Age of Empires IV

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 74

Days

Hours

Minutes

Play It

Age of Empires IV is an exemplary return of the legendary RTS series. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, the game plays great, it’s accessible for a new generation, and puts history front and center in its dozens of hours of campaign play.⁠

Play It

Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 74

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 74

Age of Empires IV is an exemplary return of the legendary RTS series. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, the game plays great, it's accessible for a new generation, and puts history front and center in its dozens of hours of campaign play.⁠

Where to Play

** VSG may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Rate and Review

What did you think of Age of Empires IV?

Player Reviews0 Votes

Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Age of Empires IV

Critic Reviews

Distribution

74

Reviews

High Score - 100/100

100%

Average Score - 83/100

83%

Low Score - 60/100

60%

8/10

Nicholas Rego (IGN Middle East)

Age of Empires IV preserves the traditional roots of the much-loved series, which brings some exciting new civilizations to you to experience.

October 25, 2021 |

Full Review

A worthy new entry in the legendary series that’s equal parts progressive and dated.

October 25, 2021 |

Full Review

77/100

Robert Zak (PC Gamer)

8.3/10

Daniel Tack (Game Informer)

Age of Empires IV successfully captures some of the magic of earlier titles in the franchise with clean, crisp gameplay and varied playstyles.

October 25, 2021 |

Full Review

Nicholas Rego (IGN Middle East)

8/10 - (Read Review)

Age of Empires IV preserves the traditional roots of the much-loved series, which brings some exciting new civilizations to you to experience.

Robert Zak (PC Gamer)

77/100 - (Read Review)

A worthy new entry in the legendary series that’s equal parts progressive and dated.

Daniel Tack (Game Informer)

8.3/10 - (Read Review)

Age of Empires IV successfully captures some of the magic of earlier titles in the franchise with clean, crisp gameplay and varied playstyles.

**Read all 74 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (74 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
3DNews	Михаил Пономарев	9 / 10	10-30-2021	The RTS queen is back, and she's magnificent as never before.	Read review
Area Xbox	Kevin Arbelo	9.2 / 10	10-28-2021	Age of Empires IV, has become thanks to many factors in the dream comeback. A game that takes the foundations of an excellent strategy franchise and brings it back with some fantastic additions that improve everything that made this saga good. Its campaign mode is spectacular and makes you feel like you're in a history documentary where you and your civilization are the protagonists.	Read review
Areajugones	Alfonso Cánovas	9 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV is a breath of fresh air to the saga that maintains the essence of the classics without innovating too much, but taking a step forward to what the community has been asking for years. The saga is back and the care and detail they have put from Relic Entertainment is worthy of praise.	Read review
Atomix	Sebastian Quiroz	90 / 100	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV is a rare case of a game that provides a bright future by presenting a known past. By setting aside some of the elements that were introduced with the third installment, Relic has provided an experience that reinforces a solid foundation. The four campaigns, although few, are great kinds of history that are able to effectively tell the events that took place thousands of years ago. Documentary videos that provide additional information about these periods substantially elevate the presentation to a level not found today in other similar experiences.	Read review
AusGamers	Kosta Andreadis	9.5 / 10	10-25-2021	For a genre steeped in keyboard shortcuts, understanding tech trees, the importance of a build queue, and multi-tasking so you can turn that gold into gold-plated armour, Age of Empire IV's easy-to-learn interface and systems go the opposite route to what you'd expect when throwing the word ‘streamlined' into the mix.	Read review
CGMagazine	Hayes Madsen	10 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 is a bold and ambitious evolution of the series, and quite likely one of the best RTS games ever made.	Read review
Checkpoint Gaming	Unknown	8 / 10	11-08-2021	Age of Empires IV delivers an absolute feast for strategy fans, offering several gameplay modes, a beautifully crafted story campaign, and stunning visuals. It may not come with a ground-breaking overhaul when it comes to its gameplay mechanics, but it does stay true to the tried and tested classic gameplay formula, which is sure to delight both old and new fans of the franchise.	Read review
COGconnected	Mark Steighner	84 / 100	10-25-2021	Will I be digging deep into Age of Empires IV? Absolutely.	Read review
DualShockers	Mehrdad Khayyat	9 / 10	10-25-2021	Regardless of whether you are an old-school fan of Age of Empires or a rookie, Age of Empires 4 is satisfying enough for both groups of audience. And it continues Xbox Game Studios’ great year after the incredible success of Psychonauts 2.	Read review
Echo Boomer	David Fialho	Recommended	10-25-2021	The acclaimed strategy series comes back with and open window to other eras, the ones with wars and conflicts and a nostalgic one, for a great old-school game with modernized sensibilities.	Read review
Eurogamer	Chris Tapsell	Recommended	12-17-2021	History repeats itself with a joyful, educational flourish in Age of Empires 4, a game of sweet simplicity and bottomless depth.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Daniele D'Orefice	8.5 / 10	10-25-2021	The greatest example that Age of Empires IV gives us is that it is possible to develop a historical game that approaches the subject giving it the right weight, without giving up working well in the multiplayer agon, where numbers, mathematics, are often the masters.	Read review
Explosion Network	Wil James	Recommended	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV turns back the hands of time in more ways than one. Whilst it would have been good for it to turn back enough time that I would be able to deliver a full review at this stage, I have played enough of the game to deliver this review in progress.	Read review
Game Informer	Daniel Tack	8.3 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV successfully captures some of the magic of earlier titles in the franchise with clean, crisp gameplay and varied playstyles.	Read review
Game Rant	Denny Connolly	4 / 5 stars	10-27-2021	Overall, Age of Empires definitely brings enough to the table and captures enough nostalgia to make it an easy recommendation for any fans of the franchise or the genre. For gamers new to RTS, the Story Mode and campaigns actually make it a very strong choice for diving in as well, as long as they aren’t expecting cutting-edge graphics. The fact that the game is going to be available on Game Pass Day One could potentially help expose a large new audience to the franchise and build up some new fans. It will be very interesting to see what kind of reception it receives and, if its successful, what sort of post-launch content could arrive in the coming year to keep the community hooked and engaged.	Read review
Game Revolution	Jason Faulkner	3.75 / 5 stars	10-27-2021	I hope that in the future, the devs take the asymmetrical civilizations further and focus on mechanics that evolve the Age of Empires franchise. There’s a solid foundation here, and if built in the right direction, it could lead to something special. For now, it’s too old school for its own good.	Read review
Gameblog	Camille Allard	8 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV is clearly a very good strategy game, which should not disappoint fans of the franchise. With its graphical renewal, the focus on History and its very good artistic direction, we have in our hands a good entry of Age of Empires. However, we may regret that the game is a bit too academic and without any real risk. But still, Age of Empires IV is a very good game.	Read review
GameMAG	Unknown	9 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 is an exemplary return of the great series to its roots and an excellent basis for future additions.	Read review
Gamerheadquarters	Jason Stettner	10 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 is the true successor that we’ve been waiting ever so long for. It’s a perfect continuation that builds upon what made this series so special, while also making it accessible for new players.	Read review
Gamersky	阿塔诺	8.9 / 10	10-25-2021	The gameplay of Age of Empires 4 is classic enough, some improvements to the original game also make the feeling more comfortable. Age of Empires 4 returns to the classics of the series may touch many players.	Read review
GamesBeat	Dean Takahashi	Recommended	10-25-2021	Like I said. It’s been so long since I’ve played an Age of Empires game that I needed the extra tutorial help, the engaging historical videos, and the narration that kept me playing through the single-player campaign. I think this game is accessible and easy to learn, but it’s also got a lot of depth for real-time strategy veterans. I hope it does well because I want to see more RTS games hit the market. But this one could keep fans busy for a long time, as far as I can tell right now.	Read review
GameSkinny	Jonathan Moore	7 / 10	11-19-2021	Age of Empires 4 has the potential for greatness, but for now, it walks in the shadow of the rightful king.	Read review
GameSpew	Robert Gammon	8 / 10	10-25-2021	There’s a lot to love about Age of Empires IV. It’s clear the developers have listened to the community in creating a game that feels both fresh yet faithful to the franchise. It has tried to combine the best elements of all previous games in the series and, largely, it has succeeded in doing so. Its small pool of factions may be a problem for some, and its camera issues need addressing, but in the grand scheme of things, this is an excellent entry into the RTS space. Is Age of Empires IV the best Age of Empires game to date? For me, it doesn’t quite knock Age of Empires II Definitive Edition off the top spot, but regardless, this modern entry has undoubtedly been well worth the wait.	Read review
GameSpot	Darryn Bonthuys	7 / 10	11-08-2021	We got hands-on with the closed network test for From Software's next game, and it felt both familiar and different in an exciting way.	Read review
GamesRadar+	Rachel Weber	5 / 5 stars	10-25-2021	A triumphant return for the strategy series, and well worth the wait.	Read review
GameWatcher	Matthew Ralphson	7.5 / 10	10-25-2021	Running a cavalry charge around the enemy defenses to burn their Wonder to the ground while the clock ticked down to defeat. No horses survived, but victory was mine.	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Sean Cahill	8.8 / 10	01-27-2022	A solid campaign and endless customization for single-player, co-op and online play, Age of Empires IV deserves a ton of credit for making turn-based strategy a treat to play.	Read review
GamingTrend	Ron Burke	95 / 100	10-25-2021	Age of Empires helped define an entire genre, and under the steady hand of RTS masters Relic Entertainment, it may once again wear that crown -- Age of Empires IV is that good.	Read review
Generación Xbox	Laura Trujillo	9.5 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV has come at the best time and in the best possible way. A classic but at the same time fresh RTS, tailor-made for the needs of today's gamers. It continues to awaken that aroma of nostalgia but without neglecting the new content and new ways of playing that the most fans of the saga wanted to see.	Read review
God is a Geek	Mick Fraser	9 / 10	10-25-2021	Those expecting a revolution may be disappointed, but Age of Empires IV is still a confident, deep, and hugely compelling return.	Read review
GotGame	Cole Nixon	7 / 10	11-16-2021	If you feel like you’ve exhausted whats on display in the prior installments, Age of Empires IV won’t disappoint in continuing the legacy, though it will leave you wanting more. I look forward to seeing how the game blooms, though I wish they gave this one another month in development time.	Read review
GRYOnline.pl	Przemysław Dygas	8 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 has some technical issues, but they don’t change the fact that this is a really good game. The campaign is interesting	Read review
Guardian	Nic Reuben	3 / 5 stars	11-11-2021	Relic returns with this safe but solid modern revitalisation of the classic real-time strategy series	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Cory Wells	4 / 5 stars	10-25-2021	While there are technical issues, Age of Empires IV truly feels like a successful modern take on a classic favorite.	Read review
Hey Poor Player	Andrew Thornton	4 / 5 stars	11-04-2021	While there’s very little wrong with Age of Empires IV, this is a game that could definitely have been used to take more risks. A part of me wondered what a modern Age of Empires game would feel like. It turns out, like more Age of Empires. You may at some point wonder why you didn’t just go back and play the series’ earlier titles. Excellent production values help to make the case, however, and there’s just so much to do. I fear I’ll pour far too many hours of my life into this game in the coming years. Fans who have been waiting for more Age of Empires or a good RTS that doesn’t feel like it had to be developed on a shoestring budget will find what they’re looking for in Age of Empires IV.	Read review
Hobby Consolas	Alberto Lloret	89 / 100	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV makes a safe bet by appealing to the classic gameplay of the series, with the right novelties, but without risking. If you are a fan "of those of a lifetime", you will enjoy it very much, but if you expected a deeper evolution, here you will not find it.	Read review
IGN	Nicholas Rego	8 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 is an enjoyable RTS throwback that often plays it too safe, but excels when it doesn't.	Read review
IGN Italy	Stefano Castagnola	8.6 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV won't shake the videogame world as much as its famed predecessors once did, but it's still a quality production from Relic Entertainment and a worthy addition to a legendary series of strategy games.	Read review
IGN Middle East	Nicholas Rego	8 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV preserves the traditional roots of the much-loved series, which brings some exciting new civilizations to you to experience.	Read review
IGN Spain	David Oña	9 / 10	10-25-2021	A few months ago, Humankind was presented as a candidate to become the benchmark of turn-based strategy for the next few years. Now, with a similar love for the story, but with a different tone, Age of Empires IV arrives to reposition the franchise in the Olympus of RTS. A title that knows how to pick up and update the essence of the saga, and that is the basis of a resurgence that seems to have a long life ahead of it. If you like the genre, clear your diaries.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Chris O'Connor	4.9 / 5 stars	10-26-2021	Take part in some of histories pivotal battles, then learn more about the actual events that took place.	Read review
JVL	Kikitoès	7.5 / 10	12-15-2021	With a comprehensive tutorial and a campaign that will refine your senses, Age of Empires 4 opens the door to new players who can easily get their hands dirty before attacking the multiplayer.	Read review
LevelUp	Luis Sánchez	8.5 / 10	10-28-2021	Age of Empires IV is a solid RTS. It's fun, it's challenging, and it has a promising future. This is because the base is Age of Empires II, a mythical title that remains unsurpassed after so many years. Hopefully this greatness can be replicated, and in the future, Age of Empires IV will be seen as the cornerstone to advance into a new era.	Read review
M3	Billy Ekblom	6 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 is a safe return. It is both better looking and larger than before, but at the same time is characterized by an extremely familiar feeling. The various playable civilizations are the triumph of the game, while the campaigns and inherited problems of the rts genre as a whole create some irritation.	Read review
Merlin'in Kazanı	Eren Eroğlu	84 / 100	10-30-2021	Age of Empires IV is another good example of the kind of strategy we miss. There are some technical problems in the game, but it's a really successful production.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	7 / 10	10-27-2021	A highly competent but disappointingly unambitious real-time strategy that fails to move either the genre or the Age Of Empires franchise forward.	Read review
New Game Network	Daniel Nichols	77 / 100	11-02-2021	Age of Empires IV is an old school RTS that should be comfortable for returning players and accessible to newcomers. A bigger focus on historical campaigns is enjoyable, alongside great Skirmish and multiplayer modes.	Read review
Paste Magazine	Dia Lacina	8.5 / 10	11-09-2021	Initially I thought that was a flaw. Where Total Wars let me become Agamemnon, or Liu Bei of the Perpetual Vibe Check, and Civ V bid me to become Theodora, Hottie Empress of Byzantium, and spread Sapphism across the globe to achieve my glorious Cultural Victory, here there's none of that. I'm simply an amorphous hand guiding the imperial machinery. But honestly, that's okay. There's no distraction in Age of Empires IV. It's a return to a purity of build base, make dudes, obliterate enemies. And I came to love it so much I want to force my dad to spend his weekend playing it with me while he shouts what bits he remembers of the St. Crispin's Day speech over voice chat, as our massive blobs of 15th century dudes collide at our own virtual Agincourt.	Read review
PC Gamer	Robert Zak	77 / 100	10-25-2021	A worthy new entry in the legendary series that's equal parts progressive and dated.	Read review
PC Invasion	Damon Apelt	8.5 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV is fun, well executed slice of real-time strategy that doesn't quite bring anything new to the table.	Read review
PCGamesN	Ian Boudreau	8 / 10	10-25-2021	Polishing a classic formula without revolutionising it, this is a robust package that includes something for just about every kind of RTS player, from beginners to grizzled veterans.	Read review
Polygon	Austen Goslin	Recommended	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 revives the series’ brilliance	Read review
Press Start	Matthew Zimmari	7.5 / 10	10-26-2021	Weaving a tried and true gameplay style with a historic documentary twist, Age of Empires IV reminds us not only how great the series once was, but how much better it can be going forward. Bringing back the excitement of real-time strategy, it keeps both the past and the future in mind	Read review
Rectify Gaming	Dave Rodriguez	9.3 / 10	10-29-2021	Age of Empires IV is a fantastic sequel worthy of the lineage it follows up.	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	Sin Vega	Recommended	10-25-2021	It could still be friendlier to newcomers, but Age Of Empires 4 is an assured step in a genre whose comeback is long overdue.	Read review
Screen Rant	Maria Meluso	3 / 5 stars	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 is a modern, faithful addition.	Read review
SECTOR.sk	Branislav Koh�t	7.5 / 10	10-25-2021	Solid RTS with historical lessons and curiosity. But not as good as predecessors from past.	Read review
SomHráč.sk	Denis Burčík	75 / 100	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV is a fresh breath of air for the series, but it doesn't abandon the franchise's roots either. All of the campaigns are quite innovative and definitely worth playing. But it remains to be seen whether the game can unseat the previous two games from the spot of the fan favorite.	Read review
SpazioGames	Marino Puntorieri	8.2 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV feels like an intriguing evolution from Age of Empires II and shows the right balance between a deep and layered gameplay and	Read review
Stevivor	Stuart Gollan	8 / 10	10-25-2021	The strategic polish of two decades is on display in Age of Empires 4, both in the history of this series and the pedigree of the developer. Relic has wrapped an interesting if slightly flawed single player experience around what is a superb strategy game.	Read review
TechRaptor	Austin Suther	9.5 / 10	10-25-2021	Exciting civilizations, incredible attention to detail, and engrossing story campaigns makes for a game where it's impossible to not have a good time.	Read review
The Escapist	Elijah Beahm	Recommended	11-09-2021	Video Review	Read review
The Games Machine	Marco Bortoluzzi	8.7 / 10	10-25-2021	Despite some relatively minor issues, especially in the graphical compartment, Age of Empires IV is an excellent new chapter in the history of one of the most beloved RTS sagas. Relic Entertainment and World's Edge kept true to the roots of the series while at the same time not forgetting to innovate the formula in interesting and creative ways.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Dominic Leighton	8 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 is a deeply enjoyable return for the series. It puts history front and centre, and opts to refresh its gameplay instead of reinvent it. That may not be enough for some. Then again, when you've got a series that's remained the base template for RTS games for more than twenty years, who can blame them?	Read review
Unboxholics	Θέμης Μπολτσής	Recommended	11-08-2021	Age of Empires IV does not reinvent the wheel either for the series or for the strategy genre. However, it is truly a high-quality game, which has new additions and manages to keep the player's interest, with its four different campaigns and with a great variety of scenarios, objectives, and environments.	Read review
VG247	Josh Broadwell	Recommended	10-25-2021	There’s no need to change what works already, though a few additional gameplay flourishes could have helped AoE 4 feel more fresh and exciting. The campaigns are robust, but the missing content stands out in its absence. That’s especially true considering Age of Empires 4 is a full-priced release, though being on Game Pass makes it a more appealing prospect. What’s here is still more than enough to be getting on with, but lIke any good strategist, World’s Edge is planning ahead for the long game.	Read review
VGC	Jordan Middler	4 / 5 stars	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 is a brilliant sequel to an RTS classic that plays it safe while streamlining some of the series' more tedious mechanics.	Read review
Washington Post	Cameron Kunzelman	Recommended	10-29-2021	“Age of Empires IV” is a simple, pleasurable game that rewards developing high skill but does not require it to push and learn your way through. It gives you troops and their upgrades and some buildings and lets you decide what you want to do with them. It gave me a lot of freedom to make my own choices within a narrative that constantly told me how cool I was for playing in a historical playground with some of the coolest people who ever lived. These pleasures are few and far between in life, and I savored this one.	Read review
Wccftech	Chris Wray	9 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV is, in almost every way, a true sequel to Age of Empires II. It plays great and has a few new features that add more tactical elements to combat and how you develop your faction.	Read review
WellPlayed	Arana Judith	7 / 10	10-25-2021	Age of Empires IV is a worthy return of an iconic series, but it is difficult to recommend over older remastered entries. Newer players, and some returning ones, may find use of its new gameplay features but will probably end up scrapping them as they grow more experienced.	Read review
Windows Central	Cale Hunt	5 / 5 stars	10-25-2021	Age of Empires 4 builds greatly on the series' reputation that began in 1997. If you're a fan of RTS games, world history, or both, this should be an easy recommendation. With dozens of hours of campaign play, eight unique civilizations, hours of live docu-style video segments, and a ton of maps for skirmishes, there's no shortage of well-polished content to enjoy. Get it on its own or enjoy it through a subscription to Xbox Game Pass for PC.	Read review
Worth Playing	Tony "OUberLord" Mitera	7.9 / 10	10-25-2021	It's that safety in embracing the past that represents Age of Empires 4's most obvious flaw. In many ways, it plays and feels like the game is simply Age of Empires 2 with a very well applied fresh coat of paint. Love letter or no, between the rough issues with the campaign and the reuse of the multiplayer, it feels more like a remaster of an older game than of a new entry into the series. It is not easy to please fans of the long-running franchise while also attempting to attract new ones to it, and Age of Empires 4 finds itself in a strange no-man's land between those two goals.	Read review
Zoomg	افشین پیروزی	8.5 / 10	11-08-2021	Age of Empires 4 is quite loyal to its perennial principles and especially the popular version of the second. The overall core of the gameplay is strongly reminiscent of AOE 2, and the same thing has made it very quick for old players to interact with the game and enjoy the experience thanks to minor improvements.	Read review
ZTGD	Terrence Johnson	9 / 10	10-26-2021	If you can’t tell, I really loved Age of Empires 4. If I had to complain it would be that while I love the depth and difference in each civilization; I would like to see more added. Perhaps one with an African/Egyptian flair. And that I wasn’t able to try out the multiplayer, but it does have a nice quick match system in place where the player can choose to queue up for multiple types of matches at a time. As I said above Age of Empires 4 is the perfect mix of old and new and I really think the legions of fans who’ve been waiting ever so patiently for 16 years for a new entry in this storied franchise will find much to love here.	Read review

** Learn more about how to become a MetaMeter-approved Critic.

Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

One of the best-selling real-time strategy games returns to glory with Age of Empires IV, putting you at the center of epic historical battles that shaped the modern world.

RELEASE DATES:

DEVELOPER(S):

PUBLISHER(S):

GENRES:

SERIES/FRANCHISE:

GAME MODES:

GAME ENGINE:

DLC:

BUNDLED IN:

DIRECTOR(S):

PRODUCER(S):

DESIGNER(S):

PROGRAMMER(S):

ARTIST(S):

WRITER(S):

COMPOSER(S):

LINKS:

AGE RATING:

Detailed Information

GAME MODES:

GAME ENGINE:

DLC:

BUNDLED IN:

DIRECTOR(S):

PRODUCER(S):

DESIGNER(S):

PROGRAMMER(S):

ARTIST(S):

WRITER(S):

COMPOSER(S):

Developed by Relic Entertainment. All titles, content, brand names, trademarks, logos, artwork, and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of their respective owners. © All rights reserved.