Age of Empires is one of the most groundbreaking series of real-time strategy games for the PC. Here is a complete list of the Age of Empires major releases and expansion packs from the original Age of Empires released in 1997 to Age of Empires Online released in 2011. Rumors have swirled around about the future of the series for years and have been up in the air since Age of Empires Online was shut down in July 2014. Age of Empires: Castle Siege for mobile was released in 2015 bringing hope that the series will be revived, but Microsoft has been quiet and any plans for a new offering for the PC.

Age of Empires: Rise of Rome Demo The Age of Empires Expansion trial version is standalone, meaning you won't need the original Age of Empires to play it. See more info for details on what it includes. Age of Empires: Rise of Rome Demo The Age of Empires Expansion trial version is standalone, meaning you won't need the original Age of Empires to play it. See more info for details on what it includes.

Age of Empires

What We Like

• Demo version includes one full campaign that lasts for hours.

• Challenging gameplay stands the test of time.

What We Don't Like

• No longer supported.

• Graphics and sound not up to current standards.

Release Date: Oct 15, 1997
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Historical
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer
Age of Empires is the first game that was released in the Age of Empires series all the way back in 1997. Players control a civilization from a hunter-gatherer community as it develops into an Iron Age civilization. Age of Empires contains 12 civilizations, technology tree, units and buildings that are all used to expand and grow your civilization. The game includes a single-player campaign as well as multiplayer skirmishes. A demo for Age of Empires is available for players to try out a few missions from the single-player campaign.

Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome

What We Like

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• Bridges the time between Age of Empires and Age of Empires II.

• Expansion adds new civilizations and units.

What We Don't Like

• New technologies aren't must-haves.

• Weak single-player games.

• Terrible pathfinding.

Release Date: Oct 31, 1998
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Historical
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer
Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome was the first and only expansion for Age of Empires and features four new civilizations, new technologies, Roman architectural designs for buildings and new larger maps. The new civilizations included in Age of Empires The Rise of Rome are the Carthaginians, Macedonians, and Palmyrans. In addition to the new features listed above, Rise of Rome includes many gameplay tweaks in the unit selection, damage balance and expanding the population limit above 50. A demo for Rise of Rome is available for download and gives players an opportunity to play a mission from the single-player campaign.

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

What We Like

• Save feature for multi-player games.

• New game mechanics enhance long-term play.

• Helpful in-game tutorial.

• Several different ways to play.

What We Don't Like

• The 13 races are too similar visually.

• In-game speech is awful.

• Looks boring until the screen is filled with military units and buildings.

Release Date: Sep 30, 1999
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Historical
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is the second full release in the Age of Empires series as it moves the timeline forward from where Age of Empires left off, taking your civilization from the Dark Age into the Imperial Age. Like Age of Empires, it features four pages you'll develop through, multiple civilizations, technology trees, and much more. Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings features five single-player campaigns, 13 civilizations, and multiplayer skirmish support. Age of Kings also includes a campaign/scenario editor that allows players to customize missions, battles, objectives and victory conditions. An HD Edition of Age of Empires II: Age of Kings is available on Steam and contains all single-player campaigns and multiplayer modes with support for high-resolution monitors. The Age of Empires II Demo provides a free gameplay of a mission from the single-player campaign.

Age of Empires II: The Conquerors

What We Like

• Excellent expansion with five new civilizations.

• 18 new maps include tropical and winter adjustments.

• Tips and mission hints.

What We Don't Like

• Civilizations are too similar.

• Huge difference between playing at easy and difficult levels.

Release Date: Aug 24, 2000
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Historical
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer
Age of Empires II: The Conquerors is the expansion to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings and adds five new civilizations, new campaigns, units, and technology trees. It also features enhancements to gameplay, new game modes, and new maps. The new civilizations included are the Aztecs, the Huns, Koreans, Mayans, and Spanish. The new game modes featured in The Conquerors include Defend the Wonder, King of the Hill, and Wonder Race. Steam has brought new life to Age of Empires II with the release of the HD version of Age of Empires II and the Conquerors expansion pack. It contains updated graphics resolutions and full multiplayer capability and support. Like other games in the series, a demo for The Conquerors was released offering free gameplay from one of the single-player missions.

Age of Empires III

What We Like

• Well-designed, 24-mission campaign with gorgeous visuals.

• Interesting storyline that doesn't go for the obvious.

• Lengthy single-player game.

What We Don't Like

• Not much advancement in combat scenarios.

• Frame rate slows down during combat.

• Combat is chaotic and challenging to master.

Release Date: Oct 18, 2005
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Historical
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer
Age of Empires III once again moved the historical series forward in time. This time, the game has five ages players will develop their civilizations through, starting with the Discovery Age through to the Imperial Age. While the overall gameplay of resource collecting and empire building and management remains unchanged, Age of Empires III introduces some new gameplay mechanics to the series such as the Home City. This Home City is a persistent support mechanism for your real-time civilization by allowing you to send shipments of resources, units, or other bonuses that can be customized based on experience and leveling that is earned. This experience/level is carried over from one game to the next. Age of Empires III for Steam is available with both expansion packs, single-player campaigns, and multiplayer modes.​

Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs

What We Like

• Three new factions shake up the game.

• New modes force players to take chances.

• New Native American Fire Pit generates power.

What We Don't Like

• Big shift from the original game.

• Aztecs not available in single-player game.

Release Date: Oct 17, 2006
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Historical
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer
Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs is the first expansion that was released for Age of Empires III. The expansion includes three new native playable civilizations, the Aztecs, Iroquois and Sioux and four new minor tribes for a total of 16. In addition to the new civilizations, The WarChiefs also includes new maps and three new units to all European civilizations; cavalry artillery, petards, and spies. The demo for The Warchiefs offers players the chance to try out the game prior to purchasing it.

Age of Empires III: Asian Dynasties

What We Like

• Solid expansion that adds Asian civilizations.

• Introduces Export resource.

• Brings new life to an aging franchise.

What We Don't Like

• Easy to see plot developments coming.

• Has a been-there, done-that feel.

Release Date: Oct 23, 2007
Developer: Big Huge Games, Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Historical
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer
The second and final expansion to Age of Empires III is Asian Dynasties. It includes three new Asian civilizations, China, India, and Japan each of which has unique technology trees, units, and buildings. They also include a new Export resource which allows them to hire foreign troops and research technologies of a foreign ally. Age of Empires III and all of its expansions are available via Steam with full multiplayer support. A demo was also released for players to try out a portion of the single-player campaign.

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Age of Empires Online

What We Like

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• Gorgeous cartoon visuals.

• Free to play, with in-app purchases.

What We Don't Like

• Gamers play as cities, not as heroes.

• Slightly resembles earlier Age of Empires games.

Release Date: Aug 16, 2011
Developer: Gas Powered Games, Robot Entertainment
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Historical
Rating: E10+
Game Modes: Multiplayer
Age of Empires Online was the first Age of Empires game that doesn't follow the timeline of the previous three games in the series. Set in the times of ancient Greece and Egypt, it features many of the same general gameplay mechanics of the previous titles as well as a persistent city. The game follows the free to play model, which allows a player to play the general game for free while offering premium content for purchase. The game featured playable civilizations such as the Greeks, Egyptians, Celts and more. It was officially shut down on July 1, 2014.