Age of Empires IV

Exciting civilizations, incredible attention to detail, and engrossing story campaigns makes for a game where it's impossible to not have a good time.

If you had come to me seven years ago and told me that Age of Empires would be a thing again, I would have called you a fool. I would have said to you that Age of Empires is dead, Microsoft killed it and that Microsoft should piss off out of the games industry because they are ruining everything they touch. At the time, I was right. Recent titles (Gears Tactics, Microsoft Flight Simulator), and traditional Xbox console exclusives coming to PC, indicate that the company knows the PC is a significant market. After a string of top-notch remasters, all eyes are now on Age of Empires IV.

A solid campaign and endless customization for single-player, co-op and online play, Age of Empires IV deserves a ton of credit for making turn-based strategy a treat to play.

But – it’s not revolutionizing the genre or setting a new standard in design. It has taken the best aspects of various games, creating a well-rounded package, with love and care of the stories being told and the civilizations and historical sagas being represented. Is it going to instigate new dawn for the classical real-time strategy game? Very doubtful. Is it going to be an amazing experience for fans of the genre? Absolutely.

No summary available

Whether it eventually comes to Xbox consoles or not, Age of Empires IV is still well worth a look if you’ve got access to Game Pass on PC, as it’s a "Day One" title. If you’re a long-time fan of the series, this is like the return of an old friend, and what's available at launch are the foundations to make this particular entry even better in years to come – with new content and updates (including mod support, arriving in 2022). This is easily one of the best Microsoft game releases of the year, and one that reminds us why we fell in love with the RTS genre in the first place.

Age of Empires IV may not redefine the real-time strategy genre like its predecessors, but it’s still a deep and challenging dive into the world of medieval warfare.

After hours spent in Age of Empires 4 destroying castles, commanding cavalry and building fortifications, I can say one thing - fans of the cult series 2 will feel at home here.

Age of Empires 4 is a deeply enjoyable return for the series. It puts history front and centre, and opts to refresh its gameplay instead of reinvent it. That may not be enough for some. Then again, when you’ve got a series that’s remained the base template for RTS games for more than twenty years, who can blame them?

Age of Empires 4 has the potential for greatness, but for now, it still walks in the shadow of the rightful king.

These hand-outs are symptomatic of the stagnation at the heart of Age of Empires 3. Even with the new home cities, gameplay feels tired and characterless. Bombarding players with shiny baubles and inconsequential gifts can’t hide that.

Ultimately, Age of Empires IV plays it far too safe for its own good, more aimed at pleasing traditionalists who weren’t keen on the third game than providing something new that demands to be played. Lacking campaigns means you will likely spend the majority of your time playing Skirmish. At best, it’s a new Xbox Game Pass curiosity, but it’s far from a historic return for the series. Age of Empire IV is available for $59.99 on PC.