Age of Empires II
A medieval real-time strategy classic with 13 civilizations.
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a real-time strategy game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft, released in 1999 for Microsoft Windows and in 2001 for Macintosh. It is the second game in the Age of Empires series, set in the Middle Ages with 13 playable civilizations, and is often considered one of the greatest games ever made.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
- Developer
- Ensemble Studios
- Publisher
- Microsoft · Konami (PS2)
- Designer
- Bruce Shelley
- Artist
- Brad Crow · Scott Winsett
- Programmer
- Angelo Laudon
- Composer
- Stephen Rippy
- Engine
- Genie Engine
- Series
- Age of Empires
- Genre
- Real-time strategy
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows · Mac OS · PlayStation 2
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings was developed using the same game engine and code as its predecessor, but development took a year longer than expected, forcing Ensemble Studios to release Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome in 1998 instead. The design team focused on resolving significant issues from the first game, though some problems remained on release. The game is set across a 1,000-year timeframe spanning four Ages: Dark Age, Feudal Age, Castle Age, and Imperial Age. Players gather four resources—food, wood, gold, and stone—using villagers to build towns, create armies, and defeat opponents. The game includes five historically based campaigns, such as Genghis Khan's invasion of Eurasia and Saladin's defense of the Holy Land, as well as additional single-player modes like random map, deathmatch, and regicide. Multiplayer is also supported. Each of the 13 civilizations has unique units and architectural styles based on four regional groups: Western European, Central European, Middle Eastern, and East Asian.
Reader's Guide
Age of Empires II received highly positive reception upon release, with praise for its significant number of new features and gameplay improvements. Three months after its release, two million copies had been shipped, and it topped sales charts in seven countries. The game won multiple awards and is today considered a classic of its type, having had a significant impact on future games in its genre. The original game and its 2000 expansion, The Conquerors, were later released as The Gold Edition. An updated high-definition graphics version, Age of Empires II: HD Edition, was released in 2013, including the original game and The Conquerors, as well as new campaigns, civilizations, and updated graphics. A remaster, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, was released in November 2019. The game introduced notable features such as the idle villager button and the town bell, and its rock-paper-scissors military model and civilization-specific units have been influential in the real-time strategy genre.
Did You Know?
- The game contains 13 playable civilizations split into four architectural styles.
- Players can win a random map game by constructing a Wonder and keeping it standing for a certain amount of time.
- Monks can convert enemy units to the player's civilization and heal allied units.
- The game's development took a year longer than expected, leading to the release of Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome in 1998 instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed Age of Empires II and when did it come out?
Ensemble Studios built the title and Microsoft published it, with the Windows version arriving in 1999 and a Macintosh port following in 2001. It is the second entry in the Age of Empires franchise.
How many civilizations can you play in Age of Empires II?
The base game features 13 distinct medieval civilizations, each with its own unique units, resource bonuses, and architectural theme. This variety was a major reason the game stood out among its contemporaries.
How many single-player campaigns does Age of Empires II include?
There are five campaigns in the original release, each following a different civilization through a chain of historical or legendary scenarios. Together they cover stories ranging from Viking expansion to Mongol conquest.
Why do fans still regard Age of Empires II as one of the greatest RTS games ever?
Its blend of deep economic management, well-balanced civilizations, and endlessly replayable multiplayer set a new benchmark for the genre. Nearly three decades on, it still supports active competitive scenes and modding communities.
What time period and in-game ages does Age of Empires II cover?
The setting is the Middle Ages, and players advance through four sequential ages—Dark, Feudal, Castle, and Imperial—mirroring the broad sweep of medieval societal development. Each age unlocks new technologies, units, and buildings.
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