March of Empires
Released Dec 2017
Claim your title as Shogun, Highland King, Northern Tsar or Desert Sultan and join this genre-redefining strategy game where you will wage constant war for real territorial conquest! Fortify your castle, fuel a massive army, and enter the ultimate fight for realm domination!
61% positive · 1,874 reviews
Not yet
Released, ongoing live service game
High confidence
Live Service
Not yet
Released, ongoing live service game
High confidence
Live Service
Where to get it
Free on Steam
Evaluation
March of Empires is a free-to-play massively multiplayer strategy game by Gameloft that has been continuously live since its December 2017 Steam release. The game is structured around an ongoing seasonal content model — rotating event shops, time-limited challenges, holiday events, and a steady stream of numbered major updates — typical of a game designed to run indefinitely.
The developer has maintained a highly active update cadence. In just the past year, major content updates have shipped at roughly monthly-to-bimonthly intervals: Update 80 (June 2025), Update 83 (March 2026), Update 83.5 (May 4, 2026), Update 84 (May 25, 2026), Update 85 (June 29, 2026), Update 85.5 (July 20, 2026), and most recently Update 86 (August 26, 2026). This is one of the most active update cadences in the dataset.
Update 86, posted on August 26, 2026 — just two days before today's assessment date — explicitly previews upcoming seasonal content: a September PvE event called "The Thieves," an October Halloween-themed PvE event, and an Oktoberfest celebration, along with a new Realm Age. This forward-looking content calendar confirms the game is in active operation with planned content extending at least through October 2026.
The game has also received significant licensed crossover content (Conan the Barbarian in March 2026, Robin Hood characters in July 2026, Viking saga characters in May 2026) and introduced an entirely new Commanders progression system with Update 84, demonstrating ongoing investment in new gameplay systems rather than mere maintenance.
There is no indication from Gameloft that live service operations are winding down. The Conan collaboration returning for a second run (noted in Update 86) further reinforces the game's ongoing seasonal rotation model.
Evidence
Update 86 launched on August 26, 2026, introducing new Commanders improvements, new equipment sets, and explicitly previewing upcoming seasonal content: September 'The Thieves' PvE event, October Halloween PvE event, Oktoberfest event shop, and a new Realm Age — confirming planned content through at least October 2026.
Update 85.5 shipped on July 20, 2026, adding two new Legendary Commanders (Robin Hood and Little John), three new equipment sets, new reward chests, new boosts, and quality-of-life improvements.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Gameloft
Achievements
87
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Multiplayer · PvP
About this game
For an age of massive medieval war, where you will march over your rivals’ burning remains in an all-out quest to conquer!
Fortify your castle, forge an army and enter the ultimate MMO of global domination! But as your civilisation grows, you’ll clash with ambitious powers, and only one king can claim the throne! Do you have the strength to unify the land under your banner? Or will you watch your kingdom crumble before you?
• Dispatch armies, construct buildings, clash with barbarians, conquer territories and reshape the balance of power every day.
• Every inch of your realm comes to life with amazingly detailed graphics
• Choose to be a Shogun, a Highland King, a Northern Tsar or a Desert Sultan.
• Each army has a special advantage that emphasises a unique playstyle, whether you prefer to quickly build up your kingdom, strike with charging knights or fiercely defend your civilisation from invasion.
• Clash and conquer to grow your global influence daily.
• Unlock special powers and bonuses as more lands fall to your army.
• Fortify your defences to ward off enemy invasions.
• Fight your way to the throne to become High King over the entire realm!
• Choose a unique Champion – ranging from those as noble as knights or as merciless as Vikings – to lead your army and help build your kingdom.
• Find and craft equipment to boost your Champion’s skills.
• Command heroes and adventurers to set off on quests for treasures that will pave your path to the throne.
• Build regional structures that you and your many allies can benefit from.
• Establish thriving Trade Centres, forge sacred Temples, and clash over Stockpiles of treasure.
• A wise king chooses battle formations carefully! Cunning tactics hold more power than massive numbers.
• Time your commands wisely to take advantage of the ever-changing seasons.
• The Alliance management system makes it easy to organise with allies.
• Intrigue will pave your path to the throne as you craft schemes with other Alliances. In this MMO world, there’s as much to gain from helping as there is from betraying.
• Chat with players to forge friendships or verbally clash with rivals.
• Capture the five highly fortified castles that hold the Seat of Domain, Seat of Heroes, Seat of War, Seat of Order and Seat of Accord.
• Each Seat grants its controlling Alliance unique perks and the ability to propose world-changing Policies.
• Every player can take part, as all Policies are voted on by the entire Realm’s player population!
• Enter a new level of diplomacy and intrigue as your Alliance must negotiate with rivals, and players at large, in order to win the votes needed to pass the Policies you want.
• At the centre of it all lies the Throne of Might, which only one player may rule to wield the greatest power of all!
Five castles hold the crucial thrones, each possessing a unique influence over the entire realm that only one Alliance can hold.
Download it now and forge your path to the throne!
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Last evaluated Aug 28, 2026
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