Age of Empires IV is a real-time strategy video game created by Relic Entertainment and World's Edge. Xbox Game Studios published the game. It is the fourth version in the Age of Empires series. This version was not made by Ensemble Studios. The game was released on October 28, 2021, for Windows. It came out on August 22, 2023, for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. The game was released on November 4, 2025, for PlayStation 5.
Gameplay
The game takes place during the Early Middle Ages to the early Renaissance, with the first appearance of any civilization in the year 750.
There are 18 civilizations in the game. Ten are included in the base game, called Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition. Six additional civilizations are available through the The Sultans Ascend expansion. Four of these six are "variant civilizations," meaning they are different versions of civilizations previously released in other games. Two more variant civilizations were added with the Knights of Cross and Rose expansion, and four more were added with the Dynasties of the East expansion.
At the original release of the game, there were eight civilizations. Two civilizations, the Ottomans and Malians, were added for free on October 25, 2022, one year after the game’s release.
The game includes six single-player campaigns, one of which is available only with the The Sultans Ascend expansion:
– The Rise of a King (console-exclusive): A tutorial campaign that teaches the basics of the game (1047–1066)
– The Normans: Focuses on the Norman conquest of England and conflicts involving English kings (1066–1217)
– The Hundred Years War: A conflict between England and France (1351–1450)
– The Rise of Moscow: Explores the rise of the Grand Duchy of Moscow among other Rus' principalities, Lithuania, and the Tatars (1238–1552)
– The Mongol Empire: Details the expansion of one of history’s largest empires (1223–1273)
– The Sultans Ascend: A campaign about the Crusades from the perspective of Muslim civilizations (1111–1426) – available with the The Sultans Ascend DLC
The game includes four Ages, the same as in Age of Empires II: Dark Age, Feudal Age, Castle Age, and Imperial Age. Advancing through Ages is done by building Landmarks, except for the Abbasids and Ayyubids, who use the Town Center.
Most civilizations have the same types of buildings:
– Economic: Farm, House, Lumber Camp, Mill, Mining Camp, Market, Town Center
– Military: Archery Range, Barracks, Dock, Siege Workshop, Stable
– Technology: Blacksmith, University/Madrasa
– Defensive: Keep, Outpost, Palisade Wall, Palisade Gate, Stone Wall, Stone Wall Gate, Stone Wall Tower
– Religious: Monastery, Mosque, Prayer Tent
– Wonder
Some civilizations have replacement buildings that perform the same functions but are unique to them. Others have buildings that are not available to other civilizations.
All civilizations, except the Abbasid Dynasty, Ayyubids, and Knights Templar, have four landmarks (the starting Town Center plus one in each of the Feudal, Castle, and Imperial Ages). Each landmark has a special purpose, and building one advances the civilization to the next Age.
The Chinese civilization is unique because they can build both of their landmarks to enable a Dynasty. The Abbasid Dynasty has a single landmark, the House of Wisdom, which has four wings that can be researched in any order. Researching any wing advances the civilization to the next Age, except the fourth wing, which does not advance to a fifth Age. The Ayyubids, a variant of the Abbasid Dynasty, can choose between two options for each wing when advancing through the House of Wisdom. The Knights Templar are unique in that they use their starting Town Center as their only landmark and advance to the next Age by researching it there.
Development
On August 21, 2017, Microsoft announced Age of Empires IV, developed by Relic Entertainment. Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Gaming, Phil Spencer, stated on June 11, 2019, that Age of Empires IV was still in development, with more details to be shared later in 2019. On November 14, 2019, gameplay footage of Age of Empires IV was shown at the X019 event. The footage displayed medieval battles between English and Mongol forces. On March 16, 2021, a fan preview was released, showing more detailed gameplay and introducing two additional civilizations: the Chinese and the Delhi Sultanate. Microsoft announced at E3 2021 that the game would be released on Game Pass for PC on October 28, 2021. The game was released on October 28, 2021, and was developed using the Essence Engine.
Soundtrack
The game's voiceovers were recorded using how people actually spoke in the past for each language. The music in the game was created by composers from Dynamedion. Tilman Sillescu helped create the main theme, menu music, trailers, and music for the Mongols and Holy Roman Empire. Alexander Röder worked on music for China, England, and the Ottomans. Henning Nugel composed music for the Rus', Abbasid, Malians, and Byzantines. Armin Haas created music for the Delhi Sultanate and Malians. Christian Wirtz worked on music for the Ottomans and Byzantines. Nicolai Patricio and Dominik Morgenroth composed music for Japan. Mikolai Stroinski created music for France. The game's soundtrack is also included as part of the Digital Deluxe Edition on Steam.
Expansions
The game received a free expansion with its one-year anniversary update on 25 October 2022. This expansion added two new civilizations, the Ottomans and Malians.
A second expansion, called The Sultans Ascend, was released on 14 November 2023. It included two new civilizations, the Byzantines and Japanese, as well as four variant civilizations: Jeanne d'Arc, the Order of the Dragon, Zhu Xi, and the Ayyubids. It also added a new 8-mission campaign.
A third expansion, titled Knights of Cross and Rose, was released on 8 April 2025. It included two new variant civilizations, the Knights Templar and House of Lancaster, and a new singleplayer game mode called Historical Battles.
A fourth expansion, titled Dynasties of the East, was released on 4 November 2025. It included four new variant civilizations: the Golden Horde, Macedonian Dynasty, Sengoku Daimyo, and Tughlaq Dynasty. It also added a new roguelite singleplayer game mode called The Crucible.
Reception
The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic. Another review site, OpenCritic, said the game got strong approval from 82% of critics.
IGN described the game as "an enjoyable RTS throwback that often plays it too safe, but excels when it doesn't." Rachel Weber of GamesRadar+ praised the variety of civilizations, writing, "each has been meticulously designed to offer different gameplay experiences." Game Informer liked the history videos between missions but criticized the game for not innovating on the formula from its predecessor, noting that Age of Empires IV "lacks any ambition to even gently jostle the standards set by Age of Empires II decades earlier." Hayes Madsen of CGMagazine gave the game a 10/10 review, stating, "Age of Empires IV is a bold and ambitious evolution of the series, and quite likely one of the best RTS games ever made."
The Washington Post described the campaign as balanced, saying, "Every battle feels like it could tip any way at any moment" and that there was "a magic to this design." VG247 noted the game's commitment to historical accuracy, calling it "more than just another medieval combat simulator." PCGamesN's Ian Boudreau praised the Art of War tutorials, saying they were "hugely helpful for new players who want to understand the nuts and bolts of successful economy management."
Robert Zak of PC Gamer said the distinct civilizations were the game's greatest strength, calling "the visual and strategic" variety "one of the most significant evolutions in the series." He criticized the game for "squeaky-clean presentation" that "skirts around the ickier parts of history." Polygon noted that simplifications from Age of Empires II's mechanics benefited the game, saying the changes led "its complications [to] come more from decision-making and strategy than from the minute details of mechanical plays." Darryn Bonthuys of GameSpot called the game "satisfying," praising the historically educational campaign and the uniqueness of the factions. He criticized the dated visuals and the lack of innovation regarding the standard Age of Empires formula, saying the game "rarely ventures out of its comfort zone."
Age of Empires IV won the award for "Best Sim/Strategy Game" at The Game Awards 2021. It also won the award for "Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year" at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.