Customer Reviews (100)

Matthew Elliot • 2025-03-24T23:20:00.584Z

I got banned because of a purchase error they made. They won't even let me make a new account.

Jack “Jackie Boy” Wilson • 2025-03-24T19:55:04.417Z

Still no answer! 14/03/25 HALLO! SINCE 1th of January '25 I stopped getting my G•Play pts (Gold status x1,2!). I've already spent over 25 Euro this year for IN GAME BUYS... but haven't received NOT ONE point. What's going on. 1 month later, still nothing! HELP, please!

Christina Edwards • 2025-03-24T18:47:21.498Z

The developer of this game, has a winner! The game is colorful and engaging. I haven't won any money yet but I'll keep you all updated. It's worth trying, compared to other games I've played. 😊

Summary of Key Insights

Empires & Puzzles: Dragon Dawn receives mixed reviews, with a significant polarization between positive and negative experiences. While many users find the game engaging, fun, and enjoy the match-3 puzzle gameplay combined with RPG elements, a substantial portion express frustration over aggressive monetization, perceived unfairness in gameplay (rigged boards, low drop rates), and poor customer support. The "pay-to-win" aspect is a recurring theme in negative reviews, overshadowing the positive aspects for some players. The overall sentiment is cautiously optimistic, but the monetization strategy poses a significant threat to long-term player retention and enjoyment. The quantitative metrics reflect this divide, with a large number of both 5-star and 1-star reviews.

Overall Rating: Not explicitly provided, but can be calculated based on score distribution. Score Distribution: 1-star (22%), 2-star (4%), 3-star (9%), 4-star (10%), 5-star (55%)

Key Strengths: Engaging gameplay, fun combination of match-3 and RPG elements, visually appealing graphics.

Key Weaknesses: Aggressive monetization ("pay-to-win"), perceived unfairness in gameplay (rigged boards, low drop rates for desirable characters), poor customer support, bugs and technical issues.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be recent based on the version number (75.0.1) and review dates (e.g., 14/03/25 HALLO! SINCE 1th of January '25).
  • Analysis Methods: Manual sentiment analysis and keyword extraction to identify recurring themes, pain points, and positive aspects.

Key User Pain Points

  • Aggressive Monetization / "Pay-to-Win": This is the most significant and frequently mentioned pain point. Users feel pressured to spend money to progress, obtain desirable characters, and compete effectively. Many believe the game is rigged to encourage spending.
  • Poor Drop Rates: Users complain about extremely low drop rates for 4-star and 5-star heroes, making it difficult to build a competitive team without spending a significant amount of money.
  • Rigged Gameplay / Unfairness: Many users believe the game is rigged, particularly in raids, to favor opponents or create unfavorable board combinations, leading to frustration and a sense of unfairness.
  • Poor Customer Support: Several users report unresponsive or unhelpful customer support, particularly regarding account issues, purchase errors, and bug reports.
  • Bugs and Technical Issues: Some users report bugs, such as lost items, game crashes, and inability to connect to the server.
  • Loss of Progress: Some users experienced the loss of their heroes, paid items, and progress after reinstalling the game.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Increased Drop Rates: Users want higher drop rates for rare and powerful heroes, especially from summons.
  • More Favorable Resource Acquisition: Users want easier ways to acquire ascension materials and resources without spending money.
  • Improved Hero Academy: Users suggest increasing the chance of getting costumes in Hero Academy 10 or reducing the materials needed to swap 5-star heroes.
  • Option to Turn Off Hints: One user requested an option to disable in-game hints.
  • Custom Avatar Upload: One user requested the ability to use a custom avatar.
  • Fix Wifi Issues: One user requested a fix for wifi connectivity issues.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Engaging Gameplay: Many users find the match-3 puzzle gameplay combined with RPG elements to be fun and engaging.
  • Visually Appealing Graphics: Users appreciate the detailed monsters, fantasy creatures, and visual effects.
  • Addictive Nature: Some users find the game highly addictive and enjoyable.
  • Alliance System: The ability to play together and fight Titans with an Alliance is a positive aspect for many users.
  • Strategic Depth: Some users appreciate the strategic depth of the game, beyond just simple match-3 mechanics.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Re-evaluate Monetization Strategy: Address the "pay-to-win" perception by adjusting the monetization strategy to be less aggressive and more balanced. Consider offering more avenues for free-to-play players to progress and acquire desirable characters.
  • Improve Drop Rates: Increase the drop rates for rare heroes to make the game more rewarding for both paying and non-paying players. Transparency regarding drop rates would also be beneficial.
  • Enhance Customer Support: Invest in improving customer support to provide timely and helpful assistance to users experiencing issues. Prioritize resolving account problems and addressing bug reports.

Medium Priority:

  • Address Perceived Rigged Gameplay: Review and adjust the game's algorithms to ensure fairness and prevent the perception of rigged boards or unfair matchups.
  • Fix Bugs and Technical Issues: Prioritize fixing reported bugs and technical issues to improve the overall user experience.
  • Implement Requested Features: Consider implementing some of the frequently requested features, such as an option to turn off hints, custom avatar upload, and improvements to the Hero Academy.

Low Priority:

  • Continue to introduce new content and heroes to keep the game fresh and engaging.
  • Monitor user feedback and address any emerging issues or concerns.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Fairer Mobile RPG: A mobile RPG that prioritizes skill and strategy over aggressive monetization, offering a truly balanced and rewarding experience for all players.
  • Transparent Gacha System: A gacha game with completely transparent drop rates and mechanisms to ensure fairness and prevent the perception of manipulation.
  • AI-Powered Customer Support for Mobile Games: An AI-powered customer support solution specifically designed for mobile games, capable of providing instant and personalized assistance to users.

Trends and Observations

  • Polarization of Reviews: A significant number of users either love the game (5-star) or hate it (1-star), suggesting a strong divide in player experiences.
  • "Pay-to-Win" as a Dominant Theme: The "pay-to-win" aspect is a recurring theme in negative reviews, indicating a serious issue with the game's monetization strategy.
  • Customer Support Concerns: Multiple users have raised concerns about the quality and responsiveness of customer support.
  • Technical Issues Impacting Gameplay: Reports of bugs, crashes, and connectivity problems suggest a need for improved quality assurance and technical stability.

Conclusion

Empires & Puzzles: Dragon Dawn has the potential to be a highly successful mobile game, but its aggressive monetization strategy and perceived unfairness are hindering its long-term growth and player satisfaction. Addressing these issues by re-evaluating the monetization model, improving drop rates, enhancing customer support, and fixing bugs is crucial to improving the overall user experience and fostering a more positive community. Without these changes, the game risks losing players to competitors who offer a fairer and more rewarding experience.

Overall Recommendation: While the core gameplay is engaging and enjoyable for many, the current monetization strategy is detrimental. The developers should prioritize addressing the "pay-to-win" perception and improving customer support to ensure long-term success.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smallgiantgames.empires