REVIEW – Age of Wonders 4 is a fantasy 4X game that lets you create your own empire and explore different worlds with magic and warfare. You can customize your ruler, your people and your spells to suit your playstyle and strategy. The game offers a rich and varied experience, with a story-driven campaign, challenge maps and a sandbox mode. Age of Wonders 4 is a must-play for fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

The Age of Wonders series has been around since 1999, offering a unique blend of turn-based strategy and role-playing elements in a fantasy setting. The latest installment, Age of Wonders 4, takes the formula to a new level, with more depth, diversity and customization than ever before. You play as a Wizard King or a mortal champion who can travel between different realms in the Astral Sea, each with its own theme, challenges and secrets. You can shape your empire according to your vision, choosing from various races, cultures, traits and spells. You can also engage in tactical battles with your armies and heroes, using the terrain and magic to your advantage. Whether you want to conquer all realms, master all magic or follow the story campaign, Age of Wonders 4 gives you plenty of options to enjoy.

Create Your Own Empire

One of the most appealing features of Age of Wonders 4 is the empire creation system, which allows you to customize every aspect of your civilization. You can choose from six races (humans, elves, dwarves, goblins, mole-people and lizardfolk), each with their own strengths, weaknesses and units. You can also select a culture (such as feudalism, industrialism or cannibalism), which affects your economy, diplomacy and society. Additionally, you can pick two traits (such as arcane scholar, warmonger or pacifist), which grant you bonuses and penalties in various areas. Finally, you can design your ruler’s appearance, skills and equipment, as well as their personal spellbook. The spellbook contains over 100 spells that you can unlock and use throughout the game, ranging from buffs and debuffs to summoning and terraforming. The combination of these choices gives you a lot of freedom and variety in how you play the game.

But that’s not all. You can also transform your race with powerful spells that change their appearance and abilities. For example, you can turn your humans into angelic beings with wings and holy powers, or your goblins into vessels of chaos with fiery attacks and random effects. You can also mix and match different races in your empire, creating a diverse and colorful civilization. Each race has its own preferences and opinions, so you’ll have to balance their happiness and loyalty with your strategic goals. You can also interact with other factions diplomatically or aggressively, forming alliances or declaring war. Your choices will shape the destiny of your empire and the realm itself.

Explore Diverse Realms

Another highlight of Age of Wonders 4 is the realm exploration system, which lets you travel between different worlds with different themes and challenges. You can start with a premade map that is part of the story campaign or a challenge map, or you can generate your own map with random or custom settings. The maps vary in size, climate, terrain, resources and enemies. Some maps have special features such as portals, underground tunnels or floating islands. You can also encounter neutral factions that you can ally with or fight against. As you explore the realms, you can find treasure sites that give you rewards or quests that advance the story or give you bonuses. You can also discover secrets that reveal more about the lore and history of the game world.

But that’s not all. You can also influence the realms with your magic and actions. You can cast spells that change the climate, terrain or wildlife of a region. You can also build structures that enhance your economy, research or military. You can also trigger events that affect the balance of power or the mood of the inhabitants. For example, you can unleash a plague that weakens your enemies or a festival that boosts your morale. You can also face events that challenge your choices and alignment. For example, you can encounter a dragon that demands tribute or a rebel leader that seeks your support. The realms are dynamic and responsive, making each exploration a unique and immersive experience.

Engage in Tactical Battles

The third core element of Age of Wonders 4 is the tactical battle system, which puts you in control of your armies and heroes in turn-based combat. You can have up to six units in an army, each with their own abilities and stats. You can also have up to three heroes in an army, who are more powerful units that can level up, equip items and cast spells. The battles take place on hex-based maps that reflect the terrain and environment of the realm. You can use the terrain features such as cover, elevation and obstacles to gain an edge over your enemies. You can also use magic to buff your allies, debuff your enemies or alter the battlefield itself. The battles are challenging and rewarding, requiring you to think strategically and tactically.

In addition to the diverse terrain features, Age of Wonders 4 also introduces a day and night cycle that can have a significant impact on battles. Certain units or spells might be more effective during specific times of the day, adding another layer of strategy to your engagements. The weather, too, can play a vital role in determining the outcome of a battle, as certain spells or abilities might be influenced by the presence of rain or snow. These dynamic conditions ensure that no two battles are alike, and players must adapt their tactics to the ever-changing circumstances.

Moreover, Age of Wonders 4 provides players with a wide array of unit types, each with distinct abilities and attributes. Ranged units, for example, are well-suited for attacking from a distance, while melee units excel in close-quarters combat. Support units can heal or provide buffs to their allies, and flying units can traverse difficult terrain with ease. Sieges are another important aspect of warfare in Age of Wonders 4, with players needing to build siege engines and scale city walls to take control of enemy settlements. The game also features naval combat, allowing players to build and command fleets of ships in battles for control of the seas.

Additionally, Age of Wonders 4 offers a comprehensive diplomacy system, which allows players to forge alliances, negotiate treaties, and conduct espionage against their opponents. By cultivating relationships with other factions, you can gain valuable information, resources, and even powerful magical artifacts. However, diplomacy is a double-edged sword, as your allies may become your enemies should the winds of politics change. Players must carefully balance their diplomatic efforts with their military pursuits to secure their place in the world.

Ultimately, Age of Wonders 4’s tactical battles provide a deep and engaging experience that will challenge and delight fans of turn-based strategy games. With its wide array of unit types, dynamic battlefield conditions, and strategic elements such as diplomacy and sieges, players are given plenty of options to approach their conquests. Combined with the game’s immersive empire-building and exploration aspects, Age of Wonders 4 delivers a truly captivating and magical journey through diverse realms.

A Captivating and Entertaining Adventure

Age of Wonders 4 is not just a masterful blend of strategy and role-playing elements but an incredibly fun and engaging experience that keeps players coming back for more. The sheer depth and variety of gameplay options and the game’s immersive world-building make it a standout entry in the fantasy 4X genre.

The customization options available in the empire creation system provide players with countless ways to tailor their experience to their preferences, resulting in a unique and personalized adventure every time. This level of customization extends to the game’s spell system, where players can experiment with a vast array of magical abilities to discover potent combinations and strategies.

Exploration in Age of Wonders 4 is another aspect that adds to the game’s enjoyment. The thrill of uncovering hidden treasures, completing quests, and learning about the game’s lore and history keeps players constantly engaged and eager to delve deeper into the game’s realms.

The tactical battles in Age of Wonders 4 are challenging yet rewarding, as players need to employ a combination of strategic planning and on-the-fly decision-making to achieve victory. The game’s dynamic battlefield conditions, such as the day and night cycle and weather effects, make each battle a unique and entertaining experience that tests players’ adaptability and tactical prowess.

Furthermore, the game’s diplomacy system injects an additional layer of depth and intrigue, as players must constantly balance their relationships with other factions to ensure their empire’s survival. The shifting nature of alliances and rivalries adds a level of unpredictability that keeps players on their toes and makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.

In conclusion, Age of Wonders 4 is a captivating and entertaining adventure that skillfully combines deep strategic gameplay with immersive world-building and storytelling. It is a game that caters to both newcomers and veterans of the genre, providing countless hours of enjoyment as players create their own empires, explore diverse realms, and engage in epic battles. If you’re a fan of fantasy 4X games, Age of Wonders 4 is an experience not to be missed.

A Magical Journey

Age of Wonders 4 is a fantastic fantasy 4X game that offers a rich and varied experience for strategy and role-playing fans. You can create your own empire and explore different realms with magic and warfare. You can customize your ruler, your people and your spells to suit your playstyle and strategy.

You can also engage in tactical battles with your armies and heroes, using the terrain and magic to your advantage. Whether you want to conquer all realms, master all magic or follow the story campaign, Age of Wonders 4 gives you plenty of options to enjoy. It’s a game that rewards curiosity, creativity and experimentation. If you’re looking for a magical journey through diverse realms, Age of Wonders 4 is the game for you.

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Publisher: Paradox Interactive

Developer: Triumph Studios

Style: 4X turn-based strategy

Release: May 2, 2023.