Martin JørgensenThe Age of Empires series is one of the most successful game franchises of all time. Praised worldwide, it keeps attracting new players. The title featured here is Age of Empires III, which picks up where Age of Empires II left off. In Age of Empires III, you step into the role of a European great power seeking to conquer and colonize the rest of the world between 1500 and 1850. Compared to Age of Empires II, this entry raises the bar both visually and technically, with even more options and a much higher level of detail.
Gameplay
Age of Empires III is a real-time strategy game where the goal is to crush other players’ armies and cities. The game is played online, so you can face real people, including your friends.
When the match begins, you must gather resources such as wood, food, and coin to construct buildings and train an army to defeat your opponents. Being a real-time strategy game means players do not take turns as in turn-based titles like the Heroes of Might and Magic series. In Age of Empires, everyone plays simultaneously, so you have to think fast and plan strategically to avoid being overrun before you’re ready—there’s no time to rest on your laurels. Have your strategy set from the start so you don’t waste time deciding whether to play aggressively and press the attack or build up a massive force before striking.
Advance through the Ages
As the game progresses, you can advance through different Ages, unlocking new weapons and many other advantages that improve your chances of victory. The Ages in Age of Empires III are the Discovery Age, Colonial Age, Fortress Age, Industrial Age, and finally the Imperial Age.
The civilizations in Age of Empires III are the European powers from roughly 1500 to 1850. You can play as one of eight civilizations: the Spanish, British, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russians, Germans, or the Ottoman Empire.
No longer a demo
Age of Empires III was previously available as a demo directly from this page. Unfortunately, that demo is no longer offered. When you click the download button here, you’ll be sent to Age of Empires III on Steam, where you can purchase the full game. Steam is a gaming platform where you can buy and play thousands of titles on Windows, Mac, and Linux. There’s also tons of free entertainment on Steam, so it’s well worth checking out.
Alternatives
The Age of Empires series is published by Microsoft Studios. When Windows 10 launched, Microsoft announced a new version of the original Age of Empires with completely updated graphics and many new features and improvements. Released in February 2018, it has been praised worldwide. The game is called Age of Empires: Definitive Edition and can be purchased on Microsoft’s site right here.
If you’re after something other than Age of Empires, you can play a huge selection of games without spending a single dollar. Strategy is at the heart of the Age of Empires games, and the same is true of the hugely popular card game Hearthstone. It’s completely free and can be downloaded right here.
You can also check out the award-winning The Sims 4, which you can try in a free trial right here. The trial is a 48-hour version of the full game, after which you can decide whether to buy it—there’s no obligation.
Availability
Since the Age of Empires series, including Age of Empires III, is owned by Microsoft, it’s to be expected that the games are only playable on Windows operating systems. You cannot play Age of Empires III on Mac or Linux. It’s a substantial game with tons of features, so make sure you have at least 12 GB of free space when you start downloading it through Steam.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a strategic war game that challenges your tactics and lets you play online against friends and players around the world, Age of Empires is likely for you. The game linked here is Age of Empires III, which can be purchased on Steam. A free trial was previously available, but it no longer exists, so we now link to the game’s page on Steam. In short, you gather resources to build your army, eliminate your opponents, and conquer the world. The timeline spans roughly 1500 to 1850, and you can play as the Spanish, British, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russians, Germans, or the Ottoman Empire.
Because the game is developed and published by Microsoft, which holds the rights, titles in the Age of Empires series are only playable on Microsoft Windows. The game also requires at least 12 GB of free space before you begin installation. You can also try the newest Age of Empires from Microsoft, called Age of Empires: Definitive Edition. It’s a reimagining of the very first Age of Empires, rebuilt and optimized for Windows 10, delivering especially impressive visuals for the series.
Age of Empires III is the third entry in this popular line of games—a fantastic blend of Civilization and World Of Warcraft.
