From Evony to Anime RPG: Top Games' David Guo on Run! Goddess' Mix of Strategy and Anime Style

According to the latest data, there are approximately 3.32 billion active video gamers worldwide, with a significant portion playing on smartphones. The main reasons players engage with games include relaxation, entertainment, social interaction, competition, and learning. In the mobile gaming sector, the most popular genres are casual, shooter, action, and adventure games.

New Game - Run! Goddess

Recently, Top Games, Inc., developer of Evony: The King's Return, launched a new mobile game combining multiple elements - Run! Goddess. This free-to-play anime RPG with strategy elements is set in a post-apocalyptic world where players command a squad of stylish heroines, tactically assemble their team, and engage in intense combat against hordes of infected enemies. The game features character collection and upgrades in this gripping wave-based shooter.

The core gameplay utilizes a side-scrolling runner framework while integrating character development and dungeon challenges to create a multi-layered experience. Through the automated Armory Box system, the Valkyrie Squad continues defeating waves of infected enemies outside of active gameplay, earning equipment and improving both basic and advanced attributes.

As the Dawn Bringer's level increases, so does the level of obtained gear. Similarly, upgrading the Armory Box research level improves the quality of acquired equipment.

"Along with the typical AFK auto-loot feature, the game shows you when better equipment drops so you can equip it immediately. This is great as you can get overwhelmed by all the loot," commented one player on Reddit.

Since its focused promotion began in 2025, players have praised the game for maintaining consistency between its advertisements and actual gameplay - something many mobile game developers fail to achieve. With no scams or tricks, along with smooth graphics and animations, players are actively encouraging others to try it.

The King of Real-Time Strategy: Evony: The King's Return

Top Games, Inc. made its mark with the hit strategy game Evony: The King's Return, which encourages players to develop strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. With its mid-core gameplay offering substantial challenge and robust social systems that help players form deep friendships and emotional connections through alliances, the game has consistently ranked among top-grossing titles. After eight years of development, it has accumulated over 230 million downloads with three consecutive years averaging over $300 million in revenue.

In 2025, CEO David Guo introduced the "Squads" management approach

The company's founder and CEO David G emphasizes that TGI remains committed to developing only high-quality games that bring genuine joy to users. The release of Run! Goddess demonstrates their focus on creating diverse, hybrid-genre games to reach broader audiences. In terms of team management, under David Guo's leadership in 2025, TGI established specialized "squads" to improve communication efficiency, implement flatter management structures, enhance productivity, unlock individual potential, and better align with company objectives.

"The studios that win are those that put players first, not just in intent, but in execution," said David Guo. "We've been through difficult cycles before, and each time, we've emerged stronger by holding true to that philosophy. We build fast, test rigorously, and if a product doesn't meet our high internal standards, we make the hard call to kill it early. That discipline ensures that the titles we launch are not only loved but enduring."

David Guo, a skilled software developer, has created firewall systems, currency trading platforms, social applications, and led development of Evony: Age I and Evony: Age II browser games. He later expanded the Evony concept into mobile gaming with innovative marketing approaches. His bold 2017 Super Bowl campaign for Evony: The King's Return brought instant fame, and the game's compelling design attracted a massive player base, establishing it as a classic in the RTS genre.

As for the newly styled Run! Goddess, it currently maintains above a 4.5 rating in app stores. Players widely believe the game has significant expansion potential and replayability, with gacha systems, Valkyrie Training, and Dungeon Challenges prompting growing numbers of players to share gameplay on YouTube. The anime-style character designs have particularly appealed to the otaku community.

Conclusion:

Truly great games require time, attention to detail, innovation, and development teams with genuine passion. For independent developers like TGI, the future presents challenges including economic headwinds, workforce reductions, and growing regulatory complexity. However, developers like TGI see this not as a setback, but as a defining moment to lead with discipline, adaptability, and long-term vision.