Age of Empires
Age of Empires is a 1997 real-time strategy game developed by Ensemble Studios. Players guide an ancient civilization from the Stone Age through the Tool, Bronze and Iron Ages, gathering food, wood, gold and stone, advancing through technological ages and building armies rooted in the cultures of antiquity.
The game combined the base-building and combat of real-time strategy with a historical, civilization-spanning framework, offering campaigns based on ancient cultures such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Babylonians and the Yamato of Japan. Its blend of accessible strategy, resource management, technology research and an educational flavor drawn from real history helped it reach a broad audience and distinguished it from the science-fiction and fantasy settings common in the genre.
Age of Empires launched a hugely successful franchise and helped popularize historical strategy games. A remastered Definitive Edition brings updated visuals, restored balance and quality-of-life improvements to modern systems, keeping the classic accessible.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Age of Empires, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 A.D. | Free | Not on Steam | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Knights Province Indie | Free | Steam Deck Untested | PC |
| Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition | Free | Steam Deck Playable | PC |
| Age of Empires: Definitive Edition | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC |
| Rise of Nations: Extended Edition | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Unsupported | PC |
0 A.D.
FreeA free, open-source historical RTS in the Age of Empires spirit.
0 A.D. runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Knights Province Indie
FreeA free indie medieval RTS in the spirit of the old classics.
Knights Province runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
FreeThe colonial-era entry, remastered with all expansions and new civilisations.
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
€ 19,99A 4K remaster of the original with quality-of-life improvements.
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Rise of Nations: Extended Edition
€ 19,99Big Huge Games' blend of Age of Empires and Civilization, spanning ancient times to the space age.
Rise of Nations: Extended Edition runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Sign in or create an account to add an alternative or vote.