Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

ROME vs Grow Empire

ROME 4.8★ · $9.99 · ⚠ stale 70
Winner ROME
Grow Empire 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60

ROME offers a more complex, PC-like strategy experience for a one-time purchase, while Grow Empire is a free-to-play tower defense game that struggles with monetization and recent graphic changes.

Full reviews: ROME · Grow Empire

ROME, a paid port of a classic PC strategy game, delivers deep gameplay but struggles with mobile controls and stability, particularly after recent updates. Grow Empire, a free-to-play tower defense game, is praised for its addictive gameplay but is criticized for aggressive monetization, crashing issues, and a controversial recent art style change.

Head to head

Features & Gameplay edge: ROMER8R9R10R14
ROME ROME is lauded as a deep, classic strategy game with large-scale battles and empire management, offering a PC-like experience on mobile R8. Users appreciate the complexity of building an empire and commanding armies . However, some find the micro-management tedious on a mobile screen R9R10. There are requests for features like naval battles and mod support R14R17.
Grow Empire Grow Empire is described as an addictive tower defense game with troop upgrades and nation-building elements . Players enjoy the quick waves and offline play . However, many users express a desire for more content, such as additional provinces, playable factions, and naval elements .
Ease of Use & Controls edge: Grow EmpireR2R4R10R13
ROME Many ROME users find the controls difficult and complicated on a mobile screen R2R4R10R25. Specific complaints include issues with navigation, unit selection, troop movement, and camera control R4. The UI is also described as abysmal and frustrating R13.
Grow Empire Grow Empire's gameplay is generally considered straightforward, though some users find it becomes a massive grind at later stages R85. There are no specific complaints about controls, but the game's difficulty curve and balance issues are mentioned, making it hard to progress without spending money R67R90.
Reliability & Performance tieR1R6R7R16
ROME ROME suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous reports of crashes, especially in later stages of campaigns or after recent updates R1R16R30. Users also report issues with the game not loading, sound not working, or touch screen input failing R6R7. The game is also noted to drain battery .
Grow Empire Grow Empire also has notable reliability issues, with many users reporting the game crashes on startup or during gameplay . Some users experience connection issues even with good internet, particularly for features like daily gifts or the coliseum .
Price & Value edge: ROMER10R11R17R25
ROME ROME is a paid app at $9.99, and many users feel it is well worth the money for the full PC experience R11R17. However, some who experience bugs, crashes, or find the mobile controls unmanageable feel it was an expensive disappointment and request refunds R10R25.
Grow Empire Grow Empire is free-to-play with in-app purchases, but many users complain about it being a 'pay to play' or 'pay wall' game, requiring significant spending to progress past certain points R67R85R90. There are also multiple reports of users not receiving purchased items or having ads persist despite making purchases R72R86R93R100.
Support & Updates tieR1R21R30R37
ROME Recent updates for ROME have introduced new bugs, including issues with unit placement, crashing during siege battles, and broken saves R1R21R30. Users are frustrated with these regressions and call for fixes R30. There's also a mention of a developer response that only addressed specific issues R37.
Grow Empire Grow Empire has undergone a controversial art style change in recent updates, which many long-time players dislike and request to be reverted or offered as an option R61R63R70. Users also report that recent updates have broken daily gifts and missions .
Pick ROME if

You want a deep, complex strategy game experience similar to a PC title and are willing to pay a one-time fee for it, even if it means grappling with challenging mobile controls and potential stability issues R8R11.

Pick Grow Empire if

You prefer a free-to-play tower defense game with quick waves and offline play, and you don't mind a potential grind or aggressive monetization, or you're looking for a nostalgic return to its older versions .

Evidence note: Reviews for both apps show significant issues with crashes and bugs, particularly after recent updates. Grow Empire's free-to-play model leads to many complaints about monetization and unfulfilled purchases, which is a common pattern for free apps. ROME's negative reviews often stem from the difficulty of adapting a complex PC game to mobile controls.

Frequently asked

Does ROME have good mobile controls?
No, many ROME users find the controls difficult and complicated on a mobile screen, with specific complaints about navigation, unit selection, troop movement, and camera control R2R4R10R25.
Is Grow Empire truly free-to-play?
Grow Empire is free to download and play, but many users report that it becomes a 'pay to play' game at later stages, requiring significant spending to progress due to a massive grind and difficulty spikes R67R85R90.
Are there issues with in-app purchases in Grow Empire?
Yes, multiple users report not receiving purchased items or having ads persist despite making purchases, even after spending $5 or $9 R72R86R93R100.
Does ROME crash frequently?
Yes, ROME users frequently report crashes, especially in later stages of campaigns, during siege battles, or after recent updates, making the game unplayable for some R16R30R34R39.
Did Grow Empire change its graphics?
Yes, Grow Empire recently updated its art style, which many long-time players dislike and describe as 'horrendous' or 'tacky,' requesting the old graphics be brought back or offered as an option R61R63R70R84.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R8] ROME 5/5 · US 100% of everything you remember: This is the real game and it’s great you could sit here and play it on your phone for 4 hours straight if your battery would let you lol
  2. [R9] ROME 3/5 · US Too tedious: The campaign is fun but then it’s death by micro management
  3. [R10] ROME 1/5 · US Original awesome, this one not so much: This game is not manageable in a fun way: on a mobile sized screen, nor within the spans of attention that I as a mobile player can invest in a round of play. The original game was amazing, this was a relatively expensive disappointment.
  4. [R14] ROME 4/5 · US Battle: I would like sea battles
  5. [R2] ROME 5/5 · US It’s okay but needs a improvement: It’s fun I like it but it would be cool if there was better controls the game is very fun tho but controls are hard and not ez but cool!
  6. [R4] ROME 2/5 · US Please read: It’s so hard to get the controls down and it is so complicated to start a war. Also when u do start a war u can barely walk. Have to tap were u want to go and as e z as that sounds its not cause the way the u look around is so weird u have to like pinch ur fingers in a weird way. Any ways i DONT recommend this game.
  7. [R13] ROME 1/5 · US What a mess: The UI is abysmal, unit integration and behavior is broken. Game is barely playable
  8. [R1] ROME 1/5 · US -+30: Heats up after the update
  9. [R6] ROME 3/5 · US Sound doesn’t work: Would give it 5 stars if the sound worked. Other than that, solid game and run really well
  10. [R7] ROME 1/5 · US Trash: Unable to navigate past the main menu, absolute trash.
  11. [R16] ROME 2/5 · US Keeps crashing: Love the game . Had it on pc back in the day with all the disks and what not . However I’m in the middle of a campaign on my iPhone and each time I hit the same part the game crashes on me it’s happened 4 days in a row I can’t get past it . Could really used a solution, other then that’s its 5 stars
  12. [R11] ROME 5/5 · US Best game hands down: Hesitated before but 100% the best thing I ever bought. Well worth the money
  13. [R17] ROME 5/5 · US Naval battles could be a great thing in this great game: This is a great game, and if you’re thinking of buying it, it’s worth the price, and there’s a reason why it’s still alive after 20 years. Now, for the reason that I wrote this review: naval battles. Actual naval battles where you can control the ships would make this game even greater. Because naval ships are a very important part of this
  14. [R25] ROME 1/5 · US Not for phone: What a joke couldn’t even click and give directions. Screen is way to small and giving directions via attempting to zoom in and out is terrible and near impossible would like my $10 back
  15. [R21] ROME 3/5 · US The new update…: Idk why but the newest update has ruined the unit placing for me, it has bugged it and flips my soldiers for no reason
  16. [R30] ROME 3/5 · US Someone screwed up: This game has been a classic staple for years until the last update. Now it’s full of bugs anytime you’re fighting a siege battle. Please bring back the 5 star version.
  17. [R37] ROME 1/5 · US No longer functional: I used to play this game on an iPad 9, and wanted to play some more on my M2 iPad Pro. However when I go to start it, I get a scything status that stays up for a while followed by a message that suggests I adjust accessibility settings that were never turned on. Then the game keeps loading but is not responsive to screen taps at all. Don’t bother with this version. Update :
  18. [R67] Grow Empire 1/5 · US Pay to play hundreds of $$$: Don’t waste your time this game is so bad, it starts off fun for 1-2 hours and then after you reach wave 100 and start dumping gold into a unit you get to a point where it’s 1,000,000 gold plus to upgrade!!! To put it into perspective 1,000,000 gold on round 500 is $30 and on round 500 you cant conquer or defend anything!! Total waste of my life. Probably made in the 3
  19. [R85] Grow Empire 2/5 · US Massive grind: So the first bit of the game is great, I didn’t get too many ads and the gameplay is good. I’m around wave 200 now and at this point it’s better just to pop in once a day to get the 20k afk gold rather than the 2k that you get from a single wave with unit upgrades that are 70k or more. It kind of tries to push you to micro transactions which is lame. Never going to support that.
  20. [R90] Grow Empire 3/5 · US Fun before you hit the pay wall: I’ve been able to reach a little over 90% conquest until hitting the point where I can’t win anymore attacks or defenses without watching the ad to rebuild the wall or spamming top tier card boosters. On attacks I have 3 upgraded heroes with all maxed out units, all the mercenaries and booster cards applied and can barely scratch the gate no matter what order I cho
  21. [R72] Grow Empire 3/5 · US I got scammed: I bought a 5 dollar deal that was suppose to give me like 200k gold. But i didnt. WHAT A SCAM. The offer also said “no ads after buying this” I still have them. WHAT A SCAM
  22. [R86] Grow Empire 5/5 · US Great game but: I decided to buy the special pack but my coins never appeared.I’ve been playing this game for years and I love it so I hope you keep it great.
  23. [R93] Grow Empire 3/5 · US Purchase didn’t go as intended: I bought two packs, because it said buying any pack would remove ads. I payed 9 USD, and I’m still seeing ads when I click the ad button for extra cash. Very annoying
  24. [R100] Grow Empire 1/5 · US Did not get what I paid for: I got an offer to purchase the starter pack and I thought it was a good deal, when I bought it it took my money and said the purchase was successful but I didn’t get what I paid for. I thought I had to wait a little bit for it to process but the whole day went by and it never gave me what I bought.
  25. [R34] ROME 1/5 · US Annoyed with crashes: I don’t know what it is with this game but the further you get the more likely it is to crash. I’ll be selecting building upgrades on my forty towns and staffing the cities with peasants to stem uprisings and next the next thing I know the app crashes. I go back and re do everything I did (in a different order) that turn.. the app crashes again. Do i dare try a third time wit
  26. [R39] ROME 3/5 · GB Love the game, just shame it keeps crashing: As a huge fan of the game, I was so excited to play and bring back the old days I used to play it on my pc, so much time playing it and still amazing now, so good have to games like this on my iPhone. Game play good as I remember, the set up on my iPhone screen very easy once you have played it a few times, the campaign is good lane even the skirmishes
  27. [R61] Grow Empire 1/5 · US Used to be the best game: The old graphic were the best. Please bring them back I can’t play until then.
  28. [R63] Grow Empire 3/5 · US Bad art: I stopped playing. Bring back the old game art from 2019.😡😡😡
  29. [R70] Grow Empire 1/5 · US Bring back the old unit models: Bring back the old unit models!!! I understand you need to show a lot of activity, but not at the expense of visuals. The old units had a vibe, they were beautiful, and you wanted to command them like soldiers. What's happening with them now is just awful. The models are disgusting. Just YUCK!!! · translated
  30. [R84] Grow Empire 3/5 · US Great Game Animation has made the game seem more tacky: I missed the old medieval look of the soldiers, the game is great, but everything looks so animated and it makes it worse. The old look of the soldiers and everything in the game was so much better, even the picture quality has worsened, most importantly the movement mechanics, look worse. I would love for there to be an option to choose betw

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store