Success in Forge of Empires requires skill and tactical tenacity, as you create your own city and see it flourish – through the centuries from the early Stone Age and into the Future and the Space Age. To give you a head start, try these tips as you get used to the game.

If your population isn’t happy, they’ll have a decreased output, which affects the resources at your disposal to build a thriving nation. Make your citizens extra cheery and boost their productivity by constructing Cultural Buildings, such as a theatre or tavern.

The attack and defence values of your units play an important role in coming out on top of a fight. You can increase both at the same time by levelling up Great Buildings that give a Military Boost, such as the Statue of Zeus or the Cathedral of Aachen. Or focus on various special buildings that can be earned through events, as they also give attack or defence boosts.

Take things slow and don’t rush through the ages, even though it feels tempting to advance. It can be beneficial to stay in one age and gather valuable goods and resources, or to level up Great Buildings and take advantage of their bonuses before moving to the next age.

As you may have noticed by now, Great Buildings are very powerful. You can even build those of higher ages earlier than intended. You may not be able to produce the necessary resources yourself just yet, but if players trade goods with you, it works. Being part of a guild is really helpful to make those connections.

The best place for any unwanted items is not in your inventory, but with the Antiques Dealer. Exchange them for Gemstones and Trade Coins, with which you can buy special buildings or resources that are more useful to reach your goals.