Age of Empires IV

About

Age of Empires IV is a real-time strategy game that offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, including co-op and PvP. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes bonus content such as the soundtrack, art compilation, and exclusive in-game items. The Anniversary Edition brings new civilizations, maps, and updates to the award-winning franchise, with stunning 4K visuals and engaging gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 29,100 reviews

graphics1.2k positive mentions

stability200 negative mentions

graphics
2,856 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
6%
The graphics of Age of Empires IV have received mixed reviews, with many praising the updated visuals and detailed environments that enhance the overall experience. While some players appreciate the modern aesthetic and improved animations, others criticize the cartoonish style and lack of realism, feeling it detracts from the game's historical context. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant improvement over previous titles, but opinions vary on their execution and impact on gameplay.
- “I really enjoyed the aesthetic of it; it certainly makes the game so unique with their colors, their sound design and the way you can experience the gameplay and the cinematics.”
- “The visuals are stunning, with beautifully detailed cities and landscapes that I could get lost in for hours.”
- “The graphics are breathtaking, bringing ancient civilizations to life with stunning visuals and intricate animations.”
- “Graphics are adequate and nothing more; I would've loved to see better model detail or model individuality.”
- “The graphics look like something in between a loveless version of Valheim and a version of Halo Wars 1 with everything interesting removed; everything looks like play dough.”
- “The graphics are very disappointing for the date of release.”
gameplay
2,785 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The gameplay of Age of Empires IV has been generally well-received, with many players appreciating its blend of classic mechanics from previous titles, particularly Age of Empires II, while introducing new features and unique civilization mechanics that enhance strategic depth. However, some criticisms have emerged regarding balance issues, a perceived lack of innovation, and certain gameplay mechanics that feel outdated or overly simplified compared to earlier entries in the series. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic yet modernized experience, appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise.
- “Updated graphics, objectives, and story cinematics with that familiar gameplay and feel, what's not to love?”
- “The gameplay is rich and engaging, offering a variety of civilizations, each with unique playstyles and strengths.”
- “This game perfectly captures the classic Age of Empires magic while elevating the experience with modern gameplay and an insane level of customization.”
- “The gameplay feels stale and doesn't bring anything revolutionary to the table.”
- “Age of empires IV feels like a rehash of old ideas with very little new content or mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is shallow and just not fun for me.”
story
1,296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
68%
4%
The story aspect of Age of Empires IV has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the documentary-style storytelling and high-quality cinematics that provide historical context between missions. However, some critics feel that the narrative lacks depth and character development compared to previous titles, resulting in a disjointed experience where missions often feel repetitive and disconnected from a cohesive storyline. Overall, while the educational elements and engaging mission design are praised, there is a desire for more immersive and character-driven storytelling akin to earlier entries in the series.
- “The campaigns are incredibly well-crafted, combining historical narratives with challenging missions that push you to think critically and adapt your strategies.”
- “The cinematic storytelling and documentary-style videos add an educational layer that’s surprisingly fun.”
- “The campaign is great, providing context to the missions you are about to partake in, with civilizations having units and strategies that fit their historical counterparts.”
- “The campaign is garbage, feels like they barely put any work or creativity into the game, also some missions are bugged and don't advance properly.”
- “The campaign missions have a 'leash' on the majority of the enemy units, so park some ranged units on that line and decimate the entire enemy force.”
- “The story missions are absolute gold.”
music
330 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
5%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its dynamic and immersive qualities, particularly the unique soundtracks for each civilization that evolve with gameplay. While some players find the orchestral compositions and historical authenticity to be outstanding, others feel that the music lacks the memorable charm of previous titles in the series, particularly Age of Empires II. Overall, the sound design is generally regarded as top-notch, enhancing the atmosphere and engagement during battles.
- “The clashing swords, booming trebuchets, and epic music made me feel like I was in the middle of an actual battle, and honestly, it made everything more immersive than I expected.”
- “The music adapts dynamically to the ebb and flow of gameplay, heightening the emotional impact of each strategic decision and triumphant conquest.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by industry maestros, complements the gameplay nicely with epic orchestral pieces that capture the essence of each era.”
- “The music is garbage with some little dog whistles to remind older players like me of the AOE2 days, but it just isn't hitting the spot; it feels like a marketing gimmick.”
- “The music has been a pretty major let-down.”
- “The older games had defining tunes, whereas the music in AOE4 is almost purely atmospheric.”
optimization
300 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
49%
22%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance on various systems, while others report significant issues, particularly during multiplayer matches and large-scale battles. Many users noted that the game runs well on mid-range PCs, but performance can degrade with high graphics settings or in intense gameplay scenarios, leading to stuttering and crashes. Overall, while some players find the game well-optimized, others express frustration over persistent performance problems and the need for further improvements.
- “The graphics are nice to look at, the sound effects and music are pleasant, and the game is well optimized and quite stable.”
- “The game plays very smoothly, well optimized so it runs really well and looks really nice.”
- “The game is polished and optimized well; I haven't really seen any bugs so far!”
- “This game has a lot of bugs, and the unit operation optimization is terrible.”
- “The game is poorly optimized and laggy; even in small games, the map scrolling is very jittery.”
- “There are major performance issues with this game that cripple any computer.”
stability
224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
1%
89%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting persistent bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some updates have improved performance and fixed certain issues, significant problems like freezing, crashes, and unresponsive units remain prevalent, leading to frustration among users. Overall, while the game can be enjoyable, its stability issues detract from the experience, making it feel unfinished for many players.
- “The game runs great and is damn satisfying after you get a bit more into the different civs and their strengths.”
- “Is as expected, performs well, almost no glitches or failures.”
- “Bug free, no glitches, and silky smooth homage to the old games in this saga.”
- “Terrible gameplay, tons of glitches even after years; Microsoft ruined this IP for sure, do not waste your time in multiplayer.”
- “The sheer amount of bugs, glitches, weird crashes, and balance issues makes you think this is some early access instead of an actual release.”
- “This game is an unbalanced, buggy mess from head to toe.”
replayability
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
61%
7%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse civilizations, engaging multiplayer modes, and dynamic campaigns, which provide players with numerous strategies and playstyles to explore. While many players appreciate the endless skirmishes and custom mods, some express a desire for more civilizations and content to further enhance replay value. Despite mixed opinions on single-player content, the multiplayer experience is frequently highlighted as a key factor in the game's longevity and enjoyment.
- “Endless replayability: skirmishes, multiplayer battles, and custom mods ensure you’ll never run out of ways to play.”
- “The latest updates and DLCs have taken the game to the next level, introducing new civilizations, campaigns, and mechanics that add depth and replayability.”
- “The matchmaking system ensures fair and balanced matches, while the deep strategic gameplay provides endless replayability.”
- “Game is entirely designed around multiplayer and has 0 replayability.”
- “Minimal campaign and very little replay value.”
- “Age of empires 4 has almost 0 replay value for singleplayer... why not make a game good for people who don't like to play the multiplayer option.”
grinding
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
21%
76%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the streamlined mechanics and find resource farming enjoyable, many others criticize the repetitive and tedious nature of grinding for achievements and civilization mastery. The multiplayer aspect can lead to long, grindy matches that may become dull, and the overall sentiment suggests that while the game has improved in some areas, it still requires significant time investment to progress, often feeling overwhelming or frustrating.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Until AOE4, which follows other ventures where constant grinding is the only key to success.”
- “My only real criticism of the game is the civilization mastery system, which does become a rather tedious grind for completionists.”
- “Furthermore, the AI is still a bit wonky, and some of the campaign missions have a tendency to turn into tedious slogs where you basically just grind through endless waves of enemies until a timer expires.”
humor
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
4%
The humor in "Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition" is widely praised, with players enjoying the witty one-liners from units, amusing historical references, and the chaotic yet entertaining nature of multiplayer matches. Many find the game's quirky animations and unexpected moments—like units getting stuck or engaging in silly behaviors—hilariously endearing, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere that appeals to both new and seasoned players. Overall, the game is described as a fun and funny experience, blending strategy with comedic elements that keep players engaged and entertained.
- “In conclusion, Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition is a hilarious romp through history, filled with epic battles, questionable fashion choices, and enough strategy to make Machiavelli blush.”
- “From witty one-liners from your units to hilarious historical references, this game had us laughing out loud more than once.”
- “It's silly, it's irreverent, and it's absolutely hilarious.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat; it tries too hard to be funny but ends up being cringeworthy instead.”
- “I expected some lighthearted moments, but the jokes are stale and often miss the mark.”
- “The attempts at humor feel forced and detract from the overall experience rather than enhance it.”
monetization
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
21%
73%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" that capitalizes on nostalgia without offering substantial new content or features. While there are no microtransactions or in-game purchases, which some players appreciate, the overall sentiment suggests that the game feels incomplete and is primarily aimed at extracting money from long-time fans. Despite the absence of aggressive monetization tactics, the perception of it being a lazy reboot persists among critics.
- “There are no microtransactions, which is a big plus, and the game has very high replay value thanks to its dynamic multiplayer modes and varying campaign missions.”
- “I have thoroughly enjoyed the mastery challenges and the ability to unlock new cosmetic customization through gameplay as opposed to in-game purchases.”
- “No loot boxes, no microtransactions, no battle pass, although relic could have just shoved a cash grab nostalgia appeal, I appreciate that there is no in-game paid content (at least for now) in a video game market saturated with obnoxious incentives to pay beyond the base price.”
- “This game ultimately was a cash grab by Microsoft that was meant to attract the competitive esports Starcraft 2 crowd, and it didn't really succeed in that because the devs missed the point of what Age of Empires was.”
- “Just a cash grab and an insult to the legacy of Age of Empires.”
- “The game feels like a cheap cash grab, because the makers know we Age of Empires fans will buy it no matter what.”
atmosphere
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
7%
The atmosphere in Age of Empires IV is widely praised for its immersive sound design, detailed visuals, and historical authenticity, which collectively enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the atmospheric music and sound effects that contribute to the game's medieval setting, although some feel that the absence of certain features, like tactical pause, detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully creates a vibrant and engaging environment that draws players into its historical battles.
- “The atmosphere, however, is very immersive, with detailed maps and period-appropriate visuals drawing you into each battle.”
- “From the clash of swords to the stirring soundtrack, Age of Empires IV's sound design enhances the atmosphere and authenticity of battles.”
- “The game's sound design is equally impressive, with fitting music, ambient sounds, and realistic battle cries that further enhance the atmosphere and immerse players in the world of the game.”
- “Since AOE4 no longer has the city/card system and in general has a very different atmosphere compared to AOE3.”
- “I do understand that in a multiplayer setting the music is irrelevant, probably even distracting, but in single player I was missing some of the atmosphere that the earlier games were able to provide through the background music.”
- “Artistically, it feels a bit lukewarm/safe and creates an atmosphere that doesn't match the high quality of the game.”
emotional
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of Age of Empires IV evokes a mix of nostalgia and immersion, with players feeling a rekindled sense of excitement reminiscent of earlier titles like AoE II. The dynamic music and polished presentation enhance the emotional impact of gameplay, although some players find the single-player campaigns less engaging compared to character-driven narratives of previous games. Overall, while the game offers a wholesome experience with historical insights, it sometimes leaves players feeling more like observers than active participants in the story.
- “The music adapts dynamically to the ebb and flow of gameplay, heightening the emotional impact of each strategic decision and triumphant conquest.”
- “As someone that has been playing games of this series for over 15 years now, this game made me feel that childlike awe and blood boiling war lust once again, this game has put in pretty much all the things kid me would've wished for in the earlier games.”
- “It really made me feel invested in the characters.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with many reviewers noting that while the campaign and character designs are visually appealing, they fail to provide meaningful character arcs or emotional investment. The historical accuracy and sparse dialogue contribute to a sense of detachment from the characters, contrasting sharply with other titles that offer richer personal narratives. Overall, the campaign is praised for its beauty but criticized for its insufficient character development.
- “Beautiful campaign, beautiful character designs, and a variety of civilizations/options.”
- “Unlike Age of Empires 3, which took liberties to create a fictional/real search for the fountain of youth and had good personal character development, this was more historically accurate and vague for the main characters, and didn't really get you invested in the characters because of a lack of voice acting and dialogue.”
- “There's also much less holding each mission together over a campaign, as the timeline is spread out much more and there's very little character development.”
- “Campaigns are amazing, but lacking in any sort of character development.”
- “Down to the bland and weird architecture and character designs.”