Rise of Nations: Extended Edition

About

"Rise of Nations: Extended Edition" is a real-time strategy game that spans all of human history, with 18 distinct nations, over 100 military units, and 24 upgradeable buildings. Construct Wonders of the World, conquer hostile nations, and expand your military might across the globe. The game features more than a dozen map types, and intense multiplayer modes for up to 8 players. This extended edition includes improved visuals, Steam multiplayer, and a variety of other enhancements.

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Rise of Nations: Extended Edition screenshot

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,610 reviews

gameplay186 positive mentions

stability60 negative mentions

gameplay
545 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
64%
2%
The gameplay of "Rise of Nations" is widely praised for its blend of real-time strategy and turn-based mechanics, offering a rich and engaging experience that combines city-building, resource management, and tactical warfare. While some players note occasional crashes and minor control issues, the overall mechanics are considered intuitive and rewarding, appealing to both casual and competitive gamers. The game features a variety of civilizations, unique mechanics like territory control, and a well-paced learning curve, making it a timeless classic in the RTS genre.
- “The gameplay is challenging and requires strategy and tactics to succeed, which keeps you engaged for hours on end.”
- “Rise of Nations is an absolute triumph in the realm of real-time strategy, seamlessly blending innovation with classic gameplay elements.”
- “Its combination of accessible gameplay, stunning visuals, and strategic depth make it a must-play for any fan of the real-time strategy genre.”
- “The gameplay ultimately becomes bogged down with too much going on, especially through ongoing research, plus the annoying controls add to the frustration.”
- “Game currently crashes every half hour during gameplay; there doesn't seem to be a fix, and I can't finish a single game.”
- “The ai isn't that smart (really only does like one strategy), multiplayer is mostly dead, and the gameplay doesn't have as much variety as other similar games like Age of Empires.”
graphics
478 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The graphics of "Rise of Nations: Extended Edition" have received mixed feedback from users. While many appreciate the enhanced visuals and modern updates that breathe new life into the classic game, others note that the graphics still show their age, with some wishing for a complete graphical remake. Overall, the visuals are considered decent for a game originally released in 2003, with improvements that make it more playable on modern systems, but they may not satisfy players seeking cutting-edge graphics.
- “The improved graphics and enhanced gameplay breathe new life into the classic experience while maintaining the essence of what made the original so beloved.”
- “One of the standout features of the extended edition is the graphical overhaul, which gives the game a modern look while preserving the essence of its original charm.”
- “The graphics are visually stunning, and the historical accuracy is commendable.”
- “I'm just wishing for some graphical remake, because the graphics and sound are the only sore points for me in an otherwise amazing RTS.”
- “While the graphics have received a modest facelift in the extended edition, it's clear that the game's aesthetics are rooted in the early 2000s.”
- “The graphics are obviously dated at this point, so graphics snobs might skip right over this, but let me tell you - you're missing out.”
music
209 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
50%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised as one of its standout features, with many reviewers calling it a masterpiece and one of the best soundtracks in RTS history. While the soundtrack is described as complex, beautiful, and nostalgic, some players have reported issues with music playback, including interruptions and volume resets. Overall, the music significantly enhances the gameplay experience, making it memorable and enjoyable for players.
- “The soundtrack is simply gorgeous and the gameplay is both simple and deep at the same time.”
- “The soundtrack is one to remember in a lifetime and relaxing as you progress through the ages until there is war.”
- “The music is the best one in here though and just made me love it more.”
- “The music is broken, and that really really sucks because that was one of Ron's best characteristics.”
- “The bad: the music is unbearably loud and your only solution is to check the box which turns the music off.”
- “The music gets repetitive.”
story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
73%
9%
The game's story aspect is generally viewed as minimal or secondary to its gameplay mechanics, with many players noting that while there are campaign modes and historical scenarios, the narrative is often simplistic and lacks depth. Some players appreciate the entertaining missions and strategic elements, but overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay over a compelling story, making it more suitable for those who enjoy mechanics rather than narrative-driven experiences.
- “Awesome game to play and great story modes as well.”
- “Game play is great and the storyline is good.”
- “Campaign has good storyline value to it (all 5 campaigns from Alexander the Great to Cold War) with hours of enjoyment and various difficulty levels making a challenge even for veteran players.”
- “But the lore or the story of the game is just to be here for entertaining, and not educational.”
- “No story - even in the historic campaign missions, there's only one objective: destroy your enemies, and that can get old real quick.”
- “The only really serious complaint that hardcore strategy fans could level at Rise of Nations is that the game doesn't have a story-based campaign like so many other recent real-time strategy games.”
replayability
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
43%
4%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many players noting that it offers hundreds of hours of engaging content through diverse nations, unique abilities, and various game modes. The combination of multiplayer options, customizable settings, and randomly generated maps contributes to an almost infinite replay value, making it enjoyable for both solo and cooperative play. Overall, it stands out as a classic title with deep strategic elements that keep players returning for more.
- “The inclusion of different nations, each with unique abilities, further enhances replayability.”
- “The sound track is great, micro is thorough and rewarding, prioritizing macro is feasible; there are a ton of units to employ and nations to choose from, not to mention the randomly generated maps -- all of which adds up, meaning there is nearly infinite replayability to this game.”
- “The variety of nations, each with unique perks, adds a level of depth and replayability that keeps the game fresh.”
- “There is a ton of variety, whether it comes to civ choices, map choices, victory conditions, etc. There is just a ton of customizability for each game you play, meaning that the replay value for this title is immense.”
- “The replayability is infinite because every game is unique.”
stability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, crashes, and multiplayer connectivity issues, particularly in the Steam version. Many players experienced freezing, black screens, and glitches that hinder gameplay, especially in multiplayer modes. While some users noted improvements over time, the overall consensus is that the game remains unstable and often frustrating to play.
- “It was well worth buying again on Steam; it runs great on Windows 10 and has improved graphics.”
- “Game runs great on Windows 8, love the price through Steam, can't ask for much more than that.”
- “Very in-depth and bug-free.”
- “If you really want to live your childhood gaming experience with this buggy Steam version (lots of crashes, texture errors sometimes, and lots and lots of multiplayer connectivity issues), then for the love of God, wait for it to be on sale and don't forget you can refund with under an hour of gameplay on it.”
- “Incredibly buggy game - multiplayer support is horrendous.”
- “The game launched buggy, and none of that was fixed in post patches.”
optimization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
60%
12%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and compatibility with modern systems, while others report significant issues such as crashes, lag, and stuttering, particularly in multiplayer modes. Although the remaster offers improved graphics, many feel it lacks the optimization needed to fully leverage current hardware capabilities. Overall, while some users enjoy a seamless experience, others encounter frustrating performance problems that detract from the gameplay.
- “Really want it to be optimized/remade to keep up with today's graphics, but this game is still a masterpiece.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the performance is almost flawless, and the modern resolutions are a welcome addition.”
- “Excellent gameplay extends to the multiplayer arena, with excellent optimization for online play making play a breeze.”
- “Good game but badly optimized for new computers.”
- “Game is horribly optimized.”
- “Steam shouldn't even allow such poorly optimized games on its platform.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
20%
67%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the strategic depth and variety in gameplay, many feel that it can become tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to manage resources and units. Despite these criticisms, some players still enjoy the tactical elements and find moments of fun amidst the grind.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “It's unbelievably tedious.”
- “Obviously not, it's an RTS, but it certainly feels grindy.”
- “Fun in bits, gets tedious when you play it too much.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in the game is characterized by its chaotic and absurd scenarios, such as cavemen battling tanks and historical figures making comically questionable decisions. Players find joy in the over-the-top gameplay and the hilarious interactions that arise, especially when playing with friends, leading to memorable moments and inside jokes. Overall, the game successfully blends strategic elements with a lighthearted, humorous tone that resonates with both nostalgic and new players.
- “This game is very close to the Civ franchise in a sense you have to progress from having cavemen as your soldiers to having full-out jets and nukes, lol. So it's pretty funny to see a tank up against an army of cavemen... what a game!”
- “And witnessing questionable stuff like Louis Bonaparte changing his government to democracy will always be hilarious.”
- “The game features 100+ taunts which can be used to communicate with people in other languages (the taunts play in each player’s language) with a funny or strategic tone.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The monetization model of the game is praised for its absence of modern practices like in-app purchases and microtransactions, which many players find refreshing. However, some reviews express concern that the game may be a cash grab, with reports of bugs and a lack of updates, suggesting a neglect of quality and support. Overall, the game is appreciated for its straightforward approach to monetization, contrasting sharply with the prevalent trends in the industry.
- “It runs on most machines, and it doesn't have any modern monetization BS.”
- “There's no real time limit, and unlike on phone apps, there's no in-app purchases or waiting 24 hours for a building to be built.”
- “That's right, no horrible microtransactions.”
- “Good games like this will never come into existence and it will be just typical cash grab content and rehashed sequels to further grab the cash.”
- “Over a decade later it still holds up and is far better than many other present-day RTS games that too often tend to be buggy, unfinished cash grabs.”
- “This is just a quick cash grab; the game (including the multiplayer) and the workshop are bugged, and the game is abandoned (last update was from October 2014).”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting feelings of heartbreak over its changes and cancellations, particularly regarding Ron 2. The game evokes nostalgia and a sense of genuine engagement in warfare, with some users noting that it elicits strong emotional responses, from joy to sadness, making it a unique experience in the strategy genre.
- “A very fun RTS that is one of the few that made me feel like I was actually fighting a war.”
- “One of the very few strategy games that I actually enjoy. Nostalgia made me buy it, the AI made me cry, and the nukes made me smile.”
- “Heartbreaking when they cancelled Ron 2.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by beautiful maps, immersive sound design, and powerful music that evokes a historical feel. The combination of realistic fighting settings and painterly graphics creates a captivating environment, while elements of city-building and resource gathering further enrich the overall experience.
- “The game offers beautiful maps and atmospheric music.”
- “The sound design is immersive, adding to the atmosphere of conquest and warfare.”
- “The style for the realistic fighting setting mixed with its almost painting-like graphics combine to create a wonderful atmosphere for the player.”

Buy Rise of Nations: Extended Edition

26h Median play time

141h Average play time

12-180h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 25 analyzed playthroughs

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