Ikariam is a free-to-play browser strategy game from Gameforge. It is set in an ancient Greco-Roman world where players start from a humble village and must transform it into an empire.Before you begin your adventure in earnest, there is a small tutorial to complete that will teach you the very basics about the mechanics of the game. Ikariam is a city-building title where you must construct houses for your people, research new technologies, gather and store resources and recruit armies to wage war on your enemies. The game runs on a 24 –hour cycle so things may happen even though you are sleeping!The world consists of islands with each one being the “home” of a certain number of settlements. Note that every town, village or city you encounter while exploring the map is a human-controlled one; this means that the Player versus Player (PVP) element is very strong and if you want your reign to last you’d better join alliances and try not to attack every competitor you meet.The game features colorful 2D graphics and detailed cartoonish models for buildings and military units but no music whatsoever. Battles are automated; you spy on your opponent, decide which units and in what numbers to send and a message will inform you about the outcome. Ikariam is a nice strategy title that doesn’t innovate but offers an addictive and highly entertaining experience, boasting a dedicated community of over 50 million fans!2D Browser Strategy