Published on : 2025-10-07 11:05
       
        - ⏳ How It Started
       I never thought a mobile game could get under my skin the way 
       Evony: The King's Return did. At first, it was just something to 
       fill a few spare minutes - build a little city, train some troops, 
       join an alliance, and watch my kingdom slowly grow. It felt 
       harmless, even relaxing. But somewhere along the way, it stopped 
       feeling casual and started feeling like a responsibility. It 
       started taking me a lot of time doing everything necessary in 
       the game ...
       
        - ⏰ The Routine
       I'd check in constantly - first thing in the morning, during lunch 
       breaks, before bed - just to make sure my upgrades were running or
       my troops were training. The game had this sneaky way of 
       rewarding constant attention. Every little timer, every flashing 
       icon, every “limited-time” event made me feel like I had to keep 
       up or risk falling behind. It sounds silly now, but at the time, 
       it felt important.
       
        - 💸 The Temptation
       Then came the offers - those perfectly timed deals that promised 
       faster growth, stronger heroes, or rare items. The kind of rewards 
       that were *just* out of reach unless you spent a few dollars. I 
       told myself it wasn't worth it, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't
       tempted. I hovered over the “buy” button more than once, convincing
       myself it was “only a small boost” or “just this one time.”
       
        - ⚔️ The Comparison Trap
       What really got me, though, was the comparison. Seeing alliance 
       members rise through the ranks faster, unlocking powerful generals 
       and flashy new buildings - it sparked this quiet sense of 
       competition. I started measuring my progress against theirs, even 
       though none of it truly mattered. That's when I realized the game 
       wasn't fun anymore; it was just keeping me hooked.
       
        - 🗑️ Letting Go
       One early morning, I stared at my phone and asked myself why I was 
       still doing this. The answer didn't feel good. So I deleted my 
       account, uninstalled the app, and decided to walk away completely. 
       The relief was instant. No more timers, no more notifications, no 
       more pressure. Just silence - and honestly, it felt amazing. 🌿
       
        - 🏆 The Real Victory
       Sometimes the real victory isn't winning the game. It's realizing 
       you don't need to play it anymore.
       
       Here's a link to Evony's website. It's a great game and they 
       deserve it.
       
 (HTM) Evony: The King's Return
       
       but Utopia was and always will be better.
       
 (HTM) Utopia - The strategy RPG for hardcore players
       
 (DIR)  Back to my phlog