Age of Empires IV is a real-time strategy game for PC in which players develop civilizations from the medieval period onward through resource management, construction, and military engagement.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on scouting the map to locate resources, assigning villagers to gather food, wood, gold, and stone, and using those materials to construct buildings and produce units. Advancement through the four ages occurs by building specific landmark structures rather than solely at the town center. Each civilization features distinct bonuses that alter building placement, unit production, and combat effectiveness, creating asymmetric matchups. Units follow a combat triangle where ranged infantry counters cavalry, cavalry counters melee infantry, and melee infantry counters ranged infantry. Additional systems include building influence that provides stacking bonuses when structures are placed near one another, line-of-sight restrictions from terrain like forests, and destructible buildings that can catch fire during sieges. Stone walls resist non-siege attacks, and units can fight from elevated positions on walls.
Game Modes
Single-player options include a story-driven campaign consisting of historical missions, skirmish matches against AI opponents on random or custom maps, and the Art of War tutorial series that teaches specific mechanics through guided scenarios. Multiplayer supports quick match for unranked play, ranked ladders that track competitive standing across seasons, and custom games where participants set rules and invite others. Additional variants include Empire Wars, which starts players in the Feudal Age with pre-built bases, and Nomad, where participants begin without a town center and must locate a suitable site to establish one. Victory can be achieved by destroying enemy landmarks, controlling sacred sites, or constructing and defending a wonder for a set duration.
Civilizations
Eight civilizations launched with the game, each with unique units, technologies, and playstyles that emphasize different strategies such as aggressive expansion, defensive fortifications, or rapid mobility. Later free and paid additions introduced further civilizations and variant options that expand the roster while maintaining the asymmetric design. These differences appear in economic bonuses, military strengths, and landmark choices that reward specific approaches to age advancement and army composition.
Is It Worth Playing?
The game maintains an active development schedule with regular patches, ranked season updates, and new content releases that continue into 2026. Cross-play between PC and console versions broadens the player pool for multiplayer. Reception has been generally favorable, with critics noting the depth of civilization variety and the informative historical campaign alongside solid competitive multiplayer. Players seeking a traditional real-time strategy experience with modern quality-of-life improvements and ongoing support will find consistent matches and new challenges. Those preferring turn-based or 4X formats may prefer other genres, but the title delivers reliable depth for RTS enthusiasts who enjoy resource-driven empire building and tactical battles.
