Last updated on January 15th, 2026 at 10:59 pm
Age of Rivals – Card Game Review
Age of Rivals is a Card/Board game from Vijay Myneni, first launched in 21st June 2017.
It’s rated 9+ and currently has 228+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Age of Rivals Stand Out
Deep civilization-building strategy in a fast-paced card game!
There are many paths to victory in this competitive strategy boardgame featuring hundreds of cards ranging from great pyramids and war elephants to sneaky spies and crafty merchants. Perfectly balance your city’s culture, military, defense and economy to outwit your opponent and win!
"Age of Rivals feels like a breath of fresh air in an App Store drowning in more traditional collectible card games" – 148Apps.com – 5/5 stars
"…there's a depth here that other games of the same length can't emulate" – Pocket Gamer – Silver Award Winner
"Gameplay is fast, very fun, and requires both an overall strategy and turn-by-turn tactics to prevail." – Pocket Tactics
Age of Rivals was inspired by strategy boardgames and designed to be ideal for 1 or 2 players to play in 10 minutes with plenty of depth and replayability. It's the "anti-deckbuilding" CCG, where having only minimal control over your deck encourages endless variety in each game and puts the focus on in-the-moment tactical decision-making.
There are NO in-app purchases. All game content unlocks at a constant pace just by playing the game.
PLEASE check if your device is supported in the list below before purchasing:
- iPhone 5s and higher (not iPhone 5 or 5c)
- iPad Airs and iPad Pros (not iPad 1st/2nd/3rd/4th gen)
- iPad Mini 2 and higher
- iPod Touch 6th gen
FEATURES
- Play offline or online
- Play as 12 unique characters
- Earn over 200 cards with unique special abilities
- Single player vs a smart AI
- Missions
- Single player challenge levels
- Local multiplayer (Pass and Play)
- Networked multiplayer (requires creating free online account)
- Ranked public matchmaking (requires creating free online account)
- Private friend matches (requires creating free online account)
- Alliances with other players (requires creating free online account)
- Monthly tournaments (requires creating free online account)
This Card game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Age of Rivals is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 10th June 2025
Recent improvements include:
- Updated to the latest version of Unity which should improve performance and stability
- Expanded the background art of several screens to support different aspect ratios better
- Bannerlands (Age of Rivals 2) informational dialog
Download & Availability
Age of Rivals is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get Age of Rivals on App Store
Requirements: Requires iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
Hands down the best CCG game on IOS! The mechanics are great and there is tremendous replayability with this game. We are telling everyone we know to get this one.
This is a great mini-Civilization card game, well worth playing. We truly appreciate that the developer added offline play. The campaign challenges look interesting – we wouldn't mind seeing this expanded upon.
A great game with some intriguing methods and play style. However in desperate need of balancing, or much faster play through, as there are many combinations of just two cards which can totally destroy the game. Get ready to replay some of the challenges a billion times, because if the enemy gets a particular card on a draw, game over immediately. Probably worth the money, but not a likely award recipient.
The game scratches all the gaming itches we have, card drafting, powers, multiple victory paths, tactical gameplay… But without pass and play, it's almost painfully pointless for our particular case. Please bring pass and play.
On iPad 2 with iOS 9+ can't get past start up screen. No warning in App Store about needing a newer iPad, with the game jaipur it is listed that it will not run on older iPads.
This game is a blast. It's a truly unique idea executed wonderfully. In fact it is so good, we're venmo'ing our cousin .99 cents so he can play it also.
If you are on the fence just grab this game. So much strategy packed into a small package. Very well balanced, we love that you never get duplicate cards and you can play against higher ranked players and still be on even ground. This developer took everything that ruins a good CCG and threw it out the window. Great work, what a solid game.
We are having a lot of fun with this little deck builder card game, AI is challenging, and it's fun to win gold to unlock more cards, game is a steal for just a buck, if you like these type of games you should really enjoy this one. Edit Have played the game about 6 hours now, and played a few games against other people, the game played smooth and we enjoyed the matches, it does take a little while to get the hang of it, we were a little frustrated a few time but noticed ourselves getting better as we played more games, we have 50$ games on steam that we have played less than this little game, again it's a steal for 1$.
This game is mechanically similar to the board game 7 Wonders with enough changes to stand on its own. We love it.
We are enjoying this game so far. We like the gameplay, the graphic style is nice and consistent, and we like the lack of micro transactions.
This game is so unique and original! We love how the game has you building up an empire with buildings and units that you might see pop up again or not, and how nearly every card in the game has some extra effects only triggered by certain other types of cards in either your opponent's or your own land. So to play effectively you not only have to setup combos with your own cards, you'll need to make special note of the cards your opponent is buying so as the best counter them effectively.
This game has huge amounts of depth and replay value. The rules seem intimidating at first but become intuitive after a few games. There are hundreds of cards and each feels unique and thematic, so no two games will ever be the same. We do wish we could have more control over which cards appear in the game… Choosing three cards to include is not enough to plan a strategy around. But random cards are fun as well. It's amazing that for just one dollar we have a continuous stream of card packs thanks to unlimited quests. Compare to Hearthstone.
Really impressive game for .99! We're really enjoying it so far- first impressions: cards seem well balanced and the animations are really smooth. Any chance the developers would consider allowing a portrait option? Game is perfectly suited to be played with one hand. Thanks.
Extremely well made TCG with a board game feel. This game is a steal for .99 cents! It's 10 bucks on steam with really good reviews ta boot! Simple rules combine to create deep strategy with no iap's in sight! We're officially addicted. Hope the developer do well so they can make some more great games. Huzzah.
An amazingly full-featured competitive digital board game with a delicious CIV builder theme. It's card draughting, deck building fun. We'll be dropping this button right next to STAR REALMS,.
It runs through the battery and heats up our ipad4. Plus we wish we didn't have to be tied to the Internet to play. Other than that, it's extremely fun and worth more than it's price point.
Played this game pretty much nonstop since the day it came out. It's priced very competitively at $.99, in fact it's a steal at that price. The games all pretty much feel different, but we do have a few gripes. Perhaps we haven't unlocked enough cards, we're not sure, but only being allowed to select 3 cards to be guaranteed to see can feel frustrating at times. We have no problems with some RNG in CCG's, but this game has a lot of it. It's difficult to plan a strategy before a game starts only to have it not have a chance to come to fruition because of the wheel of fortune not giving you the cards you need. It would be nice to see a card that you can start with to help mitigate some of what cards appear each of the first 3 rounds. The game being the way it is now almost feels like a booster draft. Unless you can be assured of a particular synergy or triggered effect, you pretty much always take the card with the most culture if you want to win. That type of mode is fine, but there should also be a semi-constructed mode as well IMO, with more control over your deck than is currently in place (not complete control, maybe just limiting what class of cards can appear perhaps; or a card that you can buy that removes a type of your choice from the offerings, etc..). Another form of RNG that is particularly frustrating is that it seems like the random destruction effects, be it either from multiple KO's or snipes from opposing cards, seem to hit the absolute worst targets possible every single time haha. Maybe we're a bit biased but it seems like it. It would also be nice to see a purchasable form of control for both your own sniper effects and those of your opponents. Lastly, there are a few cards imo that are a bit too powerful and perhaps need to be nerfed. Again, perhaps we just haven't unlocked the cards to deal with them, but a few of the green musical note cards are absolutely devastating. The one that skims one culture off of every card your opponent plays, once per turn, EVERY turn, is sickening. That thing should be limited to once per card per game, and even then it would still be immensely powerful. Another is the fortification that gains +2 culture for each opposing attacker. If you are offered that as the choice before your opponent, unless they aren't attacking at all, you MUST take it as a defensive pick. It's immensely powerful. All in all, this is a fine game and we enjoy playing it. We would like to see more challenge campaigns.
This works well with our iPhone 5 c but it crashes on our iPad mini. Could u please fix and we will definitely give this 5 stars. Thanks.
We really enjoy the core of this game, it holds a great balance between deck management and aggressive play. We have only two gripes, lack of offline play, the devs have promised this in a future update, we hope it is implemented soon. The second issue concerns the art of the cards, it is advertised that there are over 200 cards, though we have counted less than a dozen card faces, a Phalanx unit has the same card face as an Angry Mob. These issues makes the experience feel like a Alpha or Beta version of a fantastic core game. We are enjoying the game a great deal so far, and we're really hoping that the developers will refine and flesh out the game to it's full potential, our reviews we're sure will reflect on the ongoing process.
We want to like this, but the random nature of the gameplay is just too infuriating. You can really get hosed by RNG. Gameplay can focus on trying to minimize risks, but you can lose a ten minute game because the AI picked the wrong cards for you to keep. A game being short does not make up for poor gameplay. Pass on this.
Needs an online connection. Yes we're aware it'll feature offline next update but we ain't making an account just to play. We bought cuz don't want to pay more than $1.
What a load of bs. Totally unbalanced gaming against AI.not the least bit fun.
Crashes every time we try to open it.
Wonderful, challenging game. Addicting! Endless possibilities. Im a little disappointed theyve stopped updating it, though, and thereby made the campaign obsolete.
We wish they would update and add more cards.
Ive been playing this game since the days of kongregate , flash game websitewhen it was free . When we found out that it was mobile for our cell phone. We became ecstatic. We highly recommend this game. It is a true gem.
Plays as described with no need to purchase anything else.
Fun card game with lots of replayability.
We highly recommend this game to anyone considering it among the seemingly endless alternatives on the App Store. The truth is, however, that we have not come across anything else like this game. The multiplayer is fast and really well integrated. The UI and graphics work great together and facilitate allows the player to zone in and just play. No pay to win mechanics and a limited pool of improvements which is very quick to max out so the focus is all on the core gameplay which is really enjoyable and deep enough to keep your interest.
Been playing for years, love it.
Everything about Age of Rivals is our cup of tea. We like strategy games but more casual pacing. Im not much of a strategist. But this game let us have the fun of building up imaginary civilizations while -also- making smart moves. Like, we actually learned how to quickly analyze the situation and take risks. Its rewarding when the enemy plays into your hand; but we also learned something when they didnt. The rule set is very easy to grasp, online play is quick, and its always fun seeing how new cards flip existing mechanics. Plus, the setting is evocative. There are card names like Broken Tabletop, 100 Day Festival, Warrior Poets. Gets the wheels turning. Way more fun thanKing, Queen, Merchant, etc. We get thats not a prerequisite for games like this, but for us the well thought scenarios and charming artwork sealed the deal. Im actually surprised this game hasnt gotten even more love. We first played it on itch.io and then snatched it up herePC or mobile, gameplay is smooth. If theres ever a sequel, we think making better use of the setting would be a bonus. As much as we like reading, hiding the characters bios in a tiny paragraph is a waste of the (game) mediums potential. Its nice, but most players will just skip it. Further, theres really not much incentive to pick one character over another except for aesthetics. Each character can have up to 3 guaranteed cards dealt during their turn, but at the end of the day youre still deciding if youre going for a rogue/economic victory or total martial victory, whatever combo is your fancy, no matter the portrait. We remember thinking up our civs story during the final rounds when they slowly reveal and take away the 16 cards gathered for the final round (mostly cause we had the time to do soits a bit -too- long). But we thought itd be a nice addition for fans of the games setting if the cards told a story at the end. Like, [Player 1]s civilization focused on siege weaponry in round 1, made its wealth through gem trading and raiding the north, and ultimately proved victorious despite the loss of the Emperors Wall, etc. Dunno, when theres optional reading most people skip it but we -love- when games acknowledge the specific wins, losses, and choices in a particular game. The reason we still play strategy games despite not being a strategist is because of the underlying -drama-. Anyhoot, this is a long review but this game deserves it. Im looking forward to more from this dev.
If you like Race for the Galaxy, 7 Wonders or Through the Ages, check out Age of Rivals. Its really REALLY good.
This game is in our top 5 phone games. Easy to learn, but it grows in complexity as you understand it better. The challenges are just that. You pay for the game, and there are no in game sales or ads to watch. Hours of entertainment and well crafted.
We were initially put off by the price but am quite happy we purchased this game. The gameplay is complex and takes some time to learn, and even longer to master; however, once youve accomplished this, Age of Rivals offers endless intriguing combinations and possibilities. We are truly impressed by how deep of a card-playing experience the developers were able to craft. Well done! A fantastic, fun, but also challenging game.
But beware: She is a fickle mistress.
Great game but still, since the iPhone X was launched 2 years ago, cant play it with full screen. Once update it we will change our review.
Its a drafting game where the Theme couldve been anything.
This game is fun but it is missing the ability to surrender when you know you will lose. That is pretty important. It could reduce or eliminate the gold gained, but please add it.
Theres just such a finite replayability factor. You grind out all the challenges, unlock all the card packs, then…what? Wouldnt be as bad, except for how overly random most of the actual gameplay is. The ability to influence what comes up is limited, and still random enough you can end up not being able to get it anyways. What gets knocked out vs restored doesnt seem to have a method to its madness. Lots of potential, poorly utilized. Fun time killer, though, we guess.
Nice unique idea for a ccg. Hella fun and compelling too.
Truthfully we have no gripes about the game. Aesthetically, thematically, and mechanically great to play. Diverse artwork for ruined and knocked art cards, and maybe even for each individual card, are the only things this game could improve. That's it. Everything else is phenomenally done. Edit: we also experience severe lag against the hard AI sometimes. Additionally, we'll lose by 1 or 2 points every time this occurs. Not sure what's up with that but a fix would be nice.
Played about 9 games now. Takes a bit of time to figure things out but it gets more fun as you do. Wont take too long to collect all the cards. Makes it fun to get a new card you didnt have before.
Age Of Rivals is a great game. We love to play, and find ourselves not going to sleep when we should because we sit up at night playing. So fun.
Ive played hundreds of apps. We always go back to this one. Its the perfect amount of strategy and luck. Its cheap, fun, quick, easy, deep. Our only complaint is that the name of the game is stupid. It sounds so generic that we almost didnt even buy it ourselves. It sounds like every terrible cash-grabbing app that lasts 60 days and then dies. But its not those games. This ones awesome.
Good times – great job, developers.
At first, we didnt like that we didnt know much about the strategy, but as with many great games the process of discovering the strategy is fun. Add to the joy of gameplay the one thing that truly sets this game aside, no pay to play, and this game is a true winner in all categories. More developers can learn from your great system and design. Thanks.
Finally a card game that is challenging and we DONT feel as though the game cheats! Dont get us wrong….the game is tough! And we win maybe half the time. But each time we loose we feel its because of our choices and not because of programed disadvantages. And we love how you pay one price for the game and unlock the rest of the game through in game achievements. YOU DONT SPEND OF DIME OF REAL MONEY ONCE YOU PURCHASE THE GAME!!!! Theres a deep learning curve so you may have to get whipped by the computer a half dozen times in order to learn the game and develop a strategy. But its well worth it! We HIGHLY recommend this game.
Great game! Well worth the purchase.
Really fun weaved mechanics make each round very different even with early small cars pool.
Now with pass and play this is even more epic! Id love to see this made into a physical card game as well.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 3.27
- Size: 102.11 MB
- iOS: 13.0 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory: Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence
- Developer: Vijay Myneni
Last updated: 10th June 2025 | Genre: Card, Board | Developer: Vijay Myneni