What Does Premium Unlock?

Conquer the Map is free to play — you can create an account, earn coins, climb the leaderboard, and play unlimited games without spending anything. Premium is an optional subscription for players who want specific competitive or social features that go beyond the free tier. This guide covers every Premium feature in detail, explains who each feature is for, and gives an honest assessment of whether it's worth it for your playstyle. Premium is $6.99 per month, or less on longer plans. There is no trial period, but you can cancel at any time and retain Premium benefits for the remainder of your billing cycle. Feature 1 — Host 5–6 Player Games: The free tier caps room size at 4 players. Premium removes this cap, allowing the room host to invite up to 6 players. Who this is for: anyone who regularly plays with a group of 5 or 6 friends. In a 4-player game, the map is still competitive but large enough that early continent control can be decisive. In a 5 or 6-player game, the dynamics shift significantly: continents are much harder to hold because you have more potential attackers, mission objectives are more likely to conflict, and the situational card effects become more chaotic with more turns per round. Important clarification: only the room host needs Premium to unlock 5–6 player rooms. Guests can join for free. If you're the designated host of your friend group, Premium pays for your entire group's access to the larger format. Honest assessment: if you play with a consistent group of 5 or more, this is the most clear-cut reason to subscribe. If you mostly play solo or in 4-player casual matchmaking, this feature has less impact. Feature 2 — Crown Badge: Premium members get a crown badge displayed on their profile page, on their commander card in all game rooms, and next to their name on the leaderboard. The badge is visible to all players in any room you join. Who this is for: players who care about their in-game identity and presence. The crown is a status signal — it tells other players in the room that you're a supporter of the game. It's not a competitive advantage, but it is visible. Honest assessment: this is a soft social feature. If table presence matters to you, you'll appreciate it. If you play for competitive results only, it's irrelevant. Feature 3 — Priority Matchmaking: When using the Casual matchmaking option in Play Online, Premium players are prioritized in the matching queue. In practice, this means you wait less time to be placed into an open room during off-peak hours. Who this is for: players who use Casual matchmaking frequently and play during hours when the player pool is smaller (late night, early morning in your time zone). During peak hours when rooms fill quickly, this feature has minimal impact. Honest assessment: a genuine quality-of-life improvement if you play during off-peak hours. During busy periods, the wait time difference is negligible. Feature 4 — Exclusive Chat Emotes: Premium unlocks a set of additional emote reactions available in in-game chat. These are purely cosmetic — they appear in the chat panel visible to all players in the room. Who this is for: social players who engage actively in in-game chat. The emotes have no effect on gameplay. Honest assessment: this is a minor cosmetic perk. It will matter to some players and be completely irrelevant to others. Feature 5 — Gold Leaderboard Frame: Your entry on the global leaderboard gets a gold frame that distinguishes you from non-Premium players at the same ranking position. The frame is visible to anyone viewing the leaderboard. Who this is for: competitive players who spend time on the leaderboard and care about their visual standing. If you're grinding coins and climbing divisions, the gold frame signals your commitment to the competitive side of the game. Honest assessment: a visibility feature for competitive players. Pairs well with the crown badge for a consistent Premium identity across the game. Is Premium Worth It? An Honest Breakdown by Player Type: Casual solo player (plays 2–5 games per week, usually in 3–4 player rooms): Premium offers limited practical benefit. The core game is fully playable for free. Wait time benefits from priority matchmaking are small. The cosmetics (crown, gold frame, emotes) are the main differentiator. At $6.99/month, it's a low-cost way to support the game's development if you enjoy it, but it's not necessary. Competitive leaderboard climber (plays daily, tracks ranking, coin-grinds): the gold leaderboard frame and crown badge reinforce your competitive identity. Priority matchmaking helps you get into rooms faster during off-peak grind sessions. For a player investing significant time in climbing the leaderboard, the monthly cost is small relative to the time invested. Friend-group host (organizes games with a consistent group of 5–6 people): this is the most clear-cut use case. If your group consistently hits the 4-player cap, Premium directly unlocks the format you want. One subscription unlocks the larger room for your entire group. New player exploring the game: start with the free tier. Learn the game mechanics, build your leaderboard ranking, and evaluate Premium after you've established a regular play pattern. The core game is not paywalled. How to Subscribe: Go to conquerthemap.com/store from your logged-in account. Premium activates immediately after payment. Your crown badge, gold frame, and emotes appear on your next login. Room size unlocks apply immediately to any new room you create. If you cancel, your Premium benefits remain active until the end of the current billing period. There are no partial refunds for cancellations mid-cycle. Questions about billing can be directed to contact@conquerthemap.com.