Age of Wonders 4
AoW 4
Release Date: May 2, 2023
Strategy, fantasy, turn-based, 4X, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
OpenCritic
Steam
The fourth main installment of the fantasy turn-based strategy series by Triumph Studios, published by Paradox Interactive.
Last Update: May 4, 2023
Age of Wonders 4 Guide
Age of Wonders 4 guide is the best beginner's guide, tips for building, creating lands, developing a country. We describe all units, factions, features, creation modes, Book of Magic, victory conditions, game length, system requirements.
April 29, 2023
New Releases, May 2023 - The Year Finally Gets Going!
In May, no one should complain about lack of new games to play. The month is filled with releases, with the loudest games of the year still to come! Choose wisely, because, as the weather gets better, it's also worth to spend time outside!
Videos and Screens
[2:32] Age of Wonders 4 Age of Wonders 4 - Expansion Pass 2 Launch Trailer
[1:35] Age of Wonders 4 Dragon Dawn DLC trailer
Metro GameCentral: 8 / 10 by Nick Gillett
A massive and complex fantasy themed 4X strategy game, made appealingly straightforward thanks to its cleverly refined interface.
PC Gamer: 87 / 100 by Fraser Brown
A flavourful and inventive 4X full of incredible spells and engaging empire management.
Wccftech: 8 / 10 by Nathan Birch
Age of Wonders 4 offers a rare and refreshing level of flexibility for a 4X game, allowing you to customize your leader, people, and realm to an impressive degree. This can be a bit bewildering at first, and the level of complexity threatens to overwhelm the game’s limited tactical battles, but it all comes together as a satisfying package after a bit of trial and error. Age of Wonders 4 may not be the perfect potion for all turn-based strategy fans, but it should enchant a good portion of them.
The main pros of the game
- Customization: Players appreciate the extensive customization options for factions and characters, allowing for unique playstyles and roleplay opportunities.
- Visuals and Aesthetics: The game is noted for its beautiful graphics and engaging art style, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The blend of turn-based strategy and tactical combat is well-received, with many players enjoying the depth of strategy involved.
- Replayability: The variety of factions, spells, and customization options contribute to high replayability, with players able to create different experiences each time.
- Frequent Updates: Continuous updates and improvements from the developers keep the game fresh and engaging, addressing many issues over time.
- Single-Player Experience: Many reviews highlight that the game is enjoyable in single-player mode, with a compelling narrative and engaging mechanics.
The main cons of the game
- Multiplayer Issues: The multiplayer experience is plagued by desynchronization problems, crashes, and overall instability, making it frustrating for players trying to enjoy co-op gameplay.
- DLC Pricing: Users express dissatisfaction with the pricing of DLCs, feeling they are too expensive and contribute to a feeling of being nickel-and-dimed.
- Performance Issues: Some players report lag and performance problems, especially on larger maps with many players, which can detract from the gaming experience.
- AI Behavior: The AI is criticized for being unbalanced and sometimes irrational, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Complexity: Some users find the game's mechanics overly complicated, which can make it difficult for new players to get into the game.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Distinct Racial Identities: Players miss the unique identities of different races, feeling that the customization options lead to a lack of differentiation among factions.
- Map Editor: The absence of a robust map editor is noted as a significant omission, limiting players' ability to create and share custom maps.
- Improved AI Tactics: Many users desire better AI that can provide a more challenging and engaging experience, particularly in terms of strategic planning.
- Balancing and Quality of Life Improvements: Suggestions for more balanced gameplay mechanics and quality of life enhancements, such as better notifications and clearer unit information, are common.
- More Engaging Combat Animations: Some players feel that the combat animations and spell effects could be more visually impressive, as they currently seem underwhelming given the game's fantasy theme.
Summary
- Overall, Age of Wonders 4 is seen as a solid entry in the 4X strategy genre, particularly praised for its customization and single-player experience, but it faces significant criticism regarding its multiplayer functionality and certain gameplay mechanics.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 122 votes. 39 players anticipated the game.
Age of Wonders 4 Description
Age of Wonders 4 is the next installment of a turn-based strategy series, developed by the Dutch Triumph Studios since 1999. Like its predecessors - and unlike the futuristic Age of Wonders: Planetfall - the game is set in a fantasy universe. It was released by Paradox Interactive.
Plot
The fourth installment features a different approach to story elements. In addition to the traditional campaign - taking place in the land of Evermore known from the previous installments and revolving around the Wizard Kings, making their return to rule over mortals as gods - Age of Wonders 4 allows players to create their own stories as well.
This is made possible thanks to the very powerful kingdom creator. It allows us to determine things such as the climate of our future lands, their inhabitants, culture, social traits and magical powers. We can also create the kingdom's leader in another, equally-as-complex creator.
Creating your own worlds and races is entirely optional. There are plenty of pre-made realms and characters, letting the player start the game proper very quickly. Age of Wonders 4 features a system of story events as well. These add uniqueness to the game and create a sense of a constantly evolving story. This impression is made all the greater by the option of using the lands you've created and led to glory in future playthrough, as allies or enemies.
Mechanics
In terms of gameplay, the fourth installment doesn't differ much from the previous ones. Your main goal is to build a powerful empire that will stand the test of time. This can be done by exploring new lands and expanding your territory, extracting resourcing and exterminating its native wildlife. The gameplay, therefore, contains all the elements of a 4X strategy.
Particularly important is the latter aspect - extermination. During combat we'll face wild beasts and the armies of other nations. Battles are turn-based, with victory requiring good tactics, taking advantage of the terrain and using our units' special abilities. Our formations can be upgraded - permanently or temporarily - via rare magical books. The troops' effectiveness in combat is determined by factors such as their morale, ensuring no clash will be the same as the other.
It's worth adding the player can directly affect where to face their foes. After all, your kingdom's geographic and political structure depends on you. You can annex neutral cities, exploit fertile lands to the point of unusability or change the climate with spellcasting, letting snow cover the realm.
Technical aspects
Age of Wonders 4 can be played both in singleplayer and in online PvP.
7
GAMES
in Age of Wonders Game Series
Game Series
Age of Wonders Series
Turn-based strategy series, created by Dutch Triumph Studios. Brand Age of Wonders is sometimes considered the "spiritual successor" of the series Master of Magic.
7 video games
Age of Wonders 4 Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Developer: Triumph Studios
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Age of Wonders 4 System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: (30 fps / 1080p) Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X 3.6 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 670 / Radeon HD 7870 or better, 20 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: (60 fps / 1080p) Intel Core i7-9700K 3.6 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7 GHz, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce GTX 1070 Ti / Radeon RX 5700 XT or better, 20 GB HDD, Windows 10/11 64-bit
Age of Wonders 4 Expects Second Major Expansion
We learned the release date and content of the Empires & Ashes DLC for the turn-based strategy game Age of Wonders 4. The Golem update will debut simultaneously with the DLC.
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Age of Wonders 4 - How to Annex Province and Ancient Wonder
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How to Get Pantheon Points in Age of Wonders 4
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Map Size in Age of Wonders 4; How to Make it Bigger
In this guide you will learn what affects the size of the map in Age of Wonders 4. We also described how to make it bigger.
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Age of Wonders 4 - Mounts Guide
In this guide we present useful information about mounts in Age of Wonders 4. Read our article to learn more.
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Race Transformation in Age of Wonders 4; Become Undead, Angel and more
In this guide we will talk about race transformation spells in AoW4. You can change your faction completely, become an angel, undead or demon.
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