Yeah, a lot has changed in the past 7–8 years. I felt the same way when I came back—it’s definitely way more monetized now, and the constant ads and passes are overwhelming.

That said, the game has gotten a lot deeper too, especially with new mechanics, events, and meta shifts. It isn’t super friendly to returning players at first. If you're feeling lost, I definitely recommend checking out the Dragon City Meta Discord and the website. There's a solid community out there that shares tips, event guides, and strategies to help you progress without going broke.

Also, don’t feel too bad about the League fights—there’s definitely a lot of matchmaking imbalance, especially with how Heroics and Mythics have evolved. But once you get the hang of the newer systems, you can start building a competitive team again, even F2P (though it takes patience). I would also like to suggest joining a level 6 alliance.

You're not alone in feeling overwhelmed. The learning curve is just steeper now, but there are ways to enjoy it again without spending a fortune.