There are few among us who don’t wish to escape reality from time to time and for many, gaming is the best way to relax and enter a virtual world far from their day-to-day worries. Clash of Clans has enjoyed tremendous success as one of the most popular games on both the App Store and Google Play. Recent updates have taken the game to a new level so, if you haven’t tried it yet, now is the time. Fundamentally a strategy game, Clash of Clans casts the player in the role of the head of a barbarian tribe. With great graphics depicting barbaric moustaches and fire-raising wizards, it is no wonder this game has become rather addictive. The basic premise of the game is to build a prosperous town. Throughout history, this goal has inevitably lead to warfare and Clash of Clans is no different – recruit and train your troops to both protect your village and to secure additional land and resources.
After being completely free, the next best thing about Clash of Clans is that you can join with or battle against players worldwide. To secure extra resources, you can form clans with other players and thereby share their troops, barter with them for extra resources or even join together to take part in an epic clan war! Without going for the extreme complexity of some games of a similar ilk, Clash of Clans still manages to pull off a sense of inclusivity. The recent update now means even the most loyal players have a chance at something new. Players now travel by boat to a new Builder Base, giving them access to more sophisticated apparatus. Nevertheless, the update has caused some consternation, particularly for players using older mobile phones. The older iOS versions are no longer supported so players are forced to either update their software to at least iOS 7.0 or invest in a new device. Other have found their wizards and archers have vanished from the towers but Supercell is working hard to correct this anomaly. If you’re just starting out, your first mission is to build and protect your village. The second phase of the game sees you entering into real-time fights where you can display your barbaric brawn. Android optimised and completely free, Clash of Clans offers hours of entertainment and a few unexpected challenges along the way.