Deal | This RTS is one of “history’s most beloved PC games” – now only $5 on Steam

Steam is not only offering a rare discount on Age of Empires IV right now; the remastered version of the very first game in the series has also returned to its best price yet. Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is currently available for around $5 instead of $20 with a 75% discount, which according to SteamDB matches its lowest price to date. Originally released for PC in 1997, Age of Empires quickly became a cult classic among real-time strategy fans – and the Steam trailer even calls it “one of History’s most beloved PC Games.”

The first Age of Empires takes players through the early eras of human history, from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. Players lead historical civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Babylonians and Yamato, gather resources, build settlements and expand their armies. The core gameplay follows the classic RTS formula: villagers collect wood, food, stone and gold, which are then used to construct buildings, research technologies and train military units. Advancing through the ages gradually unlocks stronger troops, new economic options and additional military buildings. In addition to battles against AI opponents, the game also includes historical campaigns and multiplayer matches.

Released in 2019, Age of Empires: Definitive Edition modernizes the classic in several areas without losing its original charm. The remaster adds 4K support, a redesigned interface and numerous quality-of-life improvements that make managing large armies noticeably more convenient. In terms of content, the package includes the expansion The Rise of Rome, revised campaigns, a newly recorded soundtrack and modern online features for multiplayer matches.

In its review, German gaming magazine GameStar awarded Age of Empires: Definitive Edition 79 out of 100 points. The core gameplay was described as timeless and still functional today. The extensive graphical overhaul and usability improvements were also praised. However, the modernized 1990s RTS still does not play quite as smoothly as a modern strategy game. The AI occasionally struggles with pathfinding, units can block each other or move in awkward formations, and there are some performance issues as well as a weakly presented story. For those reasons, the modernized Age of Empires only reaches a Metascore of 69 and a User Score of 6.9 on Metacritic. On Steam, however, the game performs noticeably better, with around 84% positive reviews from roughly 15,000 user ratings. Another advantage: Steam Deck compatibility is listed as “Playable.”

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.