Cradle of Empires Match 3 game Reviews

I used to love this game. Customer support was great when I had a glitch. But, I came back to it after a while only to find the timed levels have nearly vanished! And no sign of time plus levels yet... It's super disappointing. The option to favor timed levels was something that made this game really fun, interesting, and unique. Now it's bordering being just another match three game.

Edit: On second thought, dropped my rating to one star because the storyline is also jumbled and impossible to follow. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the order quests unlock in, either. Some of them seem to unlock based on your level, which makes the characters all over the place (for example I had the chief trying to train me and talking about the ship despite the fact that I hadn't finished the quest chain to heal him yet), but other quests seem to unlock based on finishing other quests, so now I have quests that require a building I can't unlock for another three levels. This really needs fixing.

I’m not playing or enjoying this game. I am not going to be waiting for two days for the resources to replenish just so that I can play this game. My time is more valuable than that! It is impossible to enjoy this game ever since the Developers made changes and stole my earned resources. I’ve contacted them several times to have them return the earned resources that they stole from me. The explanation given for taking my earned resources was that the developers had received complaints from other players that there resources were useless. So the developers took my resources and set the limits low, to prove the “complainers” wrong and to show the value of the resources. This explanation does not in any way make the theft of my already earned resources right, fair or acceptable. This is especially true since I can spend real money to buy my resources back! It’s really all about the developers greed and the lack of appreciation or concern for players of the game. The Customer Service person actually had the nerve to say that they hope I keep playing and enjoying the game. Why would I play this game when the developers can just steal my things in the game and lie to me about why they did it. This game was already horrible because it cheats so bad and the storylines are random and never make sense. Now the developers are stealing from the players. DISPICABLE!!!

I have played this game for years & spent quite a bit of $ to get to the level I’m at. Recently, the game has made some changes that have made it more costly & frankly, has me questioning about continuing to play. 1) Setting a maximum amount (340,000) points for each resource. Before the change, I’d accumulated about 32,000,000 on each, which allowed me to obtain bonuses & upgrade the totems, play the Genie, Portal of Worlds, & the Celestial Gate without worrying if I was running out. I WAS NEVER EVEN COMPENSATED FOR THE LOSS OF ALL THOSE POINTS. You could at least have given us crystals in exchange or grandfathered the points in. As I said, I’ve paid a lot to win those resources. Now, I can only upgrade one totem & then have to win a lot more times before I earn enough to upgrade the next. Same for exchanging for bonuses. Can you up the max to at least 1-5 million? 2) The infinity charge used to fill up the energy bar after it expired but now doesn’t. If you want us to play, you should change that back. 3) The Cat’s Meow game - I played it before & got to the Ruby League. It cost too much to play so I’m not continuing. However, the league takes over on the weekends & I’d lose my level if I play any of paw print games. That leaves me with only 2 locations to play for the daily challenge. It’s gotten tedious. Can you set up an opt out of the Cat’s Meow so I can play any location?

Sad to see Awem surrender to the greed bug. They had such great games until they succumbed to the same game everyone in CradleofEmpiresMatch3game Store already has. It’s one thing to make greed your ultimate goal, but it’s another thing to steal from other companies and adopt their same exact model. You have so many moves to complete the level and get the boxes broke and pyramids collected, and if you don’t you can spend diamonds to have another go and if you use up all your diamonds, yup, you guessed it, you can buy more with real money. So tired of these games. At least I can go back to their Cradle series, which I already paid for, and replay those match three games without suffering the constant “Give us your hard earned money! Buy our diamonds!” messages whenever they build a level that is far too hard, and they give you far too few moves, to complete. Folks, you’ve played this game before so many times it’s ridiculous. Why waste your time downloading it. Awem has stolen this model from other companies. There is no more originality left…

This is a game to play in spare time, and instead of focusing on completing collections, I would complete the puzzles within the areas of the village. Much more fulfilling and doable. I am beginning to believe the only way to complete the collections is to buy them, and not win them. And yes, it takes a long time to charge enough lives to play. Expect to let it sit for at least 8 hours to get almost, not all, 350 lives (my current stage). As you progress further, you will need to use the bonus chargers to complete puzzles. I found I have to use them 75% of the time, otherwise, you will use all the lives to play a puzzle, and most likely get no where. And, many times, after completing a puzzle, you may not get the reward hidden in it. You will have to play it and successfully complete the puzzle at least 3x more to get it. I like the game, but you do feel like the rewards are small when you win a lot. I agree with other reviewers too, you should not lose your lives if you win the puzzle. It takes so long to recharge, it would only seem fair since you cannot get the rewards easily anyway when you win. There really is no give in this game. Play when you can (I check in every day just so I don't lose the daily gifts which at week's end, gives something bigger), but do not buy anything. You will end up spending a lot for your frustration, and only have to spend more as you reach higher levels. Good luck!

This game is mildly entertaining... but it has some major issues that make it more frustrating than fun.
1. As you go along, you may need a certain object to move ahead. And, you may be told you have to complete a certain puzzle to get that object. But that's not what happens. Instead you get either an object you don't need or a couple of points to extend your life (and I am talking 2 or 3). You can be directed to puzzle after puzzle for the object you want, but it may take 15 or 25 tries to finally get the right puzzle for the right object (once, it took me 26 winning attempts to get the object I needed).
2. To move forward, you have to complete object sets. But don't be fooled, you're also required to collect ancillary objects that you must stumble upon in play. You can click on "find" and you will be directed to a puzzle that will give you all indications that if you win, you get one of these ancillary objects, but it's a lie. In all the time I've fallen for this ploy, I have never once found the object needed to complete the set. So what happens? Well, if you're anything like me, you end up with scads of unfinished sets, and a thin hope that some day one of them will be completed.
In the end, I've given up on making any real progress and have opted for the thrill of completing a puzzle or two. If you can adopt the same attitude, the game ain't bad.

Let's start with the good: beautiful graphics, good music, nice logic puzzles that can provide a fun intellectual challenge in bite size chunks of time. Now the bad, which takes a little explanation: to advance and open up new puzzles you need to complete collections of items. You win items by completing levels. The problem is that there is no guarantee that you will get the item you played the level to get, even if you win. So let's say you have 11 of 12 items needed to complete a collection; the game tells you to play a particularly difficult level to win the item (I struggle with timed levels and hate the blitz setting); you win the level, but there is a greater than 50/50 chance that you don't get the item (you might even get a pretty much worthless prize, like a fraction of the energy you spent on playing the level, which just rubs salt in the wound). This robs you of the feeling of satisfaction that most games give you for winning the level. Of course, you can relieve the frustration by spending real money to buy the item. I assume that's what the developers designed for. But be careful if you do buy in-game currency. It's way too easy to spend it by mistake. Given the careful attention paid to design elsewhere in the game, I suspect that's also deliberate.

I would give Cradle of empires a 5 star but I’ve been experiencing issues with every time I sign in it has to update. This takes a minute or two to update and sometimes that’s all the time I’ve got to play. Therefore each time it updates I back out and move on to another game. I’ve tried 3 times with Awen and all they say is they see crashes (but those are when I just back out as I don’t want to wait and I’ve explained that) and that I need a better internet connection so try resetting my modem and see if that works. I’ve done this 3 times and each time it doesn’t fix anything. They tell me I need to clear my Cache before I play, it always is. I’ve written to them and each time I get the same response, it’s something I’m doing. I’ve been playing this game for about 4 years, maybe more and I’ve told them if I don’t get the problem fixed then I will be deleting this game. Oops I’m sorry but it’s your fault. Try resetting your internet and clearing your cache or get on another internet. I’m trying very hard to hav onto this game as I don’t want 4 years of build up to go away but I don’t like it having to update each time I play. Hopefully there’s something else they can do but at this time it won’t be long before I delete and don’t come back if some real assistance is offered because obviously I’ve done all I can do on my end. Anyone else have this problem?

I’ve been playing this game for a bit and it is a lot of fun. I love games that are challenging, not easy. Some levels or items can take awhile to obtain, but that’s the beauty of it. If you are looking for instant gratification or you want a game easy enough for a newborn then this is not the game for you.

The only issue I have is since the last update, you either need to be online or allow it access to your data plan. It will use up the data plan! I normally have it off but online when I am home and I normally play the game at work or when standing in a line. I cannot do that anymore and don not want to spend $100 on a data plan.

For the past 24 hours is has required me to be online so it can download content. It has done this 5 tines. This is absurd! You should not have to be online to play the game and it should not require downloading content 5 times in 24 hours! This really needs to be fixed.

The “piggy bank” of gems fills quickly, but the cost is much too high despite their discount. I will spend a buck or two without thinking about it, but paying $12 for jewels that could easily be used up before the day is completed, proves to be too cost prohibitive. Especially since you have to buy everything with those gems. Also, the “prize” after completing one of the multi-layered challenges was some unlimited play time — for 15 minutes! Really, guys?? Instead of a piggy bank, which is a bit lame as so many other games use that incentive, what about being able to earn a period of time when all gems earned by completing levels goes right into our resources instead of the piggy bank. Maybe every time we have unlimited playing time, the gems go right to us. Now THAT would be an incentive worth considering. Especially if there were fairly frequent opportunities to earn the unlimited playing time. And what’s with not being able to “find” relics in some levels despite having three stars and uncovering every single block multiple times?

I would have given this game more stars but I am getting sick of all these “free” games that end up costing over and over. I would rather spend ten dollars on a game than having to buy extra coins, fruits, potions, etc. just to make it through a level. I don’t mind when the game is difficult and I have to try a level for a few hours until I can pass but after trying that and still having to buy things in order to make it to the next level just feels like you are trying to play me out of all my money on this “free” game which I guess you are. Maybe you should give people a choice between buying the game for one set price which will include all the coins and trinkets you will need to play the entire game or doing it the way you do now. I get it, you want to make money and it is a much easier to get people to pay tiny amounts many times than one bigger amount all at once. Remember though, some of us are parents and are not just buying for ourselves. You would get a lot more money out of me if I could buy the game for more money and not have to buy sets of helpers throughout the game. Elysheva Zalewski

I spend a lot of money on your game and I’m fine with doing so, but I have hit the top and there is nothing new for me. I don’t have new collections; I don’t get new ship, cave or pyramid levels; I don’t get new levels in my match 3’s. You have capped my resources. Because I don’t have objects and collections to find, It takes forever to fill my XP to get to the next level to upgrade my bonus getters which is one of the only big ways to get rid of my resources.
Additionally, when you have the firefly event IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME MATCH 3’S - EVERY SINGLE TIME! It is very boring to play the same ones EVERY TIME YOU HAVE THIS EVENT! Also - it is totally impossible to win the gem event match 3’s without bonuses. It makes it less fun to ALWAYS have to use bonuses.
The “paws” event is totally lame. You would have to constantly play to win at any of the upper levels.
I agree with many of the reviews that state you are only after money. When I first started this game it was lots of fun because much of it was doable and it was ever changing... plus, you have capped just about anything and for those starting out - they aren’t going to do very well or get very far and stop playing your game which means less money for you.

There are so many things that I love about this game. That’s why I stay a play. But the issues I have are 1. The infinity times of 15 and 30 and 60 minutes you have changed from being able to store and play when I can—- this is a change for the negative! Quite often I don’t have that time to be in the game for that time— Boo on the change. 2. Also one of the best gifts about the infinity play time was the beautiful gift of filling to total time of play when done with the infinity time. You want us to play right?!?! So let us play!!!!! I can’t afford to spend my money much on gaming— but when I can I spend it with you—- so when I run out of play time I leave the game to play other games that don’t charge me time in the game to play!!! With them it’s unlimited time all the time!!!! Why dose the all mighty dollar have to drive me from my favorite game?!?!?! Boo on the change!!! 3. My third problem is the cost again in every thing!!! Again the all mighty dollar again!!!! I spend my money in your game on cheaters so I can complete a puzzle!! I have spent a lot of money with poor return for it— if everyone that plays spends as much as my small amount I can afford —- y’all are very rich!!!!!! So Boo on the cost!! And the changes made to the best and only worthy gift of winning time to play. Why, why, why do you limit the playing of your game??????

Played this game for several years. At level100+, it’s hard to progress. Have over 110 collections waiting for chargers. I runout of energy several times a week while trying to get the Daily lotus done.

I like the daily lotus quests and the challenging puzzles. Also, don’t mind spending money on gems if I need some bonuses. I have some suggestions to improve playability at higher levels.

increase charger drop rate and/or add a spell to do this
Replace resources and energy with bonus and spells on the wheel of fortune and sphinx - getting coins, supplies, or food is annoying as I have about 1 million of each resource
At level 100+, bump the energy bar to 1000 total.
Better rewards for completing high level achievements - 10 gems at 5 stars is kind of a ripoff after playing months and months.
Totems need to drop more bonuses or allow to be upgraded more often. They used to drop more bonus like 3 hammers at a time, but upgrading at higher levels just seems to get you another set of 1 bonus additional.
Add a monthly subscription that gives out some gems each day with a weekly bonus. $4.99 a month or less would be a good price for me. The gems/bonus would need to accumulate in a player’s account in the event they couldn’t login every day.

And someday I’d like to see what’s beyond the mysterious gate!

Thanks for considering these items.

I usually pick up this game when I’m waiting for someone and have a few minutes. For me, it’s perfect for that situation, and I like the idea of building up the world - it adds a new dimension to these types of “Candy Crush” games.

There are two things that I find frustrating though - I find the number of pop-ups when I start the game to be annoying. Sometimes I have to close a handful or more things telling about new events and other new aspects of the game. Sometimes dialogue is then interspersed with these pop-ups - which when I only have a few minutes to play, can be annoying.

The other issue for me is the night mode - I think it’s more of an inconvenience than anything. It’s possible to still see the rest of the game board that’s not lit up, and i find it more annoying than fun to play night mode — so I usually just don’t play levels that are currently set to night mode.

The puzzles have added obstacles like dark screen or skulls etc. and I get all that but it’s nearly every puzzle and I wouldn’t mind except the dark screen puzzles involve moving a ‘spotlight’ around and after a couple of puzzles doing that, my fingertip is feeling raw. And the ‘colorless’ puzzles hurt my eyes, but I also have vision problems. The other issue is there is a score that determines when stars are achieved, but no scoreboard nor points per whatever. That seems arbitrary. How do I know the game is being consistent if i don’t see how progress is measured? I don’t know the aspects pay to play set of this game; I don’t know what would need to be purchased to make this game more playable. I haven’t discovered any hurdles that require money. It is boring and redundant but what isn’t? At least this match 3 game has goals other than “now do it all again on a different board”.

I am feeling increasingly frustrated that I repeatedly win a game and the reward is only a very few energy points. I understand occasionally giving energy rather than prizes but this is not the case and my loyalty and willingness to support your advertisers is not appreciated. I am not pleased.

Received a prompt response to my review... thank you. As you said.. the longer the game is played the harder it becomes. I do understand that and certainly see my play points being used quickly. When this is the case I would expect to gain reward rather than play the same one repeatedly and only get +5 energy points when I might have used 90 points to win that one time. I continue to play and am teased by family for my “addiction “. Just wish to not be so frustrated.

Much like everyone else stated, it’s near impossible to get chargers to finish collections. They’re NEVER in the buildings suggested and after learning my lesson and trying 20-30 times and still not netting anything, I just play for fun. I suspect that it’s so gamers will spend money to buy things, but this is only a game so...why would I spend hard earned money? I save that bills and food. So as long as you go in with the expectation that you’ll never complete a collection, it’s a good way to pass some time.
Also, they give out the unlimited 15/30 minutes like candy, but you can’t bank it, so most of the time I’m not even getting the chance to use it.
Lastly, I’d like to be able to opt out/ in of the Paws game. I usually don’t want to play.

I have really enjoyed the but after trying for MONTHS to complete collections of items... Ihave become too frustrated to continue. The item to complete a collection can be bought... but I’m not going to do that. Over the last year..... literally... I have completed one collection. Have played for months to complete a collection by winning one item. The game points me the specific place to have a chance for winning the needed item. I play and win but the needed item for completing the collection is not there. After doing this for over a year... literally, I decided that item can only attained if purchased. I agree with concept but needed item to complete a collection should eventually be won. It shouldn’t take even close to a year to win.

Dear developers I had to restart this game approximately in June 2021 due to your update it wiped me out and I was on level 224. Now I received a Christmas gift from you of 200 green diamond gems. When I returned the next day they were gone and I didn’t use them what happened to them.? I really love the game even though it gets harder as time goes on. I am a very honest senior lady and I even told others to play this game cause it’s so much fun. I’m not very happy right at this moment could you please let me know why this all occurred. I do not play this game using Facebook platform therefore I can play much more easier. Thank you I hope you can help me out in this matter. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all, family, pets and all staff. Danielle F Neumar