# Empires & Puzzles: Match-3 RPG — Hero fantasy with story & PvP

> Match-3 RPG with hero collection, base building, and PvP combat. (iPhone/iPad app by Small Giant Games.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empires-and-puzzles-match-3-rpg/id1117841866 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Small Giant Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/791124596)
- Category: Games, Casual, Puzzle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 101,644 App Store ratings · 2,935 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 315 MB
- Languages: Korean, Dutch, Danish, German (Germany), Russian, Norwegian Bokmål, Swedish, European Spanish, Arabic, American English and 7 more
- Released: 2019-04-23
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empires-and-puzzles-match-3-rpg/id1117841866/reviews.md

## What is Empires & Puzzles?

Empires & Puzzles is an innovative match-3 puzzle game where puzzle-solving meets deep fantasy RPG, combining RPG elements, PvE quests, and base-building — topped off with epic head to head duels that range from riveting 1v1 Raids to large-scale 100v100 Wars. 

• Match-3 battles with real strategy
Match Shields to deal damage and power up each Hero's Special Skill, then unleash combos at the perfect moment. Learn the five-element color wheel and turn the board into your weapon. Achieve huge combos to take down even the most powerful enemies!

• Explore richly themed worlds — plus many dozens of mythical quests
Prepare for an epic match-3 adventure that will take you through all sorts of worlds for a genuine RPG experience! Will your team be strong and sturdy enough to sail stormy seas, fend against underworld monsters, crawl through sandy dungeons, and slay titanic dragons — while also making tons of new friends along the way?

• Hero Collection
Hundreds of legendary heroes and dozens of mighty troops await collection — summon new allies to bolster your team and unlock new strategy options! Each hero comes with their own unique stats and skills — discover hero synergies and unlock their strengths to victory.

• Base-building
Rebuild the ruins of a mighty castle and turn it into your own war fortress! A finely built Stronghold will provide all the tools you need to gather resources, level up armies, craft useful items, train your heroes, and serve as a place of refuge as you fight the forces of evil.

• Play together
Join an Alliance and team up with other real players to get the best rewards in the game! Strong bonds will naturally form and evolve once you start playing together — whether it be fighting epic titans, strategizing in multiplayer wars, exploring treacherous islands full of monsters, or competing in Alliance Quests, you'll improve at the game, earn awesome rewards, and make friends along the way.

• Farming, crafting, upgrading
Make sure your team is well-prepared for all the adventures out there! Level up your Stronghold and gather valuable resources — such as Dragon Bones and Meteor Fragments — to craft legendary weapons that will help your heroes make it through even the toughest battles.

• Amazing graphics
This puzzle RPG is set in a beautifully rendered fantasy world — you'll marvel at the stunning details of countless monsters, dragons, and other fantasy creatures! Your heroes' powerful magic spells will not only dazzle your eyes but also dramatically turn the tides of wars.

• Train and dress up
Unlike in ordinary hero card games, you can level up your "deck" of heroes — and even evolve their power further by equipping them with costumes that add to their power! The vast fantasy world of Empires & Puzzles will present a wide array of challenges; you'll want to build an army that can tackle any opponent that comes your way.

Empires & Puzzles is the perfect game for:
 - those who get bored with casual match-3 games like Candy Crush and Royal Match
 - those who used to play hardcore RPG games such as Raid Shadow Legends and Diablo but didn't want to make the time investment
 - those who are looking for a new long-term game that can turn into a lifelong hobby
 - those who are looking for real connections with other players. The official E&P Discord server has tons of alliances searching for members and they might just be looking for you!

Empires & Puzzles has gotten over 100 million downloads and has unique and varied live events running everyday.

Start building your Empire today — download Empires & Puzzles and forge your legend!

Follow us:
http://www.empiresandpuzzles.com

Empires & Puzzles is FREE to download and includes optional in-game purchases (including random items). Information about drop rates for random item purchases can be found in-game. If you wish to disable in-game purchases, please turn off the in-app purchases in your phone or tablet’s Settings.

## Key features

- Match-3 combat with combos
- Build and upgrade a war fortress
- Summon hundreds of heroes and troops
- PvP battles against other players
- Raid mighty Titans with alliances
- Level up heroes and buildings

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Barrel of Gems | $29.99 | one-time |
| Pile of Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Mountain of Gems | $99.99 | one-time |
| Challenge Offer | $0.99 | one-time |
| 30 Day VIP Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Atlantis Offer | $1.99 | one-time |
| Wardrobe Wonders! | $2.99 | one-time |
| Challenge Offers - Day 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Valor Pass | $9.99 | one-time |
| Valhalla Offer - Forever 3 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Legends' Prime Offer! | $2.99 | one-time |


## Chart rankings

- #164 in Top Grossing · Games (US App Store)
- #54 in Top Grossing · Casual (US App Store)
- #60 in Top Grossing · Puzzle (US App Store)

## What do users think of Empires & Puzzles?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 🤝 Great alliance features
- 💎 Generous free rewards
- 🎨 Awesome character designs

**Cons**

- 💰 Overly aggressive monetization
- 🕰️ Slow progression for free players
- 🎲 Unreliable gacha system
- 🤖 Unfair matchmaking

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes
- Disappearing or lost heroes
- Inconsistent tile generation
- Inaccurate power level indicators

**Most requested features**

- Ability to trade or exchange heroes
- Faster upgrade and ascension timers
- More transparent drop rates for summons
- Improved alliance chat and coordination tools

## Recent user reviews (10 of 2,935)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empires-and-puzzles-match-3-rpg/id1117841866/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Nice

*2026-08-19, version 87.0.3*

Decent game

### 1/5 — Many useless rewards, progress is fleeting

*2026-08-18, version 87.0.3*

This game is fun enough at first, even though it is constantly bombarding you with ads. It seems to be trying to get you to pay real money for in-game things that aren‘t that valuable and aren‘t a sure thing. So even if you wanted to pay real money for in-game stuff, all the deals are gyps. And it‘s constantly throwing new overpowered foes at you, why your ability to get good characters is severely limited.

### 5/5 — Игра классная затягивает

*2026-08-18, version 87.0.3*

Но проблема не могу зайти висит соединение потом пишет проблема с интернетом неделю назад все нормально было

### 5/5 — Empires

*2026-08-18, version 87.0.3*

I honestly love this game, it’s just amazing I can’t explain it enough but just play the game!!

### 5/5 — More Challenging than most

*2026-08-18, version 87.0.3*

Fun

### 1/5 — Scam points on fetch

*2026-08-17, version 87.0.3*

Don’t play for Fetch points. They create a lot of bonus for reach level but never let you get them even you reached. So scam and waste time

### 1/5 — Save you money

*2026-08-16, version 87.0.3*

Simply do not get hooked on paying for this game. Heroes are exponentially stronger every week so if you get hooked, and pay to play, you will pay forever. Been playing for over 7 years, I’ve paid to play, then tried what the developers claim is possible, did not pay to play, and let me tell ya, it is impossible to keep up, unless you quit your day job and dedicate every minute of the day to the repetitive stages of the game. There’s nothing fun if you’re not paying, if you are paying, you’ll shall pay forever otherwise you’re irrelevant. Be warned, do not pay.

### 5/5 — It’s good

*2026-08-15, version 87.0.3*

Easy fun

### 4/5 — Great game but heavy in-app purchase pressure

*2026-08-15, version 87.0.3*

Game is really fun, but to be successful, you have to purchase. If you grind, it takes a really long time.

### 5/5 — Awesome

*2026-08-13, version 87.0.3*

Chub in bound

## Frequently asked questions about Empires & Puzzles

### What is Empires & Puzzles?

Empires & Puzzles is a mobile game that combines match-3 puzzle mechanics with role-playing game (RPG) elements. Players engage in tactical battles by matching tiles, collect and upgrade heroes, build and fortify their stronghold, and participate in player-versus-player (PvP) combat.

### What are the key features of this game?

Key features include engaging match-3 battles that send troops into action, the ability to build and rebuild a war fortress, collecting hundreds of heroes and troops, raiding other players in PvP duels, leveling up heroes and buildings, teaming up with alliances to fight Titans, and enjoying detailed graphics in a fantasy world.

### Is Empires & Puzzles free to play?

Yes, Empires & Puzzles is free to download and play. It does include optional in-game purchases, which can include random items. Players can disable in-game purchases by adjusting their device's settings.

### What kind of gameplay can I expect?

You can expect a blend of strategic puzzle-solving and RPG progression. Battles are won by making effective match-3 combos, which power up your heroes and troops. Outside of combat, you'll focus on building your base, collecting and upgrading your hero roster, and engaging in both PvE and PvP content.

### Can I play with other people?

Yes, the game features thrilling PvP duels where you can battle against players from around the world. Additionally, you can team up with other players in alliances to fight powerful Titans together, fostering a cooperative community aspect.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 88.0.1 — 2026-08-26

∙ Get bonus draws and preview a new Hero family in Harvest Festival!
∙ Not happy with your newly summoned Hero? Get a free reroll in the updated Legends Summon
∙ Dragons battle demons for Hero loot in a challenging new quest!
∙ Various improvements and bug fixes

### 88.0.0 — 2026-08-19

∙ Kalevala is back with new Heroes and Costumes
∙ Call the Garrison Guard! Goblin Village has been overrun by Scoundrels!
∙ Play through the epic conclusion of our first Dragon Adventure
∙ Various improvements and bug fixes

### 87.0.3 — 2026-07-22

∙ Kalevala is back with new Heroes and Costumes
∙ Call the Garrison Guard! Goblin Village has been overrun by Scoundrels!
∙ Play through the epic conclusion of our first Dragon Adventure
∙ Various improvements and bug fixes

### 87.0.2 — 2026-07-13

∙ Kalevala is back with new Heroes and Costumes
∙ Call the Garrison Guard! Goblin Village has been overrun by Scoundrels!
∙ Play through the epic conclusion of our first Dragon Adventure
∙ Various improvements and bug fixes

### 87.0.1 — 2026-07-01

∙ Kalevala is back with new Heroes and Costumes
∙ Call the Garrison Guard! Goblin Village has been overrun by Scoundrels!
∙ Play through the epic conclusion of our first Dragon Adventure
∙ Various improvements and bug fixes

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## More apps by Small Giant Games

- [Puzzle Combat: RPG Match 3](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzle-combat-rpg-match-3/id1455487903)
- [Defend the Castle: Card TD](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/defend-the-castle-card-td/id6743485492)

All apps by Small Giant Games: https://appshunter.io/developer/791124596

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*