Item: Empire's Order
Rating: 84
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

84/100

Empire's Order is a standout entry in the mobile deck-building space, masterfully blending rogue-lite progression with an incremental sci-fi narrative. You are tasked with settling a distant planet to mine a precious ore for the Empire, but the game is far deeper than a simple resource manager. The core loop revolves around building a specialized deck from 42 unique cards and managing 37 different types of buildings. Each run feels distinct due to the 33 random events that can drastically shift your strategy, forcing you to pivot between aggressive expansion and careful resource conservation.

What truly makes the game shine is its 'one more turn' quality. The incremental mechanics are woven seamlessly into the card play, so you never feel like you're just staring at numbers; you're actively optimizing your engine. Whether you're researching new technologies or running covert operations with agents, the feedback loop is incredibly satisfying. For fans of games like Slay the Spire who want something with a persistent, colonial-management twist, Empire's Order is a must-play. It offers a level of strategic depth rarely seen in mobile card games while remaining accessible enough for short play sessions.

Reviewed on: Tue May 14 2024

Dinsun Review

I respect what Empires Order is trying to do. It strips away the bloat that plagues modern mobile strategy games—no daily login bonuses, no excessive flashing lights. It’s just you, the map, and your resources. It reminds me of the early days of PC shareware strategy, where the mechanics had to carry the weight because the graphics couldn't.

However, it lacks 'flavor.' The factions feel mechanically similar, and the late game can devolve into a repetitive grind of clicking through turns. It’s a solid mental exercise, but it won't be replacing Civilization on my desk anytime soon. It’s better than most mobile trash, but it still feels like a skeleton waiting for some meat.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

No predatory microtransactions
Clean, legible UI
Strong focus on pure strategy

Lack of faction diversity
Lategame feels repetitive
Minimalist aesthetic can feel sparse

Technical Report

Performance: Extremely lightweight; runs perfectly on older hardware.

Accessibility:

High contrast mode
Text-based UI focus

Audience Fit

Buy if: You enjoy board games and turn-based tactics without the fluff.

Skip if: You need cinematic storytelling or high-end graphics.

Similar Games:

Polytopia
Antiyoy

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun
Hardware: iPad Air (M2)
Playtime: 12 hours
Status: Three full campaigns completed

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

6446022485

$3.99 13+★4.2 11 reviews

Author : YOAN LE CLANCHE

Pubish Date : Fri Apr 14 2023

Last Update Date : Sat Sep 23 2023

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 1.7Sat Sep 23 2023

Spanish translation (thanks Oriol Gómez)
Minor fixes
Empire's Order is a unique sci-fi game that takes players on a journey on a distant planet in the galaxy where a precious ore is waiting to be mined. As the chosen one, it is up to you to settle on the planet, extract the ore, and deliver it to the Empire in a timely manner.
Players will have the ability to build their own deck, research new technologies, upgrade their equipment, trade with other players, and run operations with their agents. With a variety of gameplay options and the use of all means necessary to deliver the ore, Empire's Order offers an engaging and challenging rogue-lite incremental deck-building experience.
The game features 42 different cards, 37 different buildings, 33 events, and 84 achievements, as well as a variety of events, perks, and specializations to keep players engaged and challenged.
Requires iOS 13.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Empire's Order is a unique sci-fi game that takes players on a journey on a distant planet in the galaxy where a precious ore is waiting to be mined. As the chosen one, it is up to you to settle on the planet, extract the ore, and deliver it to the Empire in a timely manner.
Players will have the ability to build their own deck, research new technologies, upgrade their equipment, trade with other players, and run operations with their agents. With a variety of gameplay options and the use of all means necessary to deliver the ore, Empire's Order offers an engaging and challenging rogue-lite incremental deck-building experience.
The game features 42 different cards, 37 different buildings, 33 events, and 84 achievements, as well as a variety of events, perks, and specializations to keep players engaged and challenged.

Ratings & Reviews

4.2 out of 5 with 11 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 13+

Empire's Order is a unique sci-fi game that takes players on a journey to a distant planet where precious ore awaits extraction. As the chosen one, you must build a powerful deck, research new technologies, and upgrade equipment to ensure timely delivery to the Empire. Featuring 42 different cards, 37 buildings, and 33 unique events, the game offers a deep rogue-lite incremental experience where you must use all means necessary to succeed.

Features

42 Unique Cards

37 Different Buildings

33 Random Events

84 Achievements to unlock

Rogue-lite incremental mechanics

Tips

Getting Started on the Planet

Begin by establishing your base and extracting initial ore. Focus on building your deck early with versatile cards that balance resource gathering and defense.

Promotion Videos

Empires Order! Explosive, Rogue Like, Card/Builder, Brain-melting Strategy! - YouTube

Gameplays

Deck Building and Tech Research

Combine 42 different cards and 37 building types to create a self-sustaining economy. Use agents to run special operations and research tech to unlock powerful upgrades.

Q&A

The main goal is to extract precious ore from a distant planet and deliver it to the Empire within a set timeframe using deck-building and management strategies.