$39.99Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Grow a town, command an army
You start with a few villagers and an open stretch of land, and a few ages later you have walls, castles, farms and markets.
Screenshots
From hamlet to walled city
You place houses, mills, mines, markets and landmarks, then watch the settlement thicken into something with stone walls and a skyline. Aging up means choosing a landmark, so growth is a decision, not just decoration. Villagers gather wood, food, gold and stone while you balance farms against troops against research. It is city building with a timer attached, since the English, Mongols, Malians, Ottomans and the rest are doing the same next door.
Ten civilizations, different economies
The building brief changes with who you pick. Malians mine and invest in gold as a rich trading nation. Ottomans field trained gunpowder troops and Great Bombards, cannons built to knock down whatever you just finished building. Mongols can pack up and move, which is rude if you liked your neighborhood. Across 10 civilizations and four campaigns with 35 missions from the Dark Ages to the Renaissance, you learn a new way to lay out streets and supply lines each time.
History class with siege weapons
Campaigns follow figures like Joan of Arc against the English and Genghis Khan across Asia, with documentary-style video between missions that explains the real places and tactics behind them. You build a base, hold a siege, break a fort, sail a navy, then do it again five centuries later with better walls. Mod tools in beta let you sculpt your own skirmish and multiplayer maps and mission scenarios, so city builder fans can tinker with the sandbox after history class ends.
What else should you know?
Can you play it solo?
Yes. There are four campaigns with 35 missions, plus skirmish against AI, a tutorial system, a Campaign Story Mode meant for first-time players, and extras like masteries, challenges, taunts and cheats. Ranked seasons and co-op are there when you want company.
Can you play with friends?
Yes, up to 7 friends in online PvP and PvE multiplayer, including co-op and spectating. Malians suit a trade-minded teammate, Ottomans suit whoever likes bringing very large cannons to the argument.
