We Love It's Guide to…
Lead an empire through the exploration era, building its economy and armies while tailoring each RTS match with Home City card shipments.
Released 15 Oct 2020
Customize Shipment Decks
Summon Home City Support
Forge Map Alliances
Lead powerful civilizations across the globe, master strategies and tactics, and relive history in co op battles—now remastered in stunning 4K and modernized gameplay.
Developed by World's Edge, Tantalus Media, Forgotten Empires · Published by Xbox Game Studios
Command a civilization during the exploration and colonial eras, expanding its influence across maps inspired by Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Campaigns, skirmishes, and multiplayer matches put you in charge of developing an empire and directing its forces.
Gather resources, build settlements, advance through eras, research technologies, and raise armies for land and naval battles. Explore maps for resources and opportunities, including trade routes and local allies that can shape your strategy.
Each civilization has distinct units and mechanics, and Home City decks let you choose shipments of resources, troops, and upgrades to support your plans. The game also includes objective-based co-op historical battles, campaign missions, and Art of War challenges.
Players who enjoy the game often highlight its customizable Home City shipment decks and distinct civilizations, which give matches varied strategies and replay value. Reviews also praise the tactical battles, presentation, and nostalgic appeal. Some players criticize changes to the campaigns, a steep learning curve, limited ongoing support, and multiplayer connection problems.
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition celebrates one of the most beloved real-time strategy franchises in definitive form with enhanced features and modernized gameplay. Take control of empires from Europe, Asia, and the Americas with Home City cards and fresh playstyles. Enjoy new co-op historical battles, a variety of maps, Art of War challenges, refined campaigns, and hero cosmetics in stunning 4K Ultra HD graphics.
Command 18 Civilizations
Lead a diverse roster of European, Native American, and Asian Civilizations from the original game plus four additions, Swedes, Inca, Mexico, and USA. Leverage the unique bonuses of your civilization and customize your strategy with new, reworked, and fully unlocked Home City cards. Harness the power of overhauled Revolutions like Brazil, Indonesia, or Egypt for the ultimate battlefield pivot, unlocking new nation-specific cards and units.
Play History Together in Co-Op Historical Battles
Relive iconic moments from history together, where you and a friend take on 9 scenario-driven missions inspired by real events. Coordinate your armies, split responsibilities, and fight back against enhanced AI in objective-based battles designed for teamwork. Experience the stories, stakes, and spectacle built for two.
Master the Art of War Challenge Missions
Sharpen your strategy in a series of focused scenarios designed to help you master the core mechanics. Take on skill-based challenges that test your economy, tactics, and combat execution as you strive for Gold Medals. Whether you’re learning the fundamentals or refining your play, Challenge Missions are your path to becoming a more formidable commander.
Enjoy New Tools & Content
• Explore 30 New Maps– Discover a wide range of battlefields that bring variety to every skirmish and match.
• Reworked Home Cities– Skip the grind with all cards unlocked by default. Craft your strategy with new and redesigned cards, or jump straight in with pre-built decks.
• Reimagined Revolutions & Political Choices– Revolution and Age-Up politicians have been redesigned with new options, units and strategies to explore.
• Modernized Gameplay & Tools– Experience refined unit balance, campaign missions, naval formations, and expanded unit variety. Up your game with the built-in Spectator Mode, Photo Mode, and Mod Manager.
• Bonus Content- Now includes all the content from the United States, Mexico, and Hero Cosmetic Pack Vol 1DLCs.
Jump online to play with friends or test your skills in skirmishes against AI across a variety of maps. However you choose to play, enjoy stunning visuals, a fully remastered soundtrack, and modernized RTS gameplay in this third installment of the award-winning franchise. Complete your collection with the final chapter in the Age of Empires Definitive Edition journey.
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 121 |
| Age ratings |
|
| Players | 1–8 |
| Play modes |
|
| Other modes |
|
| Multiplayer | The game supports single-player and multiplayer. Official features list online PvP, LAN PvP, and cross-platform multiplayer. The descriptions and reviews indicate online play with friends, battles against other players, skirmish games against AI, co-op historical battles, and team play. Reviews also mention spectator mode, matchmaking, lobbies, dedicated servers, and ranked/1v1 play. |
| Multiplayer & mods | The game is moddable and has a built-in mod manager. Reviews mention mods and custom scenarios, including custom gamemodes appearing in multiplayer lobbies. Old mods/scenarios are not guaranteed to work in the Definitive Edition, and some custom multiplayer content is less visible than before. |
| Controller required | No |
| DLC / extras | 10 listed on Steam |
| Content notices |
|
| Metacritic | 75/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |
Games similar to Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
