Worlds are smaller now for a couple of reasons. First of all is co-playing. There are only about half as many accounts as there are players which is kind of a big deal. lol
Secondly if you look at the rim you'll see that it is VERY dense. They expected that a lot of those guest accounts would quit so they packed them together in order to make a normal area once they all disappeared. If accounts didn't disappear and people didn't cheat by pulling accounts around them for the barbs then this wouldn't be an issue.
Third of all it's P2W. That doesn't mean it's bad per say. It's just a change in strategy. Most people don't adjust to said change and don't like it so they don't play. Many refuse to give it a chance. As I've stated before P2W was terrible until you could trade resources for premium. But most people saw this change as being even worse. Not as selling resources in order to get premium to spend yourself. But as those with money to spend getting even further ahead than before. Further pushing them from the idea.
Finally, the number of players has declined. It seems like Innogames stopped advertising for TW a long time ago and put their attention to games like Greopolis where the P2W market is better and they make more money. That doesn't mean their greedy it means they are smart. If you want this game to have more players tell your friends about it. I taught my GF how to play who then taught like 8 of her friends how to play and they are all in a tribe on the rim now. I know 9 players doesn't change the game, but if more people wouldn't be so damned embarrassed about playing this game more people would want to play it.