Age of Wonders III
Fourth game in the Age of Wonders series, released 2014.
Age of Wonders III is a turn-based 4X strategy game from the Dutch studio Triumph Studios, released in 2014. It is the fourth installment in the Age of Wonders series, arriving after *Age of Wonders* (1999), *Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne* (2002), and *Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic* (2003). The game launched on March 31, 2014, via digital distribution and in select retail markets for Windows, with Linux and OS X ports following on April 14, 2015.
Set in a high-fantasy world, players assume the role of a leader who explores, expands, exploits, and exterminates while managing an empire through diplomacy, warfare, and colonization. The game introduces a new graphics engine and an updated soundtrack. Gameplay now includes a role-playing-style leader class system, with interchangeable strategic and visual options for each playable race. It supports online and local multiplayer, a level editor, and a story-driven single-player campaign.
The game was both a critical and commercial success, revitalizing the series. A spin-off, *Age of Wonders: Planetfall*, came out in 2019, and a direct sequel, *Age of Wonders 4*, was released in 2023 to further acclaim.
**Gameplay**
Like its predecessors, Age of Wonders III is a turn-based strategy title in a high-fantasy setting where the player controls a political-military leader. The core loop is 4X: explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. New to this entry is a stronger emphasis on role-playing features. Players first choose and customize a leader, with options depending on their preferred play style. Six races are available at launch: humans, draconians, high elves, dwarves, orcs, and goblins. Each race determines the empire’s population and offers unique perks and abilities. The leader and empire are further shaped by a choice from traditional RPG class skill sets, with additional specializations and skills. Each class grants unique units that visually reflect the leader’s race, supporting distinct strategic approaches in combat and empire management.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Age of Wonders III
- Developer
- Triumph Studios
- Publisher
- Triumph Studios → / Paradox Interactive
- Designer
- Lennart Sas / Arno van Wingerden / Arnout Sas
- Composer
- Michiel van den Bos
- Producer
- Djurre van Dijk
- Writer
- Raymond Bingham
- Released
- Microsoft Windows / WW · March 31, 2014OS X, Linux / WW · April 14, 2015
- Genre
- 4X turn-based strategy
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Engine
- Creator Engine
- Series
- Age of Wonders
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Age of Wonders III is set in a high fantasy fictional setting where players take the role of a leader to explore the world, interacting with other races and kingdoms diplomatically and through warfare while expanding and managing their empire. The game features a new graphics engine for the series, an updated soundtrack, and a new role-playing style leader class based system with interchangeable choices of strategy and appearances for each playable race. Six races are available at initial release: humans, draconians, high elves, dwarves, orcs, and goblins, each with unique perks and abilities. Leaders can be chosen from six classes: Sorcerer, Theocrat, Rogue, Archdruid, Dreadnought, and Warlord, each with unique units and strategic approaches.
Combat takes place on a hexagon grid-based 3D battlefield when rival forces engage. Up to six units per army can participate, with action points allocated for movement, attacking, and using special abilities. Units can use the battlefield environment, such as defensive walls and foliage, and flanking maneuvers are more effective from the rear. Spells learned by leaders are usable in every battle, while others require hero units to be present. The game offers a story-driven campaign playable from two sides: the human-centric Commonwealth Empire and the Court of the High Elves. Additional modes include single-player scenarios, online multiplayer, random map generation, and a map editor.
Reader's Guide
Age of Wonders III was critically and commercially successful, marking a revitalization of the Age of Wonders series. It introduced significant gameplay updates, including a fully 3D graphics engine, a role-playing style leader class system, and alignment development based on player actions rather than race. The game supported online and local multiplayer modes, a level editor, and a story-driven campaign. Its success led to a spin-off, Age of Wonders: Planetfall, released in 2019, and a direct sequel, Age of Wonders 4, released in 2023 to further commercial and critical success. The game's legacy lies in modernizing the series while retaining its core 4X turn-based strategy elements, appealing to both longtime fans and new players.
Did You Know?
- Age of Wonders III was released on March 31, 2014, through digital distribution and retail in select territories for Microsoft Windows.
- A port to Linux and OS X was released on April 14, 2015.
- The game features six leader classes: Sorcerer, Theocrat, Rogue, Archdruid, Dreadnought, and Warlord.
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