21 Games Similar To The Age of Empires Series
The influence of Age of Empires on the real-time strategy genre cannot be overestimated. It became a source of inspiration for many other games and set the standard for strategic gameplay and historical accuracy. The game's enduring popularity led to the emergence of similar games, which we are going to review.
21. Dawn of Man
The game carefully shows the challenges faced by the first people, from hunting and gathering resources to organizing agriculture and making tools. The depth of modeling is impressive: you have to manage the needs of your tribe, explore the environment, adapt to the changing seasons and natural conditions. The emphasis on realism and historical accuracy adds an educational aspect to the game, allowing players to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and achievements of early human societies. Recommended for fans of Age of Empires!
20. Desynced
There are no transitions between eras like in Age of Empires, but it's still an interesting strategy game in fantasy style. Desynced includes a variety of missions and challenges, each with its own unique challenges and gameplay mechanics. The game encourages experimentation and rewards players for being creative in overcoming obstacles. This aspect, combined with a dynamic and responsive AI, ensures that each playthrough of the game is unique and engaging.
19. Going Medieval
The game is set in the turbulent Middle Ages, and only in it (unlike Age of Empires). And you will have to establish a medieval settlement and manage it, leading your people through all the trials and tribulations of the time. The attention to historical accuracy and authenticity is commendable, as the game explores various aspects of medieval life, from building fortifications and managing agricultural production to defending against raids and maintaining the well-being of villagers. Going Medieval's game mechanics present a good balance between strategic decision making and survival challenges. As the leader of the settlement, you must intelligently allocate resources, give tasks to the inhabitants and plan the long-term development of your community. The game features a robust building system, allowing you to create and customize your settlement according to your vision and strategic needs. The ability to explore technology and develop your community adds progressiveness and depth to the gameplay.
18. Against the Storm
Players must manage resources, construct buildings, and expand their settlement to ensure their civilization survives and thrives. In addition, players must navigate a harsh and unforgiving environment, facing challenges such as extreme weather, resource scarcity, and hostile creatures. The combination of strategic decisions and survival challenges keeps Age of Empires fans constantly on edge. Against the Storm features a variety of game modes, including a story campaign and sandbox mode. In the campaign, players progress through the story campaign by completing a series of tasks and objectives. Sandbox mode involves more free-form gameplay, giving players the opportunity to explore and shape their civilization at their own pace. The inclusion of these modes allows for different play styles and preferences to be catered to, providing a well-rounded experience.
17. The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
The Battle for Middle-earth II single-player campaign offers a compelling narrative that takes players through the key events of the War of the Ring, which is more interesting than the Age of Empires storyline. Campaign missions are well crafted and present unique challenges that require both strategic thinking and tactical skill. The inclusion of cinematic scenes further enhances the immersion of the game, allowing players to feel like they are part of an epic story.
16. Kingdom Wars 2
One of the main advantages of Kingdom Wars 2 is its ambitious scale. The game aims to combine real-time strategy with grand strategy elements, allowing players to engage in both large-scale battles and manage their kingdom on a larger scale, much like in Age of Empires. The concept is intriguing and could provide a unique and immersive gameplay experience. Kingdom Wars 2's gameplay mechanics lack depth and refinement. While the idea of managing a kingdom and leading armies in real-time battles is very appealing, its implementation feels superficial and unfinished. Strategic decisions made in kingdom management lack the weight and influence one would expect, and battles lack tactical depth, often turning into chaotic and unbalanced skirmishes. The lack of meaningful development and strategic choices makes the overall gameplay feel repetitive and uninteresting.
15. Kingdoms Reborn
The game mechanics of Kingdoms Reborn is a balance between city building, resource management and strategic decision making. The player will have to build and expand their settlement, manage resources and guide the development of their civilization. The game offers a variety of buildings, technologies, and resources that can be unlocked, allowing you to progress and customize your civilization according to your playstyle. There is also a strategic aspect to the game as players must consider factors such as trade, diplomacy, and military might to ensure their kingdom thrives and survives. The progression system in Kingdoms Reborn is well implemented and provides a satisfying sense of growth and achievement. As players progress, they unlock new technologies, buildings, and improvements that expand their abilities and strategies. This progression gives a tangible sense of development and makes the gameplay fun and rewarding, which should appeal to fans of the Age of Empires series.
14. Northgard
Players control a Viking clan and must meet the challenges of survival, expansion, and diplomacy. The game offers a variety of victory conditions, from dominating through conquest to achieving victory through other means, allowing players to choose strategies and play styles to their liking. The strategic depth and variety of choices provide satisfying and engaging gameplay, allowing players to immerse themselves in a game similar to Age of Empires for a long time. Resource management plays an important role in Northgard. Players must carefully allocate limited resources such as food, wood, and gold to develop their settlements, construct buildings, and train troops. The need for effective resource management adds complexity to the game and forces decisions, making every choice meaningful. The balance between expansion and sustainability becomes a key challenge, further enhancing the strategic depth of the game. Exploration is another interesting aspect of Northgard. Players can send their units to discover new territories, mine valuable resources, and face varied and often dangerous enemies. The exploration element adds to the sense of discovery and adventure as players uncover hidden secrets and strategize their progress through the map.
13. Empire Earth III
- Similarity: 40 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2007
- Game play time: 30 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The game mechanics of Empire Earth III lacks the strategic depth and complexity that made previous Age of Empires games so exciting. A simplified resource management system eliminates the need to make decisions related to empire building and expansion. The lack of a technology tree or meaningful research options further limits strategic depth, leaving players with a shallow and repetitive experience. Another notable disappointment in Empire Earth III is the weak AI. Computer-controlled enemies often make poor decisions and present little challenge for experienced players. Their predictable behavior and inability to adapt make the single-player game boring and uninteresting. In addition, the AI's inability to effectively utilize each faction's unique powers and capabilities further undermines the game's strategic potential.
12. Cossacks 3
As in Age of Empires, players can choose from several nations, each with their own unique units, technologies and strategies. The game features a robust economic system in which resource management and production play an important role in the success of your empire. Building and expanding settlements, recruiting and training troops, and engaging in large-scale battles all require careful planning and strategic decision-making. The sheer scale of battles, with thousands of units on the battlefield, is breathtaking and creates a sense of epicness to the game.
11. Praetorians - HD Remaster
In the game, the player will control the mighty Roman Empire, as well as the Gauls and Egyptians, each with their own units, strategies and play styles. The historical accuracy and detail of ancient armies and structures give the game depth and immersive atmosphere.
10. The Settlers: New Allies
The main focus is on building and managing your settlement, as well as exploring and developing new territories. The game features a unique "Allies" mechanic that allows you to team up with other players or factions controlled by artificial intelligence to achieve common goals. This cooperative element gives the game an extra level of strategy and diplomacy that sets it apart from Age of Empires. Resource management and production chains are also well implemented, providing a nice sense of progress and growth. The campaign mode in The Settlers: New Allies offers a series of missions that introduce the game's mechanics and gradually increase in difficulty. While the campaign provides a decent learning curve, it lacks a compelling narrative and fails to offer a truly compelling storyline. In addition, the campaign missions sometimes feel repetitive, and the lack of variety in objectives reduces the overall enjoyment of the game.
9. Empires Apart
The game features diverse and distinctive civilizations, reminiscent of the Age of Empires series. Each faction in the game has its own unique units, technologies and play style, which provides a diverse and dynamic gameplay. Whether it's the Aztecs, Chinese, Byzantines or any other civilization, each offers its own strategic approach and has its own strengths and weaknesses. This diversity gives the game depth and replayability, as you have to learn the different factions and strategies to master the game.
8. Stronghold: Definitive Edition
The game mechanics of Stronghold: Definitive Edition are both accessible to newcomers and deep enough to satisfy the demands of veterans of strategy games like Age of Empires. The core gameplay is based on building and managing a castle, as well as controlling the production and distribution of resources. From building walls and defenses to managing the economy and training an army, every decision plays a crucial role in the success or failure of your fortress. The game strikes a good balance between micromanagement and overall strategy, allowing you to focus on the aspects you enjoy most. The campaign mode offers a series of challenging missions, each with its own objectives and scenarios. During the campaign, you'll learn different aspects of castle building and siege warfare, gradually introducing new mechanics and complexities. The campaign provides a good learning pace and serves as a great way to familiarize yourself with game mechanics and strategies. The game also features a free build mode, allowing you to unleash your creativity and build the castle of your dreams without being limited by objectives and enemies. Stronghold: Definitive Edition also contains multiplayer modes that allow you to battle against friends or other players online. Multiplayer matches can be intense and strategic, providing a dynamic and competitive experience. However, it is worth noting that the multiplayer community is not as active as in some other strategy games, which can sometimes affect the availability of opponents.
7. Age of Mythology
The game seamlessly blends elements of various mythologies, including Greek, Egyptian and Norse, to create a dynamic and engaging experience. The attention to detail in the game's artwork, music and narrative is commendable, as they truly bring the ancient world to life. From majestic temples and towering mythical creatures to epic battles between gods and mortals, every aspect of the game exudes authenticity and wonder. The game mechanics are similar to Age of Empires. At the beginning of the game, you choose one of three unique civilizations, each with their own strengths and mythological units. The ability to harness the power of the gods and unleash devastating divine forces adds an exciting layer of strategic depth. Whether you prefer to command an army of fierce Greek warriors, summon Egyptian sphinxes, or unleash the wrath of Thor's lightning bolts, the game offers a wide range of strategic options to suit your play style. The single-player campaign deserves special attention. In it, you will embark on an epic journey through numerous mythological realms with interesting characters and exciting storylines. The campaign effectively intertwines historical events with mythological elements, and the thrilling narrative keeps you in suspense from the beginning to the end.
6. Anno 1800
- Similarity: 80 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2019
- Game play time: 60 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The game beautifully recreates the atmosphere and aesthetics of the 19th century, transporting players to an era of rapid industrialization and technological progress. Meticulously detailed cities with lively streets, complex architecture and realistic animation truly bring the era to life. The game's soundtrack further enhances the immersion, conveying the atmosphere of the time and adding depth to the gameplay. Anno 1800 gameplay includes building and managing cities, as well as creating complex supply chains and trade routes. The game strikes the right balance between accessibility and depth, allowing both novice and experienced players to enjoy its mechanics. From gathering resources and creating supply chains to managing the wants and needs of a growing population, every decision you make has consequences and affects the prosperity of your city. The gameplay cycle of expanding your city, optimizing production, and trading with other regions is addictive and engrossing for hours on end. Age of Empires fans should enjoy it. In campaign mode, the game offers a compelling story that leads you through various scenarios and challenges. Each scenario introduces new game mechanics and challenges, making the campaign a great way to learn and master the intricacies of the game. In addition, the sandbox mode allows you to create and customize your own cities without the limitations imposed by a predetermined storyline. Anno 1800's multiplayer mode adds a competitive and cooperative atmosphere to the game, allowing you to team up with friends or other players online. Interacting with other players through trade agreements or friendly rivalries adds a dynamic and social aspect to the gameplay. The multiplayer community is active, and the game has a robust player matching system that allows you to find opponents of similar skill level.
5. Total War: Pharaoh
The game mechanics of Total War: Pharaoh is a masterful blend of empire management, diplomacy and epic battles. The player is tasked with building and expanding his empire, managing resources, developing infrastructure, and fostering the growth of his civilization. An intricate web of diplomacy and trade adds depth to the gameplay, allowing alliances and rivalries to determine the fate of the empire. When conflicts arise, the game seamlessly transitions into large-scale, real-time battles where you command armies on the battlefield, using tactics and strategy to achieve victory. The balance between the strategic depth of running an empire and the thrill of battles is brilliantly struck, making for a really interesting and immersive experience. You will love this game if you enjoyed Age of Empires.
4. 0 A.D.
One of the hallmarks of 0 A.D. is its commitment to historical accuracy and authenticity. The game takes players on a journey through various ancient civilizations such as the Romans, Greeks, and Persians, meticulously recreating their unique units, structures, and technology. The attention to detail in the art and design of each civilization is commendable, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the historical environment. The game mechanics of 0 A.D. are very similar to those of the Age of Empires series: resource management, construction, and military strategy. The player will gather resources, build and expand their settlements, learn technology and train armies to engage in epic battles with artificial intelligence or other players. The strategic depth and variety of options available in 0 A.D. allows players to experiment with different strategies and play styles. The game features a wide variety of civilizations, each with their own unique advantages and play style. Whether it's the disciplined Roman legions, the powerful Persian cavalry, or the versatile Greek hoplites, there is a civilization to suit every player's preferences. This variety increases the replayability of the game and encourages players to explore different strategies in each civilization.
3. Civilization VI
- Similarity: 90 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2016
- Game play time: 60 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The player will take on the role of a famous historical leader and guide his civilization from the ancient era to the modern age. The game has an amazing strategic depth, allowing the player to determine the development of their civilization through technological advancements, cultural influence, military might or diplomatic prowess. With a wide range of choices and options, no playthrough will be alike, encouraging multiple playthroughs to uncover new strategies and outcomes. As in Age of Empires, each civilization is uniquely represented, with distinctive abilities, units, and buildings that reflect their historical characteristics. The game's art style is vibrant and eye-catching, with beautifully rendered cities, landscapes, and wonders of the world. Animation and sound design further enhance the immersion in the game, making each turn lively and dynamic. Diplomacy plays an important role in Civilization VI, as players have to form alliances, make treaties, and regulate relations with other civilizations. AI leaders have distinct personalities and agendas, giving diplomatic interactions depth and realism. The addition of the Agenda system, where AI leaders have specific goals and preferences, creates a dynamic and engaging diplomatic landscape where players have to carefully build relationships and make strategic decisions to achieve their goals.
2. Rise of Nations
The game offers a journey through the annals of human history, from ancient civilizations to the modern era. This epic timeline allows you to watch the rise and fall of empires, making each playthrough of the game exciting and educational. Whether it's the Roman army, the British Industrial Revolution, or the United States of America, the game offers a variety of civilizations to choose from, each with their own strengths and capabilities. Very similar to Age of Empires. The game mechanics are a perfect balance between depth and accessibility. The game seamlessly transitions from the macro level of empire management to the micro level of tactical battles. You'll make strategic decisions on a global scale, such as managing resources, technological advancement, and diplomatic relations, while engaging in exciting real-time battles on the ground. The combination of strategic depth and fast-paced action keeps you constantly thinking. The single-player campaign is the real gem of the game, offering a number of historical scenarios that challenge your strategic skill. From conquering ancient lands to modernizing the state and achieving world domination, each scenario offers unique challenges and obstacles that make gameplay fresh and exciting. The inclusion of World Conquest mode, which allows you to embark on a grand conquest and diplomatic campaign on a dynamic world map, further enhances the game's replayability and long-term appeal.
1. War Selection
Like Age of Empires, the game allows you to choose from different historical eras, each with its own units, technologies, and strategies. From ancient civilizations to futuristic factions, the game offers a wide variety of options to suit different play styles and preferences. This variety adds depth and replayability to the gameplay, as players can experiment and tailor their strategies to each era's unique strengths and weaknesses. War Selection's gameplay mechanics represent a balance between traditional real-time strategy and a survival game. As you build your civilization, you must manage resources, expand your territory, and engage in battles with other players. However, what sets War Selection apart is the added survival aspect. The game features natural disasters such as earthquakes and tornadoes that can destroy a civilization if you are not prepared for them. This adds an extra level of complexity and urgency to the game, forcing players to think strategically not only in terms of military conquests, but also in terms of ensuring the survival of their civilization.
