A legendary series that defined the RTS genre
When Ensemble Studios released the first Age of Empires in 1997, nobody expected that this strategy game would change the face of gaming for years to come. Combining historical campaigns, deep mechanics and the now-iconic „build your civilization” formula, the series won millions of fans. Today, 25 years on, Age of Empires still sets popularity records thanks to remasters, new instalments and its debut on Xbox.
The birth of a legend: the Golden Age of classic RTS (1997-2005)
Age of Empires (1997): The beginning of an empire
The first game took players to ancient times (from 12,000 BC to 500 AD), offering 16 civilizations to develop. Its innovation was combining the struggle for resources with an accurate depiction of historical conflicts. The game’s success (over 3 million copies sold according to IGN) was cemented by the expansion The Rise of Rome (1998).
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (1999): A masterpiece of the genre
The second part, set in the Middle Ages, is still considered the peak of the series. Its 13 civilizations, epic campaigns (including those about Joan of Arc and Saladin) and the revolutionary Genie Engine made the game a cult classic. According to Microsoft, the game sold over 5 million copies before 2001.
The classic Age of Empires titles
| Title | Release year | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Age of Empires | 1997 | 16 civilizations, 4 historical ages |
| Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings | 1999 | 13 civilizations, historical campaigns |
| Age of Mythology | 2002 | Mythologies, divine intervention system |
| Age of Empires III | 2005 | 3D engine, colonization of the Americas |
Age of Mythology (2002): A mythological experiment
This spin-off moved the action into the worlds of Greek, Egyptian and Norse myths. Its „divine gifts” mechanic and campaigns based on legends (e.g. about Odysseus) earned critical acclaim (87/100 on Metacritic).
Age of Empires III (2005): A revolution in 3D
The third main instalment introduced three-dimensional graphics and a „home city cards” system, allowing reinforcements to be summoned from Europe. Despite mixed reviews (79/100 on IGN), the game paved the way for modern RTS titles.
Years of oblivion and the return to glory (2006-2019)
After Ensemble Studios closed in 2009, the series almost disappeared from the market. The lifeline came from: – Fan projects: mods such as Age of Empires Online*(2011) kept the community alive. – Definitive Editions: 4K remasters that have been bringing the classics back into favour since 2018.
A new era: Remasters and console debuts
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (2019)
This refreshed version of the second part is today the most popular RTS on Steam (averaging 25 thousand players a day in 2023). It includes: – 35 civilizations (including Slavs and Bulgarians), – 4K HDR and a remastered soundtrack, – 3 new campaigns: Tatars, Cumans and Bulgarians.
Age of Empires on Xbox (2023)
In October 2023, Microsoft released Age of Empires II: DE and Age of Empires IV on Xbox Series X/S. Key improvements: – Controller optimization, – Co-op mode, – Cross-play with PC
Why it’s worth returning to Age of Empires in 2024?
The series offers more today than ever before: – 4 actively played games: AoE II: DE, AoE III: DE, AoE IV, – Availability: All titles are available on Xbox Game Pass, – Community: Tournaments such as Red Bull Wololo attract millions of viewers.
Your empire awaits!
Is there a better moment to join the legendary gameplay? If you haven’t played Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition yet, you can buy it on Steam.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/813780/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition
