Every popular game has its highs and lows. You can never please everyone, and sometimes you can’t help but have controversy. “Clash Royale” is a game that falls under those specifications, and because of that, it has had a strong nine-year history full of fun, as well as struggle. No game is perfect, and that is just as true for “Clash Royale.”

“Clash Royale” is an online strategy game in which players collect cards to use in battles against other players. It was developed by Finnish video game studio Supercell in 2016 and has maintained a strong player base since its release.

The gameplay goes as follows: players collect cards, then upgrade them to make them more powerful in battle. Then players enter the arena in a 1v1 to try to destroy each other’s towers. Your goal is to strategically destroy the enemy towers while defending your own.

“Clash Royale” has always been a relatively popular game, but like any game, it has had highs and lows.

“When I lose, it’s the lowest of the low,” senior Anders Repp said.

For a while, “Clash Royale” was in a state of stagnation, not making any progress. In fact, in April of 2025, the game seemed to be taking a tumble, with a streak of bad updates that caused the community to turn their back on the game. During that month, “Clash Royale” would only make approximately $16 million, which is less than half of what it would make just a few months later in June of 2025. In just two months, from April to June, the monthly revenue doubled, going from 16 million to 35 million dollars, reports Udonis.

“The dopamine when I win is like another level, It’s like a drug for me. There is nothing that gets me up in the morning like ‘Clash Royale,’ senior Jackson Kaiser said. “I can’t function during my day without it.”

While there were multiple reasons for this influx of popularity within the game, the largest factor was due to internet influencers making content on the game.

Creators like Jynxzi, Ken, and Bobbyokjuan began to make massively popular “Clash Royale” content that brought a breath of fresh air into the game. Through collaborations and sensational content, internet influencers brought attention back to “Clash Royale.”

In addition to influencer attention, constant updates and controversial decisions consistently bring eyes to the game. Supercell will often add cards to the game that the community deems to be too powerful, which constantly brings new things to talk about. These cards have been coined with the term “overpowered”.

“I strongly dislike individuals who play the card Megaknight, as I consider it to be a no-skill card,” Kaiser said. “Don’t even get me started on the boss bandit.”

A lot of content made from “Clash Royale” comes from creators using the new overpowered cards to get what the community considers an unfair advantage. These powerful cards cause continuous controversy within the community. An example of this is the card boss bandit, which, on release, was easily accessible in the shop, but not so easy to get for free.

Whether you love it or hate it, it is undeniable that the cultural significance of “Clash Royale” isn’t small. With the game’s recent surge in popularity, it only makes sense for it to make an impact on people’s lives.

“Clash is life,” senior William Simmons, former AHS student and current student at Philipsburg High School in New Jersey, said.