My Lands: Black Gem Hunting

Strategy is a vital part of video games, regardless of whether you are dealing with shooters, action games, or a classic RTS. Planning your course of action should be important no matter the game, because the experience is that much more exciting when you achieve something without counting on blind luck. Naturally, TBS and RTS games are much better suited for this kind of mindset.

My Lands: Black Gem Hunting is a real-time strategy game in which you have to work together with your friends in order to raise powerful armies and attack the enemies in order to win the war. The “real-time” bit is a bit misleading, on the other hand, because the main gimmick of the game is the fact that you have to wait for your buildings and units to complete. Obviously, this waiting can be bypassed by simply throwing cash at the game.

Each player starts with a base and a couple of quests to undertake, each one of which demands more of your kingdom and pushes you to grow. You have to gather resources, construct buildings and conduct research in order to gain access to new technologies. However, each one of these actions takes time in the real world, starting from a few seconds in the beginning, to many hours once you approach the late game stage.

Combat is not the only option, although it’s by far the most straightforward and rewarding. On the other hand, you can also use diplomacy and spy craft to gain the upper hand on your enemy, even if some boots on the ground are still needed to actually get the city. Speaking of which, you can also cooperate with friends and complete tougher quests or defeat meaner enemies.

Naturally, it might be difficult to forget about the fact that certain players are willing to pay good money in order to get ahead, which allows them to quickly build what takes you days to achieve. Pay-to-win is a pretty harsh term, but the truth is that you can get ahead by simply using your credit card. On the other hand, the game is free-to-play for everyone else, so it’s difficult to complain.

All things considered, My Lands: Black Gem Hunting is not a revolutionary game, nor does it feature any kind of advanced gameplay mechanics. However, it can be pretty fun for a while, at least if you are patient enough and you do not mind all the waiting you are forced to do.