Inside David Guo & Benjamin Gifford: Why Players Are Hooked on Evony

Evony: The King’s Return, updated for over eight years, continues to attract players of all ages. Game executives David Guo and Benjamin Gifford share insights on its development and future vision.

These days, playing mobile games has become a regular part of life. Whether at home or during breaks at work, people often turn to their phones for entertainment. In the past five years, smartphones have evolved significantly in terms of responsiveness, accessibility, and ease of use, making them a key platform for casual gaming. And mobile games are no longer just for the young. More and more older adults are spending time playing mobile games. For many, gaming isn’t seen as a waste of time. Instead, they find it relaxing. Playing games offers a sense of control and satisfaction. As people grow older, they often shift their focus inward, moving away from future-oriented activities like learning new skills or making friends, and instead, towards emotionally satisfying activities. This explains why people of all ages are drawn to mobile games, especially those that offer fun, social interaction, and a bit of a challenge.

Evony TKR: A Diverse and Inclusive Gaming Universe

Evony: The King’s Return is a unique real-time strategy war game, played in over 150 countries and translated into 24 languages. The game offers a real-time persistent world where players can see everything happening in real time—battles, player movements, monsters, bosses, and events. Players can cheer on friends as they battle monsters or help their guild compete for great prizes.

The game’s design goes beyond just entertainment. It embraces diversity and inclusivity by fostering a welcoming environment where players from various cultures and backgrounds come together seamlessly. In-game translation tools and real-time multilingual chat allow players to communicate and cooperate, no matter where they come from. This ensures that every player feels part of a larger, connected community. The focus on representation guarantees that no one feels left out, creating a shared world for all.

Major Milestones and Recognition

As of now, Evony TKR has been downloaded over 200 million times. In 2023, it generated more than $355 million in revenue and has earned several industry awards, including:

• NYX Silver Award for Best Mobile Strategy Game

• Samsung Galaxy Store Best MMO Award

• Ranked #5 in Data.ai’s list of Top Ten US-Headquartered MidCore Games

CEO David Guo: Pushing for High-Quality Game Development

David Guo, the co-founder and CEO of Top Games, Inc., leads the team behind Evony. He emphasizes the importance of creating highquality games and holds his team accountable for delivering top-notch experiences. David believes that user experience is the key to a game’s success. He values player feedback and continually pushes for innovative gameplay mechanics to keep players engaged.

“As an indie gaming company, we prioritize user experience and satisfaction above all else. The key to success in the gaming industry is to create games that are great from the player's perspective, not just the designer's. This means providing an experience that is simple and fun, allowing players to make friends and become part of a community,” said David Guo.

David also oversees research and development for new projects at TGI. He ensures the company operates with clear market strategies and seeks out valuable collaborations with popular IPs. “I love these collaborations; they’re fun and exciting. Our IP collaborations, such as Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla, and Napoleon, have proven very successful in boosting brand visibility and expanding our audience,” David explained.

Benjamin Gifford: Focused on Key Areas and Quick Problem Solving

As an independent game development company, Top Games, Inc. must carefully manage resources. Benjamin Gifford, the Vice President of TGI, stresses the importance of focusing on key projects and using an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) approach to development. This helps the team quickly iterate and respond to player feedback.

“We identify market opportunities to provide distinct value. Each project must enhance user enjoyment and community building. We adopt a lean approach, rapidly developing an MVP and testing it in specific markets. This allows us to innovate responsibly while minimizing risks,” said Benjamin Gifford.

David & Ben: A Shared Vision

David Guo, also known as Yaoqi Guo, graduated from Sun Yat-sen University with a degree in physics. Even during his studies, David demonstrated a strong passion for gaming and software development, participating in university competitions and winning multiple awards. He realized that many game companies did not prioritize player experience, which inspired him to establish his own game development company. He brought together a team of like-minded talents to pursue the mission of creating high-quality games.

Benjamin Gifford’s entry into the gaming industry began over fifteen years ago when he met David. Together, they were driven by their shared passion for the power of games to bring people together. Benjamin’s early career focused on the intersection of technology and storytelling, which led him to roles in game development and design. Their leadership at Top Games, Inc. reflects their deep commitment to enhancing the gaming industry and providing a better experience for players.

The Future of Evony

As Top Games, Inc.'s flagship game, Evony will continue to evolve. With ongoing updates to its mechanics, design, graphics, and storytelling, the game remains a title to look forward to for players of all ages.