Age of Mythology: Retold

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,919 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Age of Mythology: Retold Game Cover
Age of Mythology: Retold is a masterful blend of nostalgia and innovation that fans and newcomers will both cherish.
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"Age of Mythology: Retold" is a real-time strategy game that takes players to a mythical age of gods, monsters, and humans. Choose your gods from pantheons such as Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Atlantean, and harness their powers to summon lightning storms, quakes, and even mythical creatures to aid you in battle. Unleash an army of centaurs, trolls, mummies, and more to defeat your enemies and expand your domain. This game is a stunning update to the beloved Age of Mythology, offering modern visuals and innovative gameplay design. Will you become a mythic leader?

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,919 reviews
graphics462 positive mentions
stability83 negative mentions
  • Stunning graphics and visual upgrades that enhance the nostalgic experience.
  • Faithful to the original gameplay while introducing quality of life improvements, such as reusable god powers and better AI.
  • Engaging campaigns with a mix of old and new content, providing hours of fun for both veterans and newcomers.
  • Persistent bugs and issues with multiplayer, including frequent desync errors and crashes.
  • New voice acting is often criticized for lacking the charm and emotion of the original.
  • AI pathfinding and unit responsiveness can be frustrating, leading to unresponsive units and poor strategic decisions.
  • graphics1,072 mentions

    The graphics in "Age of Mythology: Retold" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning overhaul, significantly enhancing the visual fidelity while maintaining the charm of the original game. Players appreciate the vibrant environments, detailed character models, and improved animations, which breathe new life into the classic RTS experience. However, some critiques mention that while the graphics are impressive, they may not fully meet the expectations for a 2024 release, with a few players noting inconsistencies in art style and performance issues on lower-end systems.

    • “The updated graphics are stunning, breathing new life into the mythological landscapes and legendary units we all remember.”
    • “The graphics revamp is nice but it is just a remake that doesn't hold much.”
    • “The attention to detail in the updated visuals is breathtaking, bringing the mythical world to life in a way that’s both nostalgic and excitingly new.”
    • “The graphics upgrade isn't much.”
    • “It is basically a direct copy of the original with updated graphics, but that currently is the only downside.”
    • “The graphics aren't that updated.”
  • gameplay689 mentions

    The gameplay of *Age of Mythology: Retold* successfully retains the core mechanics that made the original beloved while introducing significant quality-of-life improvements and new features, such as reusable god powers and enhanced unit balancing. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel combined with modern refinements, resulting in a smoother and more engaging experience. Overall, the remaster is praised for its strategic depth, improved graphics, and the ability to customize gameplay, making it enjoyable for both veterans and newcomers alike.

    • “At its core, Age of Mythology: Retold retains the beloved system of the original while implementing several refined mechanics that improve the overall experience.”
    • “The gameplay remains as captivating as it was two decades ago, with a perfect balance between strategy, resource management, and mythology.”
    • “The developers have done a fantastic job of retaining the core gameplay mechanics and beloved elements that made the original a masterpiece, while simultaneously introducing a range of visual enhancements and new features that blend seamlessly into the game.”
    • “The gameplay is slow, it's hard to read the mini map, unit selection is tedious, and the graphics are poor.”
    • “This could have been an easy slam dunk but several things in the gameplay are changed and there are less options for customization of controls.”
    • “The gameplay feels exactly the same as it did before, but with the difference that units behave slightly smarter than back in the days.”
  • story447 mentions

    The story in "Age of Mythology: Retold" is a nostalgic retelling of the original, enriched with enhanced graphics and new gameplay elements while maintaining the core mythological themes. Players appreciate the engaging narrative that spans over 50 missions, featuring a mix of Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythologies, though some criticize the new voice acting and occasional mission balance issues. Overall, the campaign is seen as a compelling blend of strategy and storytelling, appealing to both veterans and newcomers alike.

    • “The remastered cutscenes breathe new life into the story, making the characters and their struggles feel even more engaging.”
    • “The main story campaign is a globe-trotting epic that effectively retells common myths of Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythologies while tying it all together neatly into an odyssey-esque grand adventure narrative.”
    • “The campaign is engaging and well-paced, with memorable characters and storylines that draw you in.”
    • “The new voice acting and story additions in Arena of the Gods are... really rough.”
    • “The story itself isn't like Warcraft 3 levels of good, but it is fine.”
    • “It's a toilet paper-thin story chaining together boring, repetitive macro missions where you spend 15+ minutes building up a base, again and again, before steamrolling the enemy.”
  • music197 mentions

    The music in "Age of Mythology: Retold" has been widely praised for its nostalgic value, with many players appreciating the remastered soundtrack that retains the essence of the original while incorporating modern orchestral elements. While some fans prefer the classic tracks, the updated compositions have been described as immersive and fitting for the game's atmosphere, though a few critiques mention that certain remixes may not capture the same magic as the originals. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, enhancing the gameplay experience and evoking fond memories for long-time fans.

    • “The familiar music—updated yet still retaining its heart-stirring melodies—immediately transported me back to my childhood, sitting by my dad, flipping through mythology books, and dreaming of gods and heroes.”
    • “The remastered soundtrack is another highlight, blending nostalgic themes with fresh compositions that complement the game's atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “The orchestral score is as stirring as ever, whether it’s the soaring, majestic theme of the gods or the intense battle music that pumps your adrenaline during a siege.”
    • “The music and narration is jarringly bad, a definite step down from the original.”
    • “For the game that has my favorite soundtrack of all time, which is hailed as one of the best video game soundtracks of all time, the strictly electronic cover of the organic, natural music of Age of Mythology, with no option to switch to the original soundtrack, is the biggest sin of all.”
    • “Some tracks are straight up off key and jarring to listen to, at least as someone who remembers the original OST so fondly.”
  • optimization99 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews. While many players report smooth performance even in multiplayer with numerous units, some experience frame drops and stuttering, particularly at high graphics settings or with certain effects enabled. Despite these issues, the game is generally considered a significant improvement over previous iterations, with good graphics and stable performance on a range of systems, though some users express disappointment with ongoing bugs and the need for further optimization.

    • “The game runs smoothly with updated graphics that enhance the experience while preserving the original aesthetic.”
    • “A huge upgrade in graphics, textures, and SFX while still being very well optimized and running extremely smoothly.”
    • “The game is well optimized and looks great too.”
    • “The serious performance problems it has at high graphics settings are even more frustrating.”
    • “Considering the substantial price I paid for this remastered game, I'm really disappointed with the quality and performance.”
    • “Up to this moment performance is a complete and absolute garbage, the game is beautiful, animations and effects are amazing and so far I love it but for the love of Thalos it is impossible for me to have more than 60 fps at 720p with a Ryzen 3 + 5500 XT and 24 GB of RAM, my hardware usage is at 50% so I don't know if it's a bug or what, hope they improve it in the future but for now it's kinda unplayable to me.”
  • stability94 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and issues with multiplayer functionality. While some players note that the game runs well on certain systems and appreciate its graphical improvements, the consensus is that it requires substantial patches to address the persistent glitches and performance problems that detract from the overall experience.

    • “AOM Retold strikes a perfect balance - extremely faithful while still updating and improving the feel of combat, economy, myth units, etc. It runs great, nice and stable on my fairly dated laptop.”
    • “It's the price of a half-off modern 2024 game, and it should be since AOM is an older game, but the new modern remastered features and the fact it isn't buggy make it especially worth it.”
    • “The game was mostly bug-free.”
    • “The game is far too buggy at the moment.”
    • “Unfortunately, it is unbearably buggy.”
    • “The multiplayer aspects of this game are buggy and broken sometimes.”
  • monetization32 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" that exploits nostalgia without offering substantial new content. Concerns include the lack of bundled old DLCs, the presence of microtransactions, and misleading marketing that suggests a more extensive remake than what is delivered. While some appreciate the effort put into the remake, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment regarding its monetization practices.

    • “First is the monetization plan.”
    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
    • “Until then, this game seems like a cash grab.”
    • “This game is just a cash grab designed to prey on the nostalgia of millennials... sad.”
    • “The fact that legacy god portraits are considered a DLC is bad enough of a cash grab, to be honest.”
  • humor24 mentions

    The humor in "Age of Mythology: Retold" is a standout feature, with players enjoying the absurdity of their decisions and the charmingly funny characters throughout the game. Many reviews highlight the hilarious moments, such as units flying through the air and the amusing interactions between mythological elements, while also noting the irony of the game's nostalgic graphics and mechanics. Overall, the blend of humor and high-stakes gameplay adds a delightful layer to the experience, making it both entertaining and engaging.

    • “If you’ve ever wanted to command mythological beasts while laughing at the absurdity of your decisions, Age of Mythology: Retold is the game for you.”
    • “There's plenty of humor, high stakes, and interesting characters to go around.”
    • “The physics are hilarious; dudes flying in the air with their horses are just priceless.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse factions, god powers system, and seed-generated maps, encouraging players to explore various strategies and playstyles. The inclusion of new content, such as expansions and additional campaigns, further enhances its longevity, making it appealing for both single-player and multiplayer experiences. While some aspects may need refinement, the overall replay value remains strong, particularly for fans of real-time strategy games.

    • “The updated 'god powers' system has great replayability for all factions and it encourages players to explore different playstyles.”
    • “Maps are beautiful and balanced, plus they're seed generated so even if you pick the same one it will change a bit, increasing replayability.”
    • “The inclusion of new content, such as additional campaigns and updated multiplayer features, adds significant replay value.”
    • “Update: quite a few updates which focused on fixing AI, UI, editor, etc. have dropped as well as new content like Arena of the Gods (still needs a lot of work to be more replayable).”
    • “This mode doesn't have much replayability.”
    • “I was hoping for more playable factions, but that isn't a complaint about the quality of the game.”
  • grinding23 mentions

    Overall, players express that grinding in the game is excessively tedious, often requiring significant time investment and leading to frustration. While some improvements have been made to streamline certain aspects, many still find the gameplay slow and laborious, with a strong desire for better quality of life features to enhance enjoyment. However, a few users note that recent updates have reduced the grind compared to other RTS games, making it somewhat more manageable.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay is slow, it's hard to read the mini map, unit selection is tedious, and the graphics are poor.”
    • “Once the designer team fixes these issues I'll be happy to return to it, but until then it is far too tedious to play to be worth your while.”
    • “I find all management in this tedious and combat far less exciting.”
  • atmosphere19 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by a re-recorded orchestral soundtrack that complements the visuals and gameplay, creating an immersive experience. While many players appreciate the balance between nostalgia and modern updates, some feel that certain areas lack the distinct atmospheric qualities of the original game. Overall, the remastered elements successfully maintain the essence of the original while introducing fresh compositions and improved graphics.

    • “The enhanced soundtrack, with its sweeping orchestral scores and atmospheric sound effects, perfectly complements the on-screen action.”
    • “The remastered soundtrack is another highlight, blending nostalgic themes with fresh compositions that complement the game's atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “Immersive atmosphere - captivating environment.”
    • “Also, the game seems more like a mobile game or application and doesn't have the original taste and atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics, while sharper, lack the atmosphere that the previous game had.”
    • “For example, it doesn't feel spooky in a spooky map or hot in a desert map; it's the same atmosphere everywhere.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Age of Mythology: Retold" resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and joy as they reconnect with a beloved classic. Many reviewers express a profound sense of attachment, highlighting the game's ability to rekindle childhood memories and feelings, despite some critiques of the new voice acting. Overall, the remaster is seen as a heartfelt tribute that enhances the original experience while maintaining its emotional core.

    • “Returning to the game in this enhanced version is a profoundly emotional and joyful experience.”
    • “Age of Mythology: Retold is far more than a simple remaster—it’s a heartfelt tribute to a timeless classic.”
    • “The developers have done an incredible job bringing this game new life and amazing gameplay; it almost makes me emotional because this was the first PC game I ever played and has stuck with me for 16 years.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its passion-driven approach, featuring a new mission that enhances a previously underdeveloped fan-favorite character. However, some users feel that the character designs lack distinctiveness, leading to a sense of blending among them.

    • “The character designs all blend together a bit too much.”
    • “You can tell this is a passion project and less of a money grab (cough cough WC III Reforged) as they have included a new mission that explores a fan-favorite character who was neglected in the original game when it came to character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

66% average critic score

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Play time

18hMedian play time
56hAverage play time
5-65hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs

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