Age of Empires IV is a continuation of the hit series published by Xbox Game Studios. The game this time takes place in medieval times, where you play through historical missions and multiplayer battles. Your main tasks in the game include base building, resource gathering and management, strategic development, and tactical combat.
In Age of Empires IV, you are tasked with commanding civilizations through distinct technological breakthroughs. You start by gathering resources and then adapting to changing times. You also need to outperform your rivals to succeed.
The game consists of four primary campaigns spanning different centuries. Each mission seems like an interactive documentary, with unique camera work, voice-over, and a storyline that smoothly transforms into the gameplay. Each of the eight civilizations that make up the world of Age of Empires IV has its own economy and skills that differentiate it from others. The game offers online multiplayer missions and is available on Windows and Xbox.
Why should I download Age of Empires IV?
Age of Empires IV is a real-time strategy enhanced with modern designs and technological improvements. It is a treat to any fan of historical games, as this title remains authentic to the times it presents.
This accuracy is reflected both in the campaigns you play and in the way the eight different civilizations behave and what skills they have. Mongols are truly nomadic, so you can pack up and relocate their buildings on the map. The English have better defensive mechanics, while the Delhi Sultanate offers superior research and technology. All of those change the strategy with which you need to approach the game and how you actually play.
As part of Age of Empires IV, you get four main single-player campaigns: The Normans, The Hundred Years War, The Mongol Empire, and The Rise of Moscow. Each mission starts with a documentary-like intro with historical information, drone-like footage of the map, and a professional voice-over so that you get the most context. Within the missions, you must complete various tasks, including base-building, resource control, stealth objectives, sieges, and more.
Resource management has always been a key factor in the Age of Empires series, so here you still need to collect food, wood, gold, and stone to train units or construct town centers or military buildings. These actions let you move over four different ages, each unlocking more complex challenges and advanced technology.
Age of Empires IV is also known for its combat mechanics, where you must carefully plan your unit composition and battlefield strategy. Some types of armies are weaker against others, like cavalry beats archers, but spearmen can take cavalry down. How you create your formations and flanks will remain crucial to the battle outcomes. You can also enable a skirmish mode in Age of Empires IV that allows you to battle AI opponents or team up with other players online. The game offers ranked online matches, setting up custom lobbies, and even cooperative modes.
Those who are new to Age of Empires IV can enable a lot of supporting features that can automate villager queuing, provide you with simplified economic data, or show helpful tips while you’re playing. The visual design of Age of Empires IV is highly stylized and realistic, while you can also control your view with various camera angles and perspectives. The game is a premium title that you can buy for Windows computers or Xbox gaming consoles.
Is Age of Empires IV free?
Age of Empires IV is not a free game, and you need to buy it first in order to play it. The game is distributed through Steam and Microsoft Store for computers, Xbox Game Pass, and the Xbox marketplace for Xbox One and Series S/X consoles.
You can buy the game in various bundles and expansion packs, including the base version, a Deluxe Edition, a 25th Anniversary Collection, and the Ultimate Bundle.
What operating systems are compatible with Age of Empires IV?
You can download Age of Empires IV for Windows computers, but it needs to match the game’s system requirements, which include Windows 10 or 11 in 64-bit, a CPU with AVX support, and at least 8 GB of RAM.
Age of Empires IV is also available for Microsoft gaming consoles, namely Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X, and on Steam Deck.
There are currently no options to play the game on macOS or Linux computers or other gaming consoles, such as PlayStation or Nintendo Switch.
What are the alternatives to Age of Empires IV?
Europa Universalis IV is a grand strategy game from Paradox Interactive that spans over four centuries. Your tasks include steering diplomacy, trade, and large-scale combat between 1444 and 1821 CE. The gameplay is turnless and forces you to focus on management, global strategic moves, and internal politics. You can buy and play Europa Universalis IV on Windows, macOS, and Linux computers.
Civilization VI is a turn-based strategy title that works on Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch gaming consoles. In this game, you get to lead civilizations starting from the Stone Age all the way to the Information Age, and you need to control such aspects as culture, science, military, and city development. Civilization VI involves making a lot of macro decisions and engaging in diplomacy with other factions, and it’s a paid game that also offers a lot of expansion packs and DLC content.
0 A.D. Empires Ascendant is an open-source real-time strategy game that you can play for free, and it takes you to the times of ancient civilizations like the Romans, Persians, and Greeks. The core game mechanics resemble those from the Age of Empires series, meaning you need to focus on building bases, gathering and managing resources, and participating in real-time battles. The game is in active development, and you can play it on computers with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
