Your first battle in ÈRES.

1. Start a single-player match

On the ÈRES page, click the play button. The game loads on the page, with no installation or account needed for single-player. On your first visit, stay connected while images and sounds load.

From the home screen, press “Play” for a skirmish. The cog lets you choose options and difficulty. “Campaign” opens the six chapters of The Rivalry, with illustrated scenes and French or English voices.

To learn at your own pace, choose the long format. Quick matches start at ×2 speed and strongholds begin taking attrition damage after five minutes. Long matches have no time limit, although the simulation also speeds up after five minutes.

2. Look before spending all your gold

Your goal is to destroy the opposing stronghold while protecting yours. You recruit units; they advance and fight automatically. Check their cost and role before filling the recruitment queue.

Melee, ranged and heavy units suit different situations. Start by watching a small wave: does it reach the enemy defences? Are your ranged units protected? Adjust your composition instead of repeating a recruitment choice that is failing.

If the opponent repeatedly reaches your stronghold, check the available turrets. Keep some gold to react: spending everything on an attack leaves fewer choices when a new wave arrives. No single combination wins every battle.

3. Work with the fog of war

A dark area is not necessarily empty. Recon is available from the start: first flight free, then 15 gold. One click launches the scout; the “!” button opens its report. It can designate a tower or heavy unit and increase your units’ damage against that target for 10 seconds. The report contains only information actually observed.

Explored terrain stays on your map. Before committing a lot of gold, take time to locate the opposing defences. The game menu includes an interactive introduction to fog of war and a scout comparison to explain their uses.

4. Prepare your next age

ÈRES spans five ages: Wild Dawn, Kingdoms of Bronze, Crowns of Iron, Cities of Steam and Stellar Horizon. Each brings a new appearance and new units to develop your strategy.

Check the resources required by the progression button. Advancing to the next age can open new possibilities, but your stronghold needs defending while you save up. If you are under pressure, stabilise the front first.

Need advice while learning? The in-game Guide and Ysko, our mascot, explain recruitment, defences and gold management. Return to these explanations when you encounter a new situation.

5. Give the battlefield some room

On a phone, try landscape orientation and the full-screen button. If your browser does not support full screen, “Open the game” opens ÈRES in a separate tab. Touch controls let you recruit and move the camera.

Web version 1.21.0 lets you play on desktop and mobile. Solo and multiplayer share the same interface; open your player profile to create an account or sign in.

6. Return on the same device

Solo progress is saved in your browser on this device and at the game address you use. Return to the same place to find it again. Your account gives you access to your online profile, but does not guarantee automatic transfer of the solo campaign between devices.

Avoid clearing site data if you want to keep your save. Private browsing may also erase data when you close it. Bookmark the ÈRES page to return easily.

7. Create your account and join an online match

The player profile button lets you sign in with Google, Facebook, Discord or an email account. For email registration, confirm your address with the link you receive. Your profile and rankings are associated with the ÈRES Arena server.

In “Multiplayer”, create a room or join another player’s room. “Leaderboard” lets you search for a ranked duel. Internet access is required; finding an opponent depends on available players.