Games Like Forge of Empires — Top Alternatives 2026
Quick answer: Elvenar comes from the same developer and swaps eras for fantasy and production chains. For more war, try Travian, Grepolis or Goodgame Empire. For a calmer pace, try Ikariam or Rise of Cultures. Our game, TokenLordsRPG, joins kingdom building with turn-based RPG combat.
Forge of Empires pioneered era-based city building with turn-based combat. But after more than a decade of updates its shape is well settled, so anyone comparing it with something newer usually wants to know how the era progression, the event calendar and the Diamonds shop line up against the alternatives. Here are 10 alternatives — including games we genuinely believe offer a fresher experience.
Play Free — No Diamonds, No Event CalendarForge of Empires is one of the most successful browser strategy games ever made. Its era-progression system, turn-based battles, and polished city building set a high bar. But the event calendar runs more or less continuously, and Diamonds — the premium currency — buy city expansions, instant finishes and extra production, so the two things worth weighing before you switch are how much of the game you want to run on a schedule and how much you want to buy. If you're looking for something new, here are the alternatives worth a look.
Disclosure: TokenLordsRPG is our own game. It appears in this list because it genuinely fits the category, and it is labelled every time so you can weigh the recommendation accordingly.
10 Games Like Forge of Empires, Compared
TokenLordsRPG — Best for players who want deeper RPG integration with their kingdom building. Unlike FoE's abstract city grid, TokenLordsRPG has businesses you build, lands you develop, a tower you upgrade, and resources that flow through production chains — all feeding into turn-based combat, gear forging, pets and guild bosses. Free to play, no energy caps on production. TokenLordsRPG publishes this page.
Elvenar — Fantasy city builder from the same developer as FoE. More focus on production chain optimization, less on combat. Similar monetization model.
Travian — Classic tribal warfare game. Much more PvP-focused than FoE. Your village can be attacked. Steep learning curve but deep strategy.
Grepolis — Ancient Greek city-states with heavy alliance warfare. Cities sit on islands, so troop movement needs transport ships, and sieges run on real-time timers that can land overnight.
Ikariam — Ancient Mediterranean city management. Island-based with naval combat and trade. Slower pace than FoE.
Goodgame Empire — Castle builder with alliance warfare. More combat-focused, similar monetization.
Rise of Cultures — Era-based city builder (mobile/PC). More single-player, less PvP pressure.
Melvor Idle — If you liked FoE's idle production but want deeper skill systems. Text-based, premium but one-time purchase.
Tribal Wars — Medieval village conquest from InnoGames, the publisher of FoE. One unit roster, tribe diplomacy and taking villages from other players, so far more PvP than FoE.
Kingdoms of Heckfire — Modern fantasy kingdom builder with dragon combat. More casual, mobile-first.
Anno Online, which older lists still name for its production chains, closed on 31 January 2018, so it is not on this list.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | TokenLordsRPG | Other Games |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Kingdom + RPG players | City builders who like eras |
| Combat style | Turn-based with elemental strategy | Turn-based, auto-resolution option |
| Offline progression | Full 24/7 — all systems | Production buildings only |
| Mobile support | Full — browser on iOS/Android | Dedicated mobile app |
| Premium currency | Optional — no content locked behind payment | Buys city expansions, instant finishes and extra production |
| PvP risk to base | None — your kingdom is safe | None — PvP is separate |