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Age of Empires 4 review scores are in, and we're here to spread the good word. The good news is that the game turned out to be a fun callback to the RTS era that has come and gone. Age of Empires IV meets expectations in terms of what people would have come to expect from an Age of Empires game. However, it may have gone too carefully when it comes to innovation. As a whole package, how does Age of Empires IV stack up?
Age of Empires 4 Review Scores: 83 Metascore on Metacritic
Age of Empires IV review scores has been mostly positive, with 50 positive reviews and 5 mixed reviews from 55 critic reviews on Metacritic. It currently holds an 83 Metascore on the platform. For old-school RTS veterans, then, Age of Empires IV will feel familiar and meet expectations. But for those who are looking for something new, then there won't be much to find in this game.
A couple of game reviews gave the game a perfect score, including Windows Central, CGMagazine, and GamesRadar+. “Age of Empires 4 hasn't reinvented the RTS genre, but it has perfected many aspects. The campaign is absorbing, the multiplayer is competitive, and the visuals and audio are a near-perfect fit. If you're a fan of the Age of Empires series, this is an easy recommendation,” says Windows Central.
“Age of Empires IV is a bold and ambitious evolution of the series, and quite likely one of the best RTS games ever made,” concludes CGMagazine. And finally, GamesRadar+ says: “There's so much depth in the gameplay, so many tactics to experiment with, so many weird scenarios I can build for myself in Skirmish mode, that it's hard to imagine ever getting bored of it. History, carnage, and teeny weeny elephants, Age of Empires 4 has it all.”
Age of Empires 4 review scores also remain high for a majority of other review sites. Universally, Age of Empires IV is praised for its gameplay, its campaigns, diversity in the available civilizations, and the game's impressive visuals. However, even for the highest-scored articles, critics are disappointed that Relic Entertainment may have played it too carefully when it comes to the game's mechanics. God is a Geek, who gave Age of Empires 4 a review score of 9.0/10, says: “Age of Empires IV, then, feels like something of an effortless masterclass in planning and waging war. There’s not much evidence of Relic even attempting to innovate or take risks. Yet it still seems to stand shoulders above many of its contemporaries… Those expecting a revolution may be disappointed, but Age of Empires IV is still a confident, deep, and hugely compelling return.”
Moving towards the more lukewarm but still positive reviews, most complaints still talk about how Age of Empires IV does not add a lot to the formula. At this point, after two decades of Age of Empires, one would expect a lot of evolution from the franchise. But for GameByte, there's not a lot of reason to purchase Age of Empires IV for £50 ($70) if you can just buy Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition for £15 ($20), which are, according to GameByte, almost identical, with Age of Empires II in some aspects even being better.
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“Thanks to unique units, buildings and technologies, playing around with each civilisation is fun and offers a different experience each time,” says GameByte. “Unfortunately, with it feeling so similar to Age of Empires 2 but with many stripped down features, it’s extremely difficult for me to recommend spending £50 on this when you can grab Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition for £15. Maybe it will be better after some updates, but right now it’s just reminding me of better games.” GameByte gives Age of Empires IV 7 cherries out of 10.
WellPlayed had the same sentiments, saying: “Age of Empires IV is a worthy return of an iconic series, but 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.” They gave Age of Empires IV a 7/10.
Finally, the lowest scores that Age of Empires IV received come from ScreenRant and from Gamer.no, who gave Age of Empires IV review scores of 3/5 and 6/10, respectively. ScreenRant says that “While there is nothing especially groundbreaking about Age of Empires 4‘s formula, it should manage to scratch a very particular nostalgic itch for fans and offer a starting point for beginners to begin their own journey through history.” Meanwhile, Gamer.no says “Age of Empires IV is fundamentally a true AoE game, but sadly, it's very little else. There are no bold chances taken here, no great additions or revolutionary changes. And that, after so many years, is disappointing.”
Conclusion: Is Age of Empires IV good? Is it worth your money and time?
Age of Empires IV, played in a vacuum, is a great example of an RTS game done right. As mentioned by multiple critics, it is a masterclass of RTS gameplay and storytelling. The two decades of experience Relic Entertainment has on the genre is showcased here, with Age of Empires IV feeling like the best Age of Empires game to date. However, it doesn't take a lot of risks or innovate too much. If you've played the previous Age of Empires games, then there isn't a lot for you left to discover here. It's more of the same, just with better graphics and sound design.
Having played the game ourselves for a while and being a fan of the genre as well, we can recommend the game if you're looking for a modern take on Age of Empires. The criticisms on how it feels like the same game as the previous ones are something we agree with. However, we think that Age of Empires IV can stand on its own enough and still be worth your time and money. This is most especially true if you're a lapsed fan who hasn't played any entries for a long time. If you're new to the series, Age of Empires IV is a great way to start into the series and would be a perfect launching pad where you won't need to look back anymore.
