This is important to understand when you approach AoW4 and realize that for all the claims of revolutionary choice regarding customization, Triumph is throwing the same ingredients into the pot, with a slightly different recipe. The Phase 3 games share a similar player-choice-focused design philosophy of de-linking your faction from genre tropes and alignment (so orcs are no longer always evil) and instead make them modular (a dwarf and a goblin can both hold the Sorcerer class, while Planetfall’s Vanguard and Syndicate can both be Psynumbra). The history of AoW can be divided into three phases, with the original game (Phase 1) then AoW2 and Shadow Magic (Phase 2), and then AoW3 and AoW: Planetfall making up the final one. AoW4 is not a straight upgrade from the previous game Age of Wonders 3 either. If you’ve played previous games, you will have noticed how each new game in the series is not a mere iteration of the original (except for AoW2 to Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic), and kudos to Triumph for trying to keep things fresh.

We’ll let you figure out how they’ve managed to acquire that amount of gameplay time… On to the review: The rest is covered by an anonymous contributor with hundreds, if not thousands, of hours in the Age of Wonders series and over 400 hours with Age of Wonders 4. At the bottom of this review, you’ll find Rob’s opinion on AoW4. Returning players should read on if you haven’t already taken the plunge.Īlso note, there are two different writers’ perspectives here. This review will focus on what the experience will be like for players returning to the series.ĮDITOR’S NOTE: Those of you new to the Age of Wonders series should take heed: if you like fantasy settings (and even maybe if you don’t) and enjoy well-made and polished 4X games, you’re going to like Age of Wonders 4. But it’s not a perfect game and, in some aspects, it fails to step out of the shadow of its predecessors.

It’s a fun game and I would be happy to recommend it to almost anybody. Some have described AoW4 as “ XCOM meets Civilization.” This might please some of you and, if so, you’ll be even happier to note that it’s an accurate description. Age of Wonders 4 (Steam Link), developed by Triumph Studios and published by Paradox, is a modernized fantasy 4X game of dramatic size and scope, long unafraid to skew from genre tropes and that stands out from competitors with compelling battles and distinct playable factions, a hallmark of the series right from its very first title.

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