Clash Royale
by Rashid Carter
Review Date: November 15, 2019
Runs on: IOS, Android
Publisher: Supercell
Cost: Free, in app purchases up to $99
Fresh, fun and “free” (well sort of); Clash Royale is a free-to-download card strategy experience for your mobile phone (either iOS or Android) that charges you real money to keep playing.
Despite the potential for removing your paycheck (a better name might be “Cash Royale”) I’ve found it to be a gem in the mobile gaming world.
WHAT IS IT?
This is a PVP (Player Vs. Player) experience that is all about collecting — in this case gems and cards. At the time of this review, there are a total of 95 cards — each with a unique set of abilities.
Clans are a great part of Clash Royale because they give you a way to play with real life friends — you know — the human variety. Requesting and donating cards to your clanmates is extremely useful for upgrading cards, collecting gold, and leveling up. Clan wars are a great addition to the game as well, by providing another source to gain cards and gold.
PAY TO WIN: A CRASH COURSE
Pay to win has become a very common concept in any app store, and it is responsible for the daily transfer of billions of dollars of wealth — from players to publishers. If you are unfamiliar with this concept, here is a link explaining the whole ordeal.
Clash Royale is a poster child example of this concept. It can take nearly two years to upgrade your cards and get to the top level if you don’t pay for gems to speed yourself along. With gems, however, you can buy and upgrade cards instantly, giving you an advantage over opponents in the competitive mode, called the ladder. I know — I’ve done it.
Luckily Supercell has added many features to make the leveling and upgrading process easier. You can carry four treasure chests that vary in rarity. You must wait in real time to open these chests which hold cards and gold. There is also a battle pass that costs $5 dollars. The battle pass works just like it does in other games with it such as Fortnite and Apex Legends. It contains chests, gold, trade tokens and tower skins. A new battle pass can be purchased every season.
THE BOTTOM LINE?
With challenges and rotating tournaments, new cards, and frequent balance updates, Clash Royale manages to stay fun and fresh. Be careful though because there is a price to pay, in real world money.
Rating: 9/10
BIO
Rashid Carter is an Interactive Multimedia student and designer at The College of New Jersey. Being an advocate of gaming all his life, he holds a deep passion for the gaming industry.
