Age of Empires IV

Presentation

Age of Empires IV is a real-time strategy game developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. The fourth main installment in the franchise returns to a historical period centered on the Middle Ages, following in the footsteps of Age of Empires II. Players take control of a civilization and must transform a modest settlement into a kingdom capable of challenging its rivals. City construction, economic development, technological research and military command form the foundations of this progression. The experience revolves around confrontations in which economic and tactical decisions unfold simultaneously, without interruption between empire management and combat.

Each match begins with exploring the territory and gathering four main resources: food, wood, gold and stone. Villagers sustain the economy, construct buildings and gradually expand the civilization's capabilities. Players must distribute their population between production, expansion and defense while monitoring enemy movements. Progression is structured around four historical ages, from the Dark Age to the Imperial Age, unlocking new units, fortifications and technologies. Advancing from one age to the next notably involves constructing Landmarks, whose advantages vary depending on the chosen civilization. This structure requires players to adapt their development pace to available resources and the military situation.

The civilizations possess distinct strategic identities that influence their economies, buildings and armies. The English notably benefit from longbowmen and strong defensive capabilities, while the French rely on powerful cavalry and an economy that supports their development. The Mongols favor a nomadic approach, with the ability to relocate their buildings, whereas the Delhi Sultanate uses particular research and territorial control mechanics. These differences extend beyond unit statistics: they change how players build a base, advance through the ages and prepare an offensive. Battles involve infantry, cavalry, archers and siege engines, whose complementary strengths and weaknesses require carefully composed armies.

The game also features four main historical campaigns depicting several major political and military transformations of the Middle Ages. The Normans follows the rise of William the Conqueror and the conflicts surrounding the English throne, while The Hundred Years War presents the struggles between France and England, particularly those involving Joan of Arc. The Mongol Empire recounts the conquests of Genghis Khan and his successors, whereas The Rise of Moscow follows the gradual emergence of Russian power against foreign domination. Missions alternate between pitched battles, sieges, defensive operations and specific historical objectives. They are accompanied by documentary sequences that place events, military techniques and locations within their historical context.

Outside the campaigns, Age of Empires IV allows players to engage in skirmishes against artificial intelligence or competitive and cooperative multiplayer battles. Maps feature varied geographical layouts, changing access to resources and opportunities for defense or expansion. Victory can be achieved by destroying enemy Landmarks, controlling Sacred Sites or constructing and protecting a Wonder. These objectives encourage different approaches, from rapid offensives to economic and territorial dominance. With fully three-dimensional environments, combat effects and display resolutions reaching 4K on compatible hardware, this installment modernizes the series' presentation while preserving its balance between economy, expansion and military strategy.

Key points

• A historical real-time strategy game focusing on civilizations and major battles of the Middle Ages.
• Progression built around city construction, resource gathering and advancement through four ages.
• Asymmetrical civilizations, each featuring distinctive units, buildings, economic advantages and military approaches.
• Battles combining infantry, cavalry, archers, fortifications and siege engines, with particular emphasis on positioning.
• Four main historical campaigns, dedicated to the Normans, the Hundred Years War, the Mongol Empire and the Rise of Moscow.
• Several victory conditions, based on military conquest, Sacred Sites or protecting a Wonder.
• Single-player, multiplayer and cooperative modes, featuring skirmishes, competitive matches and AI-controlled opponents.

Conclusion

Age of Empires IV revisits the foundations of historical real-time strategy by organizing them around economic development, the distinctive characteristics of each civilization and military command. Advancing through the ages structures progression, while different victory conditions allow players to approach confrontations through conquest, defense or territorial control.

The historical campaigns complement this formula by recreating several major conflicts of the Middle Ages, accompanied by documentary sequences exploring their context. Skirmishes and multiplayer extend these mechanics into battles with changing circumstances. This installment therefore combines empire management, civilization diversity and historical warfare, within a modernized presentation that preserves the franchise's identity.

Good to know

Age of Empires IV was released on October 28, 2021, for PC. It was developed by Relic Entertainment, published by Xbox Game Studios and built using the Essence Engine 5. The project also benefited from the supervision of World's Edge, Microsoft's organization dedicated to the Age of Empires franchise. It continues the series launched in 1997 while primarily returning to the medieval period explored in its second installment.

The original version featured eight playable civilizations: the English, French, Mongols, Chinese, Rus, Abbasid Dynasty, Holy Roman Empire and Delhi Sultanate. Their differences concern both economic progression and military units, as well as the Landmarks used to advance through the ages. The Anniversary Edition, released in 2022, notably added the Ottomans and Malians for free, bringing the number of civilizations in that edition to ten.

The four original campaigns feature a collection of battles and historical events spanning several centuries. Their presentation follows a distinctive documentary approach: sequences filmed at real-world locations, historical commentary and explanations of medieval techniques accompany the missions. The Hands on History videos, unlocked throughout progression, notably explore weaponry, construction techniques and the organization of societies during the period.

Battles feature three main victory conditions: destroying the opponent's principal Landmarks, maintaining control of Sacred Sites for a specified period or protecting a Wonder until its countdown ends. The choice of Landmarks when advancing through the ages also influences the civilization's development. Maps, available resources and enemy positions determine the suitability of each strategy.

The game has been expanded through several additional releases, including The Sultans Ascend, Knights of Cross and Rose and Dynasties of the East, introducing new civilizations, variants and game modes. The Yue Fei's Legacy expansion, released in May 2026, notably adds an eight-mission campaign dedicated to the Chinese general Yue Fei and the Song dynasty's struggle against the Jin. These additions extend the game's historical setting without replacing its fundamental mechanics.

Age of Empires IV features an introductory tutorial, skirmishes against AI opponents and online matches, including competitive rankings. The game also supports cooperative matches against artificial intelligence, alongside tools for creating and modifying content. It offers voice acting, text and subtitles in English, French, Spanish and several other languages, and its graphical presentation supports resolutions of up to 4K on compatible hardware.