After over 16 years since the last proper game in the series, Age of Empires 4 is now finally upon us from developer World’s Edge and Company of Heroes studio Relic Entertainment. Originally announced back in August 2017, the new entry sets up a modern approach to the real-time strategy series, touting epic Medieval-era battles across four historical campaigns and featuring a lineup of eight civilizations available at launch, with more coming down the line.

As the game marks the RTS series’ awaited return and features as a day-one inclusion for Xbox Game Pass, anticipation is expectedly mounting for Age of Empires 4. However, with reviews now out in the wild, how is the strategic battler striking with critics? Well, according to emerging reviews, Age of Empires 4 is being met with praise for its sprawling campaigns and modernized gameplay, even if it sticks close to the series’ classic conventions.

• IGN – 80/100

“Age of Empires 4 is an enjoyable RTS throwback that often plays it too safe, but excels when it doesn’t.”

• NME – 80/100

“An engrossing tapestry of warfare and scheming throughout the ages, Age Of Empires 4 firmly secures its position as a must-play for strategy fans. Full of sandbox-fuelled drama and interesting campaigns, the game captures the sweeping and costly scale of warfare in a way that few titles manage.”

• Polygon – “Revives and Renovates”

“In the 16 years since the last “new” Age of Empires game, video games have changed a lot, and in Age of Empires 4, Relic manages to cater to modern players without losing the soul of the series. The game revives and renovates Age of Empires’ fantastic multiplayer not through fundamental changes, but through clever adjustments to old systems. These minor updates may bristle longtime Age of Empires 2 fans, but they’re a welcome and important addition to the series, making AoE 4 feel like the first big-budget modern RTS since Starcraft 2.”

• VG247 – 80/100

“Age of Empires 4 is as multifaceted as the events it depicts. It’s more ambitious than other AoE games in handling its content and inspirations, but also far more reserved in changing the fundamentals. There’s no need to change what works already, though a few additional gameplay flourishes could have helped AoE 4 feel more fresh and exciting. The campaigns are robust, but the missing content stands out in its absence. That’s especially true considering Age of Empires 4 is a full-priced release, though being on Game Pass makes it a more appealing prospect. What’s here is still more than enough to be getting on with, but lIke any good strategist, World’s Edge is planning ahead for the long game.”

• Windows Central – 100/100

“Age of Empires 4 builds greatly on the series’ reputation that began in 1997. If you’re a fan of RTS games, world history, or both, this should be an easy recommendation. With dozens of hours of campaign play, eight unique civilizations, hours of live docu-style video segments, and a ton of maps for skirmishes, there’s no shortage of well-polished content to enjoy.”

​Age of Empires 4 releases October 28th for PC and Xbox Game Pass.

What do you think? Are you excited to get your war-hungry mitts on Age of Empires 4, or are you going in fresh to play the title on Game Pass? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day!​

​If you enjoy this writer’s work, please consider supporting them by tossing a Ko-fi their way! Every little bit helps and aims to keep DFTG independent and free of bias. Thank you so much for your support! Eric Hall @ Ko-fi