Disclosure: GAMENYX’s operator has paid performance-marketing (CPA) offers for both RAID: Shadow Legends and Rise of Kingdoms through AfBooster. The play button and banners on this page are affiliate links: if you install and play through them, GAMENYX may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Those relationships did not decide the comparison below. See our Affiliate Disclosure. This guide is research-based, not a hands-on review.

Both games are free, run on Windows PC and phones, and are built to be played a little every day for months. That’s where the similarity ends. RAID is about collecting and optimizing a team of champions; Rise of Kingdoms is about growing a city and fighting real-time wars with an alliance. Here’s how to tell which one you’ll enjoy.

At a glance

RAID: Shadow Legends Rise of Kingdoms
Developer Plarium Lilith Games
Genre Turn-based collection RPG Real-time strategy MMO
Core loop Collect champions, gear them, beat harder bosses Build a city, train troops, fight on a shared map
Combat Turn-based, can run on auto Real time on the world map
Social side Clans help, but solo play works The alliance is the heart of the game
Session style Short sessions, lots of auto-farming Regular check-ins, plus scheduled alliance events
On PC Plarium Play, Steam, Epic, Microsoft Store Official Windows download, Mac App Store

How a session feels

RAID is something you can do in a few minutes: send your team into a dungeon on auto, upgrade a piece of gear, collect quest rewards. Planning happens in menus, deciding which champions and gear sets work together.

Rise of Kingdoms is built around timers and a live map. You queue upgrades and research, send armies to gather or fight barbarians, and keep an eye on what’s happening around you. Battles play out in real time, so you can reinforce allies or retreat mid-fight.

Playing alone vs with others

In RAID, a good clan gives you better Clan Boss rewards, but most of the game is you and your roster.

In Rise of Kingdoms, the alliance is the game. Protection, shared goals and large wars are where it shines, and much of its value is out of reach if you prefer to play alone.

Spending

Both are free to play with plenty of paid offers, and players who spend progress faster in both.

  • In RAID, spending mostly means summoning champions. Free players progress through patience and smart resource use; see our RAID free-to-play guide.
  • In Rise of Kingdoms, spending mostly means speed-ups and packs. A good alliance is the biggest free advantage.

Whichever you pick, decide your budget on day one.

Which one should you start?

Pick RAID: Shadow Legends if:

  • You like collecting characters and building teams around synergies.
  • You prefer turn-based planning and short sessions.
  • You want to play mostly solo.

Start here: is RAID worth playing in 2026? and how to play RAID on PC.

Pick Rise of Kingdoms if:

  • You enjoy strategy and real-time decisions on a big map.
  • You like teamwork and don’t mind an alliance schedule.
  • Historical civilizations and commanders appeal more than fantasy.

Start here: is Rise of Kingdoms worth playing in 2026? and the best civilization for beginners.

Both are free, so trying each for a week costs nothing but time.

Sources

Checked in October 2026: