Age of Empires III
- September 19, 2009
- World's Edge
- 45h median play time
Get on Steam"Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition" is a trial of a historical RTS game with diverse civilizations, co-op historical battles, and 4K Ultra HD graphics. The game offers monthly content unlocks like civilizations, Hero Cosmetics, and events. The full version offers enhanced features and modernized gameplay for the celebrated franchise.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Cloud
Reviews
- graphics1,849 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition" have received significant upgrades compared to the original, featuring enhanced textures, improved lighting, and 4K support that brings the historical settings to life. While many players appreciate the visual improvements and the nostalgic feel, some have noted issues with optimization, resulting in performance drops and blurriness at certain zoom levels. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received, though opinions vary on whether they meet the expectations set by other recent remasters in the franchise.
“The graphics have been beautifully remastered, bringing the game to life in stunning detail.”
“The updated graphics look amazing, and the gameplay still holds up really well.”
“The definitive edition enhances its visuals and audio, making it even more enjoyable.”
“I have a decent computer and is able to handle pretty much any game on high graphics, but I can't play the game even with medium graphics settings without having weirdly low fps.”
“The graphics are cartoonish; it looks different from the original game.”
“The graphics are so smooth, it's like you're watching a period drama on a 4k screen, only you're the director, and the cast consists of musket-wielding settlers.”
- gameplay1,122 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition" has been praised for its engaging mechanics, which include unique civilizations, a card-based shipment system, and improved graphics that enhance the overall experience. While many players appreciate the nostalgic elements and strategic depth, some criticize the reliance on trading posts and the simplification of certain mechanics compared to its predecessors. Overall, the game offers a mix of classic RTS gameplay with modern updates, though it still faces challenges with bugs and balance issues.
“Refined mechanics, two new civilizations, and a redesigned UI enhance the strategic depth.”
“The gameplay is as engaging as ever, with a wide variety of civilizations to choose from and strategic decisions to make.”
“The definitive edition not only brings back those memories but also enhances them with modern graphics and improved gameplay that make the experience even richer.”
“The gameplay is clunky, and the controls feel unresponsive at times.”
“The gameplay is confusing and not a patch on Age of Empires II.”
“The gameplay is the same as the original but there are a lot of changes; I still love it.”
- story736 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition" has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the engaging campaign structure that includes three acts centered around the Black family and additional narratives involving Native Americans and Asian powers. However, many critiques highlight issues such as poor voice acting, a convoluted plot, and numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration. While some players find the story enjoyable and nostalgic, others feel it lacks depth and coherence compared to previous entries in the series, particularly "Age of Empires II."
“The campaign mode is fantastic, offering compelling missions with just the right balance of challenge and story.”
“Unlike previous reissues, this version includes a full-fledged storyline campaign consisting of three acts dedicated to the Black family and their struggle against the mysterious 'Circle of Ossus'.”
“The engaging storylines, spanning different historical epochs, kept me hooked from start to finish.”
“The campaigns are decent including the DLC, but don't expect great animations; the storytelling isn't bad in my opinion, could be worse.”
“The story is mediocre/bad and the campaign basically is just nonsense fighting and spamming units from barracks without almost any need of building and upgrading your village from scratch.”
“The campaigns had created many memorable moments and cutscenes; however, the story had left much to be sought after without any clear ending or end goal to be achieved.”
- optimization546 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 34 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, low frame rates, and crashes, particularly in multiplayer scenarios or with high unit counts. While some users have noted improvements following patches, others continue to experience severe lag and resource consumption that detracts from gameplay. Overall, the consensus indicates that the game is poorly optimized, especially compared to its predecessor, and requires further updates to enhance stability and performance.
“The performance problems are long gone now and the game actually works quite well.”
“After some updates, game performance improved; I just tested full resources 4v4, now playable with just little freezes for me. If compared to old updates, it was unplayable, but now the game runs perfectly.”
“Despite the optimization issues, this game is very good.”
“The game is interesting, but the optimization is the worst I've ever seen.”
“A good game with a lot of potential, but really badly optimized.”
“The graphics aren't any better than 2008, and the optimization for the definitive edition is absolute dog water.”
- stability384 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players note improvements following updates, many still experience significant issues such as freezing, lag, and unresponsive AI, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience. Overall, the game is considered a "buggy mess" by a large portion of the community, with calls for further fixes and optimizations.
“Blast from the past, runs great and has some great memories of the original, certainly worth a trip down memory lane with this one.”
“Luckily, most of them have been patched out and the game now runs great.”
“Runs great, multiplayer lobbies and games are great too.”
“Decided to actually buy the game and I'm getting 2-3 second freezes every 20 seconds.”
“This game is a buggy mess and the developers spent more time rewriting core game mechanics than they did making marginal improvements to the visuals.”
“The game is unplayable at this stage, constant crashes, lobby issues, glitches, exploits abound.”
- music189 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition" has received praise for its remastered orchestral arrangements that enhance the game's immersive experience, with many players finding the soundtrack nostalgic and emotionally impactful. However, some users have reported issues with audio bugs, such as volume fluctuations and music stuttering, which detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these technical problems, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a highlight, complementing the game's visuals and gameplay effectively.
“The soundtrack has been remastered with orchestral arrangements that evoke the grandeur of the eras you play through.”
“The music perfectly complemented the game, creating an emotional backdrop that heightened the intensity of battles and the satisfaction of achieving strategic milestones.”
“The revamped sound effects and music contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere, immersing players in diverse cultures and intense battles.”
“The music is constantly lagging, giving me a headache, and I had to turn it off, which I don't want to do since I like the music a lot.”
“The music bugs out now and again and goes from loud to very quiet, which is annoying to say the least. I really hope they fix this bug.”
“The music has a habit of going quite crispy and glitchy at times.”
- grinding72 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game has been significantly reduced compared to previous versions, with many players appreciating the removal of tedious card unlocking and home city level progression. While some players miss the sense of achievement that came with grinding, others find the new system more accessible and conducive to multiplayer gameplay. Overall, the consensus leans towards a more streamlined experience, though it may sacrifice some depth in single-player content.
“A bit grindy... sometimes.”
“One long, tedious grind.”
“Very grindy.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding has been removed.”
“While I understand the reasoning behind removing the card grinding for competitive play, this move shafted people that actually enjoyed that aspect of the game.”
- replayability69 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally praised, particularly in multiplayer modes, where diverse civilizations and strategies offer endless engagement. While the remastered version introduces new features that enhance replay value, some players feel that the single-player campaign lacks replayability and progression. Overall, the combination of various factions, deck strategies, and procedural maps contributes to a highly replayable experience, especially for fans of real-time strategy games.
“The remastered version has added a lot of new features that make the game highly replayable.”
“Creating multiple deck strategies for each civilization allows for infinite civilization replayability; really fun stuff.”
“The game's replayability is off the charts; I keep coming back for more.”
“The campaign isn't really replayable and gets quite boring after the first run.”
“There is no more sense of progress or goals to work towards and the main replayability of single player is simply gone.”
“They gutted the main replayability of the game for single players/skirmish only in that home city leveling does absolutely nothing.”
- humor58 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in "Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition" is widely praised, with players enjoying its blend of historical themes and comedic elements, often likening it to a Monty Python sketch. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create funny moments during multiplayer sessions, particularly through absurd gameplay mechanics and humorous taunts. However, some players also note the irony and awkwardness in the game's attempts at political correctness, which can lead to unintentionally funny situations.
“Age of Empires III, or as I like to call it, 'the hilarious history lesson,' is like a Monty Python sketch meets a historical reenactment - it's history, but with a side of laughter.”
“In the end, Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition isn't just a game; it's a crash course in time-traveling shenanigans that'll have you laughing, crying, and wondering if your villagers secretly moonlight as circus performers.”
“The funny thing is: sometimes one of the premade guys crashes and the others resign, netting you a huge win of points; as a result, you climb with a win rate of 30% :)”
“I've dropped the solo mode at the 2nd or 3rd campaign. They tried to copy Warcraft 3 'heroes', but it is not funny to play with few units in this game. The remaster is okay, but the game itself is not.”
“The madness of current American politics, and wicked people trying to preach to others on what is right and what is wrong, is cynicism so big it is not funny.”
- monetization37 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 73 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many players expressing dissatisfaction over the prevalence of microtransactions and DLCs that feel essential for a complete experience. While some acknowledge the game's enjoyment factor, the forced slow progression and additional paid content have led to a perception of greed and neglect from the developers, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the monetization approach has left a negative impression, overshadowing the game's potential.
“You do not need to buy any of the DLCs to enjoy the game, and unlike most modern video games, it's not a 'create a problem, sell the solution' type of monetization.”
“The DLCs themselves are priced just like microtransactions; they're selling new civilizations at €5 a piece.”
“Though the game can be enjoyable, I don't appreciate the microtransactions.”
“What should have been an all-inclusive package instead feels like a never-ending cash grab.”
“This all concludes the fact that this is an unfinished cash grab meant to appeal to the original AOE 3 fans.”
“In conclusion, AOE III: Definitive Edition is a disappointing cash grab that fails to live up to its name.”
- emotional17 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging campaign, nostalgic graphics, and impactful music, which together create a profound connection for players. Many reviewers express deep emotional investment in the story and gameplay progression, with some sharing personal experiences of nostalgia and heartbreak related to the game's mechanics and community. Overall, the game evokes strong feelings, from joy and nostalgia to sadness and frustration, reflecting its significant impact on players' lives.
“The music perfectly complemented the game, creating an emotional backdrop that heightened the intensity of battles and the satisfaction of achieving strategic milestones.”
“I've never been so emotionally invested in a game's story before.”
“Shed a tear as three dozen of your samurai warriors charge into a dozen elephant mahouts singing a battle haiku.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by improved audio and diverse cultural elements, particularly in the context of historical battles and unique gameplay mechanics. However, some players feel it lacks the depth and soul found in earlier titles like Age of Empires II, with critiques pointing to a sense of emptiness in certain aspects. Overall, while the atmosphere is enjoyable and distinct, it may not fully meet the expectations set by previous entries in the series.
“The improved audio also adds to the overall experience, creating a rich and immersive atmosphere.”
“The revamped sound effects and music contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere, immersing players in diverse cultures and intense battles.”
“Though I have to admit that I'm a bit biased because I like the exploration era more than the Middle Ages, and AOE 3 does a great job at creating an atmosphere.”
“In case it is lost on anyone, cutscenes are meant to convey the atmosphere the player is supposed to feel at that moment.”
“Aoe I & Aoe II had no cutscenes so they're irrelevant, but Aoe III does, and when you remove part of the cutscene in a historical fiction, you inadvertently remove the atmosphere that went with it.”
“The opening in the original game still has better atmosphere and soul, while in this it feels empty and soulless.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and craftsmanship, allowing players to form strong connections with the characters. However, some users noted a lack of inner conflict in certain characters, such as Chayton, which may detract from their development. Overall, the game's character arcs are generally well-received.
“The character development in this game is so well-crafted; you really connect with them.”
“The character development in this game is so well-crafted; you really connect with them.”
“The character development in this game is so well-crafted; you really connect with them.”
“I liked how before, Chayton seemed to have more character development, while now he never fights the Lakota, so he has no inner conflict about which side to be on.”
