Having an angry character shouting as a logo for an Android game seems to be the trend these days, and Clash Royale follows this tradition. This game is simply everywhere, from YouTube and Instagram ads to billboards, and you have probably already heard of it elsewhere.
Card collection meets real-time strategy
Clash Royale is a mashup of different genres. It's sort of a collectable card game where the cards you collect actually represent units you use to fight in real-time strategy battles on a battlefield consisting of two lanes. Each player possesses two Crown Towers and a King Tower, which you need to protect while trying to destroy your opponent's base.Deploying units and managing Elixir
Core game modes include 1v1 and 2v2, making it a great game to play with a friend. You and the opponent start with a full bar of Elixir, which regenerates over time. Each card costs a specific amount of Elixir to play, and it can be placed anywhere on your half of the battlefield, unless you have destroyed one of the opponent's towers, in which case the available placement area becomes bigger.Building a winning strategy
Units move automatically down the closest lane and attack targets based on their specific behavior. Each card behaves differently, which forces you to come up with a strategy. They have their own strengths and weaknesses, and you have to manage your deck successfully in order to beat skilled opponents.Match duration and tiebreakers
Standard matches last three minutes, with Elixir generation doubling during the final minute. If the score is tied, the game proceeds into a two-minute sudden-death overtime, where the first player to destroy a tower wins. If it is still a draw, a tiebreaker rapidly drains tower health until the one with the lowest health falls.Progression and monetization
There are some in-app purchases, which usually mean you get to upgrade your units faster and open chests more often, but the game can't be considered pay-to-win. There are many different aspects with clans, trophies, and leveling up. Chest opening received the biggest backlash, as better chests can take up to 24 hours to open. Still, it's the biggest thing you can pay for!
