Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition stands as a prominent real-time strategy game that places players in command of historical civilizations, focusing on resource management, city building, and tactical combat across expansive maps.
Gameplay
In this real-time strategy title, players gather resources like food, wood, gold, and stone to construct buildings, train units, and advance through four ages from the Dark Ages to the Imperial Age. Combat involves directing armies on land and at sea, with mechanics emphasizing unit formations, siege weapons, and terrain advantages. Each civilization offers unique bonuses, such as the Malians' emphasis on gold mining and economic strength or the Ottomans' powerful gunpowder units like Great Bombards. The game includes a tutorial system to introduce core concepts, making it accessible while providing depth through evolved strategies and combat techniques.
Players can customize experiences with a mods beta feature, allowing creation of skirmish maps, mission scenarios, and new play modes using the Mod Editor tool. Visuals run in 4K, enhancing the historical settings with detailed landscapes and battles.
Game Modes
The game features single-player campaigns spanning 500 years of history, with four distinct narratives and 35 missions where players control figures like Joan of Arc or Genghis Khan. These campaigns blend story-driven objectives with strategic gameplay.
Multiplayer supports up to eight players in PVP and PVE formats, including ranked seasons for competitive play. Skirmish mode allows battles against AI on various maps, and cooperative options let friends team up or spectate matches. Recent updates have added eight new maps and expanded content for varied scenarios.
Factions and Mechanics
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition includes 12 civilizations, each with specialized mechanics. For instance, the English focus on longbowmen and defensive structures, while the Chinese excel in dynasty progression for technological boosts. New additions like the Malians prioritize economic investments in gold, and the Ottomans leverage military might with large siege cannons.
Mechanics such as masteries, challenges, taunts, and cheats provide additional layers for personalization. The game supports multiple languages and ongoing updates that introduce balance changes and new features to keep strategies fresh.
Is It Worth Playing?
With an OpenCritic score of 83 based on 100 reviews, Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition receives strong praise for its tactical depth and historical accuracy. Players appreciate the blend of accessibility for newcomers and challenges for veterans, though some note it plays conservatively compared to bolder RTS entries.
As of 2026, the game remains active with seasons, updates adding civilizations and campaigns, and a competitive multiplayer scene. It suits strategy enthusiasts who enjoy building empires and engaging in historical battles, offering good value through its content-packed edition. If real-time strategy with a focus on history appeals, this title delivers a solid experience worth exploring.
