ScoreCard Review – Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (2025)

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I’m excited to launch this new review format! I’ve designed it to be quicker to write and much easier for you to read. Think of it like a scorecard – it focuses on key points directly, so you can quickly find what matters to you and decide if this review is helpful. I hope you enjoy it!

Game Overview

Okay, so Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition totally brings back the classic RTS game I used to love, but now it looks *amazing*. They’ve seriously upgraded the graphics to 4K and the music sounds fantastic. It includes everything – all the old expansions like ‘Lords of the West’, ‘Dynasties of India’, and ‘Dawn of the Dukes’ are all here. I’m going to break down how it plays, how well it runs, and whether it’s worth picking up – honestly, if you’re into RTS games, or even just curious, you *need* to check this out. It’s great for old fans like me, but also super accessible for anyone new to the genre.

  • Genre: Real-Time Strategy (RTS) | Historical
  • Developer: World’s Edge, Forgotten Empires, Tantalus Media, Wicked Witch, CaptureAge
  • Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
  • Price: $34.99 | 32,99€ | £25.99
  • Release Date: 14 November, 2019
  • Reviewer: Nuno Marques (PC)
  • Final Score: 9.5/10

Review & Score Breakdown

1. Core Gameplay & Mechanics – Score: 10/10

This game is a fantastic example of real-time strategy design, expertly blending base building, army command, and battles. While matches can be lengthy, they stay exciting because you’re always reacting and making new decisions – there’s an incredible amount of options available. The historical setting and diverse civilizations, units, and tactics keep things fresh and fun. It’s incredibly rewarding to start with nothing and build a thriving empire while engaging in intense real-time battles. The controls are easy to learn and remarkably polished for the genre. The ‘Definitive Edition’ further improves the experience with helpful features like automated villagers and farming, making everything run more smoothly. It truly boasts some of the most precise controls ever seen in a real-time strategy game.

2. Graphics & Art Style – Score: 9.5/10

The game now features stunning 4K graphics and updated artwork, breathing new life into the familiar buildings and units. Animations are smooth, and the environments are more detailed than ever before. The game retains its classic medieval art style, which remains instantly recognizable and timeless. While the new visuals offer a modern, crisp look, they stay true to the original’s feel. Unit and building designs are still easily identifiable, but with added visual polish that highlights what makes them unique. Personally, I do wish some of the original’s brighter color choices had been kept.

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3. Sound & Music – Score: 10/10

The game’s remastered soundtrack is truly exceptional. The already famous music is now even more grand and immersive, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of each time period and conflict. Sounds like battles, giving orders, and building structures are all clear and bring back fond memories. This ‘Definitive Edition’ makes these sounds even better without changing their original charm. Even though the game doesn’t have a lot of voice acting, the unit responses and advice from advisors are still well done and just as memorable as you remember.

4. Singleplayer and Multiplayer Content – Score: 8/10

The game’s historical campaigns are thoroughly researched and told in a captivating way, acting as both great tutorials and a solid introduction to actual historical events. While some missions are truly epic and thrilling, others feel a bit flat. However, it currently offers the best multiplayer experience in the real-time strategy genre, boasting a vibrant and active community with lots of competitive tournaments.

5. Technical Performance – Score: 8/10

The game generally runs well on today’s computers, though very large battles with lots of players might sometimes cause slowdowns. Loading screens are much faster than in the original game due to improvements in the code. While this updated version is more stable, you might occasionally encounter small glitches with character movement or very rare crashes. These issues don’t happen often enough to ruin the experience, but it’s good to be aware they could occur.

6. Replayability & Value – Score: 10/10

Even without all the extra content, this game has a huge amount to offer, with tons of civilizations and missions that can easily provide thousands of hours of gameplay. I’ve been playing for 20 years and still find it engaging. Plus, the online community is thriving, and with endless custom games and modding options, you can keep playing forever.

7. Monetization & Business Model – Score: 10/10

This game is a single purchase – you pay once to own it all. It includes the original game and three recent expansions, making it a great value. While the original game had expansions sold separately, they’re all part of this complete edition, and the developers are consistently releasing large, new content updates. You won’t find any optional purchases for things like character skins or other cosmetic items.

Final Verdict & Score

9.5/10

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is easily one of my all-time favorite games, and definitely the best real-time strategy game ever created. I’ve played every version, and this Definitive Edition is a fantastic remake that revitalizes a true classic. It perfectly updates the original without losing what made it special, offering tons of content and a nearly perfect gameplay experience. It proves how well-designed the original game was and is essential for any fan of the RTS genre.

  • Recommended: Yes, of course!
  • Target Audience: Real-Time Strategy fans, history buffs, and PC gamers looking for a deep and rewarding RTS experience.

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2025-09-24 18:44