battles you watch unfold in an idle gameplay style, but with lots of cinematic and dramatic moments. However, the focus is on the out-of-combat gameplay. Also, as with similar strategies, there are events, quests, awards, achievements, progression in endless aspects, development, tech, etc…
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Graphics
As mentioned, when game came out in 2018, it was one of the visually most advanced strategy games for mobile phones…
As mentioned, when Game of Sultans came out in 2018, it was one of the visually most advanced strategy games for mobile phones. And, it remains very impressive today. The animations and models are incredibly crisp and polished up, with the characters moving in a motion comic style, which is not much but it makes them feel more lively and enhanced the atmosphere, as do the impeccable backgrounds, terrains, and stuff. In combat, this game looks like an advanced version of some PC strategy games like Age of Empires.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Tech Compatibility
This advanced visual aspect, however, does have a drawback in terms of tech requirements…
This advanced visual aspect, however, does have a drawback in terms of tech requirements. As mentioned, GoS was putting a strain on an average Smartphone in 2018, which is largely why people have had such a negative experience with it. Since then, the average level of Smartphone tech has advanced, so it is now a perfectly accessible game. The iOS version requires iOS 9.0 or later, while the Android users will need Android 4.1 and up.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Free-to-play friendly
Serious competitive play is not possible without spending real-money, in our opinion…
It is a familiar phenomenon to mobile gamers that mobile strategy games rely heavily on microtransactions. The game itself is free and requires no real money spending if you want to play it, even in late-game stages. However, competitive play, as with all other similar mobile games, can eat out your wallets fast. In-app products range in pricing from $0.99 to $99.99 and they are mostly for Crystals, the game’s premium currency, as well as top-ups and boosts, with monthly VIP-like cards and other stuff. Serious competitive play is not possible without spending real-money, in our opinion.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Verdict
As a game that has over 10 million installs on Android and as much on iOS, it is an underrated MMORPG strategy simulation game…
As a game that has over 10 million installs on Android and as much on iOS, Game of Sultans is an underrated MMORPG strategy simulation game. It doesn’t get nearly the publication Game of War or Mobile Strike and similar games have had in their time, yet it has managed to build up a community just as wide, if not wider. It is fun, competitive, pleasant to look at, well-thought-out, and free-to-play. As long as you don’t get too addicted and competitive about it, it is one of the best titles in this particular genre blend currently.
Game of Sultans Guides
How to improve your gaming experience and gameplay…
In this second part of this page we dedicated to GoS, we have gathered intel from the community, Reddit, and other sources to compile helpful guides. We particularly focused on seven most commonly asked questions about the game, throughout the player community.
Use the links below to jump to the guide sections.
FAST LINKS:
- How to use grain?
- How to use energy orb?
- How to increase talent?
- How to leave a union?
- How to get VIP?
- How to increase charm?
How to use grain?
In Game of Sultans, grain is an essential resource like in many similar strategy games set in similar periods. Here it is used for soldiers’ levy, meaning it directly determines how your army size. You obtain grain from leveling in Imperial Affairs, Imperial Parliament, from various events, and even from some items. Boosting your Politics attribute will increase your Grain levy. Good resource management is crucial in all aspects of the game, and thus you should invest as much attention in other resources as you do in Politics. The grain is counted as a political sub-resource and you should only be careful not to run out of it.
How to use energy orb?
Energy orbs are used to restore energy, needed for visiting your Consorts and other NPCs in the Masquerade. They are obtained through main quests, achievements, events, and purchased at the store. There are other types of Orbs, all with different purposes, but still similar to this one, like Vitality Orbs that restore Vitality. You should first use free chances if you have some available, before using your orbs. To use them, you should:
- Go to the Masquerade screen
- Tap the recovery icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen
- Tap to use energy
How to increase talent?
Viziers play a major part in your rule as a Sultan and their talents are what makes all the difference when you are choosing which to level up. Increasing talent in a Vizier is done by simply tapping on the portrait of a Vizier you chose to improve, taping on the Develop icon, and then viewing the talents that particular Vizier has and improving the ones you like. However, leveling up a Vizier and improving their talents are two separate things. While their talents do increase in stats with each new level, you can improve the Talent early on, to get the most out of your Vizier.
Improving a talent will require an Enhance Badge and each talent type has its own: Military, Political, Prestige, and Research. Each Enhance Badge has a basic chance of 25% to improve the talent actually, which is an average of 1 out of 4. Enhance Badges are then very important to obtain from wherever you can, and you get them from opening Badge Packs, awarded from campaign progress or events. You can also use Book XP to improve a Vizier’s talent with a 100% success change, which is gained from limited-time in-game events, like the Consume Gold event, or by sending the Vizier to the Academy.
How to leave a union?
In Game of Sultans, you forge unions instead of joining guilds. Being in a Union can have several benefits, besides having allies. If you create your own or join another Union, you’ll have access to union quests and rewards, which is pretty standard in these types of games. Your allies and you can contribute together and reap the benefits, but you can also an option to contribute Diamonds and earn Silver Coins. Just click on the redeem tab and see what goodies you can buy with them. However, here, there is another benefit to it – the Exploration Feature.
To leave a Union, you do it in two different ways. If you are a leader of a Union, you need to transfer leadership to another sultan first, or you can disband an entire union. If you are a member of a Union, just go to the Union screen and find the Leave Union icon. There is a 24-hour ban on joining another union after you leave one. Being in a Union gives unprecedented benefits, like the option to send a Vizier on a Union Voyage. Since leveling up your viziers is crucial, this is a very important feature. You can send one Vizier for free, while you can spend a PvE seal to add another one. Completing a Union Voyage will grant you free rewards and experience.
How to get VIP?
Currently, there are 13 VIP levels in GoS, all for purchase. Doing microtransactions i.e. purchasing something in-game, will yield a certain amount of VIP points. Accumulating enough will earn you a VIP level. For example, you need 499 points for VIP level 1, 1,999 for VIP level 2, etc… VIP levels will yield Vizier bonuses and unlock some strong Viziers and Consorts. They will also yield numerous other rewards, like silver and gold earrings, agate and emerald rings, various packs, and other stuff.
How to increase charm?
Charm is one of the two Consorts’ traits, the other being Intimacy. Consorts are very important to produce Heirs, and for providing valuable bonuses of course. As a Sultan, you encounter Consorts in the area known as the Masquerade. When you keep seeing the same Consort over and over again, your intimacy level with her will increase, allowing you to marry her eventually. Married Consorts are then moved to your Harem, though you continue the Masquerade. Consorts gain experience when you visit them, which can be used to improve Viziers even. As far as the Consorts stats go, Intimacy increases attributes of Heirs you produce with them, while Charm determines how much experience the Consort gains with your every visit. Higher VIP enables more upgrades and limits.