Age of Empires Video Game Series

Strategy 17 October 2024

A free-to-play spin-off of the popular series of RTS games, developed for mobile devices. Age of Empires Mobile offers mechanics typical for this series, but also plenty of brand new features, including turn-based battles in addition to classic real time combat.

ANDiOS

Strategy 28 October 2021

The fourth full-fledged installment in the famous series of real-time strategy games. The saga is considered as one of the most important in the history of the genre. Contrary to previous games in the series, which were developed by the now defunct Ensemble Studios, Age of Empires IV was developed by Relic Entertainment, a studio that created series like Company of Heroes and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War. The mechanics of Age of Empires IV are faithful to its predecessors. The player takes control of one of several civilizations (including European, Asian and Arab nations) and leads it through subsequent phases of evolution. During the game, the player is gathering resources, constructing new buildings and creating powerful armies. In addition to single player mode, the title features an advanced multiplayer mode that enables the player to face other commanders from across the world.

PCXSXXONE

Strategy 15 October 2020

A refreshed and improved version of Age of Empires III, a game from 2005 that was the third installment in the series of best-selling real-time strategy games. The new version was developed by Forgotten Empires, a studio that also created remastered editions of the first and second games in the series. Most of the changes are related to the graphics and interface – they were adapted to modern computers and displays. This enabled the game to support 4K resolution. In comparison to the original game, the gameplay mechanics of Age of Empires III: Definite Edition remained unchanged. The game still focuses on managing a settlement by gathering resources, constructing new buildings, discovering new areas of the map and leading selected nation through various ages. Fighting enemy is an important aspect of the game – the battles are fought by infantry, cavalry, siege machines and powerful artillery. In addition to a single-player mode, the game features advanced multiplayer mode.

PC

Strategy 14 November 2019

A remastered and improved edition of Age of Empires II – the second installment in the best-selling real time strategy series, originally released in the year 2000. The enhanced edition has been developed by Forgotten Empires. The improvements implemented herein regard mostly the visuals and the interface – the visuals have been significantly improved, and the game supports 4K resolution. The developers have also decided to implement the symphonic soundtrack to accompany the player’s efforts. Similarly to its original release, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition allows the players to lead one of over a dozen nations through the centuries of development. During the game, the player has to acquire resources, erect new structures, and invent new technologies. Apart from the economic aspect, combat is an important element of the game. In order to succeed, the player has to create a large and highly diversified army – including infantry, cavalry, and numerous war engines – and come up with effective strategies. Apart from the single player campaigns and skirmishes, the game offers an elaborate multiplayer experience.

PCXSXXONE

Strategy 20 February 2018

A refreshed version of Age of Empires, a real-time strategy game that debuted in 1997. Microsoft, the company responsible for the new version, focused not only on improving the graphics so that they now support 4K resolution, but on recording a new version of the symphonic soundtrack as well. The title contains the contents of the basic version of the original game and of the Rise of Rome expansion pack. The single player scenarios were expanded with new narrative features. In Age of Empires: Definitive Edition the player is leading civilizations from various regions of the world to war. The gameplay is focused on expanding the base, obtaining resources, recruiting army and participating in dynamic battles. A modernized interface makes controlling the battlefield easier. In addition to single player modes, the title offers multiplayer mode based on Xbox Live.

PC

Strategy 27 August 2014

Age of Empires: Castle Siege is a spin-off of the best-selling Age of Empires series. Castle Siege is a free-to-play game with optional microtransactions. The game was developed by Smoking Gun Interactive, creators of many mobile games and Kinect games for Xbox 360, under the watchful eye of Microsoft. Castle Siege is set in medieval times, and the players can choose one of the few historic factions to play as. The game's mechanics are rather different than those from the regular Age of Empires games. Age of Empires: Castle Siege has two primary gameplay aspects: the economic one, focusing on gathering resources, castle's extensions, and technological development; and the strategic one, which requires the players to attack other strongholds, controlled either by A.I. or other players. Multiplayer, which allows PC and mobile gamers to play together, is the core of the gameplay. However, Smoking Gun Interactive also created a single player mode, in which the players can play out a multiple mission campaign, and single scenarios inspired by famous historic battles.

PCANDiOSWP

Strategy 09 April 2013

A remastered version of Age of Empire II: The Age of the Kings, a popular real-time strategy game and its expansion - Age of Empires II: The Conqueror. The new edition was developed by Hidden Path Entertainment in cooperation with Microsoft Game Studios. Compared to the 1999’s original, the changes introduced in Age of Empires II: HD Edition involve mainly improved graphics, which were adjusted to HD standard. The developers remained faithful to the classic gameplay mechanics — the players assume the role of a leader of one of 18 historical nations and control their progress through subsequent centuries. Victory can be achieved in various ways, including military conquest, diplomacy, and economic expansion.

PC

Strategy 16 August 2011

Another installment in the wildly popular strategy game series by Gas Powered Games, dedicated to web-based gameplay. You play as a leader of your chosen nation, and your task is to build your city, gather resources, develop new technologies, create a vast army and conquer new territories. Apart from your nation's capital, you can also visit other metropolises, where you can find not only stores, but also various quests, which you can complete on your own or with other players' help. More experienced player can try the special “Elite” difficulty level. Compared to the other games in the series, the visuals of Age of Empires online are more cartoonish. The game utilizes a free-to-play model, although new civilizations, add-ons and bonus missions cost real-life money. On 1 July 2014 the development of the game has ended and its servers were closed.

PC

Strategy 24 November 2008

Another installment in the turn-based strategy game series by Griptonite Games for Nintendo DS. The game utilizes not only the solutions used in Age of Empires: Age of Kings, but also in all of the popular RTS franchise, mostly known for its PC installments. Your task in the game is to lead one of the three available nations: Greeks, Vikings or Egyptians. The gameplay consists on expanding your village, gathering resources and developing new technologies, creating invincible armies (apart from standard units, your army may also include mythical heroes such as Perseus or Ramses, as well as fantastic beasts) and fighting enemies. Age of Empires: Mythologies features both a single player mode and a multiplayer mode for up to 4 players. Compared to the original, the visuals and the enemy AI have been upgraded.

NDS

Strategy 19 July 2006

A special edition of Age of Empires - the first instalment of the cult series of real-time strategy games, which was supervised by Ensemble Studios team. The player takes on the role of a leader of one of several civilisations, including Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Persia and Phoenicia. The gameplay focuses on expanding the settlement, developing new technologies, leading the nation through successive stages of development (from the Stone Age to the Iron Age) and on fielding the most powerful armies and confronting the enemy forces.

PC

Strategy 14 February 2006

Turn-based strategy game developed by Digital Eclipse for the Nintendo DS console. Players lead one of five nations (Britons, Franks, Saracens, Mongols and Japanese) to victory in unique campaigns. Gameplay focuses on gathering resources, researching new technologies and forming powerful armies. We can choose from 45 various units, as well as heroes like Richard the Lionheart, Saladin and even Robin Hood. Age of Empires: The Age of Kings makes use of the unique features of the handheld, with main screen showing data about units and other information, as well as fights against enemies, while the bottom screen let us navigate on map and plan our next move. Aside from single player, there is a multiplayer mode for up to four players.

NDS

Strategy 18 October 2005

The third major installment in a cult RTS franchise created and developed under the watchful eye of the Microsoft company. Contrary to the previous editions, which were set in ancient and medieval times, this one lets you witness centuries-long conquest of America, spanning from 16th to 19th century. Because of its wider time frame and a setting much closer to modern times, the game lets you command both medieval units, as well as more recent technical advancements. The developers brought back the well-proven mechanics, with an addition of some new elements. Core gameplay is an extensive story campaign depicting a blend of facts and fictional events. In multiplayer you can command one of eight playable nations, each one having its own, unique features. Additionally the game can boast impressive 3D graphics created using the Havok physics engine.

PC

Strategy 02 November 2000

A collector’s edition comprised of several strategy games from the Age of Empires series. The package contains Age of Empires, Age of Empires: Rise of Rome, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, and Age of Empires II: The Conquerors. All titles were developed and taken care of by Ensemble Studios. Regardless of the chosen title, the player takes control over one of numerous available civilizations, with a task to conquer its opponents. The gameplay focuses on settlement building, resource gathering, developing new technologies, and fielding powerful armies that are sent to deal with your opponent. We can choose from numerous types of units, including infantry, cavalry, complex siege machines, as well as special units such as priests healing our units and converting enemy forces. Even with all the action at hand, our civilization still needs to develop – we need to keep large stockpiles of each resource to be able to advance to a new age. Each installment contains a number of campaigns based on historical events, and is characteristic for its two-dimensional, hand-drawn graphics.

PC

Strategy 28 September 1999

The second installment belonging to an incredibly popular series of real-time strategy games. Age of Empires II: The Age of the Kings was developed by Ensemble Studios. The player assumes command of a civilization chosen (13 in total here) and leads them through subsequent stages of development. For example, one can play as Franks, Mongols, Celts or Vikings. Compared to the first installment, the visuals were improved (more detailed), as was the AI of the player's subordinates - as a result, additional orders can be given to them, such as to patrol the vicinity, to guard a designated spot, or to follow a specific target. Furthermore, an option to group units into various formations was introduced. Apart from that, the player can now trade and manipulate the prices of different resources. Age of Empires II: The Age of the Kings features both single player modes (such as a campaign devoted to a Scottish national hero William Wallace) and a multiplayer variant (PC version only).

PCPS2

Strategy 30 June 1997

A real time strategy developed by Ensemble Studios. The players take control of one of twelve ancient civilizations, including, among others, Babylon, Egypt, Greece, or Korea, with the task to lead them through four advancement stages spanning across 10 thousand years. The gameplay focuses on building our own settlement (based on four architectonic styles: Asian, Egyptian, Middle Eastern, and Greek), acquiring necessary resources (wood, food, stone, gold), researching new technologies, and recruiting military units. Aside from four story campaigns, Age of Empires includes special scenarios, a skirmish mode with AI-controlled opponents, and a multiplayer mode for up to eight players. The game is characterized by its hand-drawn, 2D graphics.

PC

Strategy canceled

A mobile real time strategy game developed by the Singapore-based studio KLab Global using the license of the Microsoft's cult strategy series. In the game, the player takes control of one of the great historical civilizations and his task is to develop its power and lead it to world domination. The player can choose from Celts, Brits, Vikings, Japanese, Chinese, Franks, Saracen, and Huns. Each nation has its own technology tree, buildings, and units, among which there are also legendary historical characters with unique abilities. As in other games of the series, gameplay in Age of Empires: World Domination consists mostly of gathering resources, developing the nation's economy, and participating in battles which, despite being much smaller than in PC installments of the series, offer a significant tactical depth. The game is available for free and based on the free-to-play model with additional microtransactions.

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