Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition

Real Time Strategy (RTS)Strategy

Time to beat: about 21.9 hours

Overview

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is a real-time strategy video game developed by Tantalus Media and Forgotten Empires and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is a remaster of the 2005 game Age of Empires III, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the original. It features improved visuals, a remastered soundtrack, two new game modes, and four new civilizations, plus African and Mediterranean-themed downloadable content as of June 2022. The Mediterranean expansion introduces the Italians as a playable civilization, which was planned for the original version of the game but did not appear. It includes all previous expansions from the original game.

The core gameplay elements are shared heavily with the original, but Definitive Edition builds upon it. The remaster includes new 4K Ultra HD graphics, rebuilt 3D assets, improved destruction animations on buildings, a spectator mode, an overhauled and scalable UI, mod support, new server-based online multiplayer with cross-network play, new maps, and remastered sounds and music. It features two new civilizations, the Incas and the Swedes, along with two new game modes, The Art of War and Historical Battles. It includes all previous expansions from the original game (The WarChiefs, The Asian Dynasties).

On August 21, 2017, at Gamescom, Microsoft announced Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition. On August 20, 2019, Microsoft announced Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition was in development by Tantalus Media.

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition received "generally favorable" reviews on review aggregator Metacritic with a score of 75/100 from 46 reviews. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 71% of critics. Windows Central's Samuel Tolbert praised the new graphics and campaign changes but criticized the AI path finding.