Age of Empires Definitive Edition

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,652 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Age of Empires Definitive Edition Game Cover
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Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is the remastered version of the classic RTS game, featuring updated visuals, over 40 hours of campaign content, and online multiplayer for up to 8 players. The game also includes new narration, pacing, and competitive features, as well as a scenario builder and 4K HD visuals. An Xbox Live account is required to play.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,652 reviews
graphics351 positive mentions
stability70 negative mentions
  • graphics970 mentions

    The graphics of "Age of Empires: Definitive Edition" have received widespread praise for their significant improvement over the original, featuring stunning 4K visuals and a beautifully remastered soundtrack that enhances the nostalgic experience. While many players appreciate the updated aesthetics and the option to switch to classic graphics, some express disappointment that the core gameplay issues, such as pathfinding and AI, remain largely unchanged. Overall, the remaster successfully modernizes the visual presentation while retaining the essence of the beloved classic.

    • “The graphics are excellent, all the assets keep true to the original while looking sharp and more detailed.”
    • “The remastered graphics and soundtrack are also rather beautiful.”
    • “The updated visuals and audio bring a fresh feel to this timeless classic, but the core experience remains unchanged – and that's a good thing.”
    • “The graphics are much improved, but they still retained the gameplay of the original.”
    • “Unfortunately, this remake only manages to elevate the graphics to modern standards, but the aging gameplay and the simply non-existing pathfinding AI makes playing the game a master level course of frustration.”
    • “The graphics look fine and the voice acting is a nice touch; however, the AI is garbage and they didn't change it at all from how it originally was.”
  • gameplay435 mentions

    The gameplay of "Age of Empires: Definitive Edition" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it retains the nostalgic charm of the original, it suffers from outdated mechanics and clunky controls. Some appreciate the simplicity and accessibility for newcomers, but others criticize the lack of significant improvements compared to modern RTS games, particularly in AI pathfinding and unit management. Overall, while the remaster enhances graphics and introduces minor quality-of-life features, the core gameplay remains largely unchanged, leading to frustration for those expecting a more polished experience.

    • “The gameplay is still as engaging as ever.”
    • “It is a fantastic revival of the classic, combining the beloved gameplay of the original with beautifully remastered graphics and enhanced controls.”
    • “Incredibly simple and easy to learn yet hard to master gameplay that is still addicting and captivating to this day with iconic sounds and moments that you'll remember forever.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it's as simple as you'd expect; there's no land trading, sea trading is still a complex mess, no formations, and there weren't even stances on game release.”
    • “The gameplay is clunky, the narration of the campaigns is conveyed in a bit of a boring way, and overall if you want a real-time strategy game, Age of Empires II just does everything better.”
    • “The gameplay is horrible; the graphics are awful, and the game just suffers from outdated mechanics.”
  • music312 mentions

    The music in the remastered version of Age of Empires 1 has received mixed reviews, with many praising the orchestral re-recordings for their beauty and modern fidelity, while others lament the loss of the original MIDI soundtrack, which they feel captured the game's nostalgic essence better. Some players appreciate the new arrangements, noting that they maintain the spirit of the original, but others find them repetitive or lacking in the charm of the classic tracks. Overall, while the remastered soundtrack enhances the game's atmosphere, many fans wish for an option to toggle between the new and original music to fully embrace the nostalgia.

    • “The remastered soundtrack and updated visuals breathe new life into the iconic battles, making it feel both nostalgic and refreshingly modern.”
    • “The iconic music that once shaped the atmosphere of the game has been masterfully remastered, adding an epic touch to every match.”
    • “The new graphics and music are wonderful, and the game is still as fun as I remember it being.”
    • “Only issue for me is the soundtrack, which remains relatively lackluster and often nothing plays at all.”
    • “The soundtrack is a watered-down version of the original, albeit with realistic-sounding instruments.”
    • “The remastered music doesn't give me the nostalgia I crave, and something should be done with the difficulty, at least to have options, not standard to feel like hard.”
  • story233 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is met with mixed reviews, highlighting a blend of nostalgia and frustration. While some players appreciate the historical context and variety of campaign missions, many criticize the unbalanced difficulty and AI issues that make certain missions feel nearly impossible, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the narrative experience. The improvements in graphics and voiceovers are noted, but the gameplay often feels tedious and repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement with the story.

    • “📚 Story: a tale as old as time... empires conquering empires on a resource and ammunition race.”
    • “The campaign feels very unpolished, and the missions are very simple in comparison to the more complex levels from Age of Empires II.”
    • “The coolest part is the 'story mode'/campaigns, as you relive the many events in the past like the rise and fall of the Egyptian Empire and the Roman Empire.”
    • “The campaign is borderline unplayable due to zero effort being placed in adapting the missions to the new AI.”
    • “Some missions are just unbeatable and the AI doesn't follow the original mission objectives.”
    • “Even on easy, some missions feel outright impossible (first mission of the Glory of Greece campaign, I'm looking at you!), the key here seems to be to take out your enemies quickly otherwise, if they progress too much in their technology, it becomes a long and boring war of attrition.”
  • stability78 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and AI issues that hinder gameplay, particularly in single-player campaigns. While some players have experienced smooth performance on their systems, others have faced frequent crashes, freezes, and pathfinding problems, leading to frustration. Overall, the game is seen as a buggy remaster that requires further optimization and fixes to enhance stability.

    • “It also runs great on older machines, making it a must-have for any strategy fan.”
    • “It works great on my Windows 10 computer with no glitches.”
    • “After 170 hours of playing time -- no freezes, no crashes, no noticeable bugs.”
    • “You have to skip a whole campaign because the AI glitches on the first mission and you cannot complete it.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess.”
    • “The game is very buggy; multiplayer private lobby invitations don't work.”
  • optimization74 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and low frame rates, even on high-end systems. While some users have noted improvements in graphics and smoother performance at lower settings, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Despite some players enjoying the nostalgic elements, the persistent technical problems detract from the enjoyment of the remastered title.

    • “The textures, models, and animations have been improved, creating a visually stunning experience that runs smoothly at 1440p and 144 fps.”
    • “I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for an optimized RTS game.”
    • “Nice graphics, good optimization, plays well on Intel HD 4000.”
    • “The amount of stuttering/lag experienced in this game ruins the nostalgia the devs are trying to bring back.”
    • “Graphics are nice, but not optimized; an RTX 3070 at 1440p is unable to keep 60fps when zoomed out.”
    • “The game still isn't anywhere near as smooth as it should be; some stuttering still happens when it shouldn't, the AI pathfinding is still a disaster, and the UI is still just as intrusive.”
  • grinding40 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often tedious and frustrating, particularly in campaign missions where players face annoying AI and lengthy battles. While some achievements require significant grinding, the introduction of quality-of-life features like auto-rebuilding and improved farming mechanics offers a slight reprieve. Overall, many players feel that the grind detracts from the enjoyment, with some suggesting it requires an excessive time commitment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Afterward, there will be a lot of mindless grinding to get the remaining achievements.”
    • “Many achievements are obtained during normal play, but there are some brutal ones that require way too much grinding.”
    • “The game is slow and the lack of end game upgrades makes taking enemy bases a bit tedious.”
  • replayability35 mentions

    The replayability of the definitive edition is a mixed bag; while it retains the nostalgic charm and offers a wealth of custom campaigns and multiplayer options that enhance replay value, some players feel it lacks the polish and improvements seen in its successor, which may deter new players. Despite these drawbacks, many long-time fans appreciate the engaging gameplay and updated graphics, ensuring that the game remains fun and replayable even decades after its original release. Overall, it offers a solid experience for both nostalgic players and newcomers, albeit with some limitations.

    • “Aoe has aged well, with endless replay value since day one.”
    • “With over 16 civilizations, there's plenty of replayability in this game (and plenty of strategies to try out).”
    • “These are pick-up games, the parameters of which - map size, resource availability, victory conditions, player numbers, etc. - are entirely customizable to your heart’s content for a hugely replayable pool of content.”
    • “While accessible, it does have disadvantages, especially against its successor which has more units and strategies to win, which may harm replayability.”
    • “Pathfinding is still terrible, the new graphics tend to make my hardware go 'nope' in some cases, and since the needs of players have progressed far since 1997, the game might seem lacking if played constantly; it has always had way less replayability than the second implementation.”
    • “This is a clear cash grab that wasn't made to give you fun... they could have made so many little tweaks to make it more playable... can't recommend the game - even the controls haven't aged well.”
  • atmosphere25 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the nostalgic elements, such as the remastered music and visuals that evoke memories of the original experience. However, some players feel that the updated graphics and changes have detracted from the unique, gritty atmosphere of the classic version, leading to a sense of loss for the original's charm. Overall, while the game successfully captures some nostalgic elements, opinions vary on whether it fully retains the iconic atmosphere that defined the series.

    • “The iconic music that once shaped the atmosphere of the game has been masterfully remastered, adding an epic touch to every match.”
    • “I cannot describe my love of its atmosphere, soundtracks, and visualization.”
    • “Atmosphere is awesome and I do think the developers did a fantastic job there.”
    • “Clunky and ruined atmosphere compared to some third-party HD mods and patches.”
    • “They overworked the graphics and lost the entire atmosphere from back in the days.”
    • “As a fan of the original AOE when it came out, I can say that this completely changes the atmosphere of the original game.”
  • humor22 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted, with players enjoying its comedic elements, such as funny cheats and amusing AI interactions. Many reviews mention the hilarity of unit pathfinding issues and the entertaining narration that accompanies gameplay, particularly when scenarios are failed. Overall, the game is described as a blend of fun and frustration, with nostalgic references to the original Age of Empires adding to its charm.

    • “If you've played the first Age of Empires, the taunts in this are hilarious!”
    • “It's funny when you realize - the actual Hannibal had an easier time moving his army than we do in this game.”
    • “Any fan of the original Age of Empires 1 with the Rise of Rome expansion would love this updated version of a classic game; one funny addition is if you fail a scenario in a campaign, the narration will tell you what happens to you.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with reviewers expressing disappointment over its lack of optimization and numerous bugs. Many feel that the developers prioritized profit over quality, resulting in a product that fails to deliver a satisfying experience, particularly for players with lower-end machines. Overall, the sentiment is that the game was hastily assembled with little regard for gameplay or player enjoyment.

    • “I will definitely give a hard pass to AOE nostalgia since these developers apparently see these games only as a quick cash grab instead of testing them properly.”
    • “This is a clear cash grab that wasn't made to give you fun...they could have made so many little tweaks to make it more playable...can't recommend the game - even the controls haven't aged well.”
    • “The campaigns are literally unplayable, Microsoft chucked this game together with little thought to anything other than a cash grab.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The remastered version of Age of Empires evokes strong feelings of nostalgia, prompting deep emotional responses from players who fondly remember their childhood experiences with the game. The music, particularly the whirling dulcimer, enhances this emotional connection, leading some players to tears as they reflect on their past.

    • “It makes my nostalgia buds want to cry.”
    • “Do not get me wrong, I love Age of Empires. It made me feel happy when I was a child and gave me something to do when I was done with my homework or came back from school.”
    • “You made me cry with this remastered version of my favorite childhood game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

45hMedian play time
58hAverage play time
13-93hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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