Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend for Windows

Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend expands the real-time strategy experience with a bold new campaign focused on the Muslim resistance against Crusader invasions. This action-strategy expansion builds on the core gameplay of the base title while delivering fresh content, cultural depth, and tactical innovations that feel both timely and historically rich.

Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend impresses with its rich world-building, polished combat, and narrative-driven missions. It delivers a well-balanced mix of offense and defense, introducing fresh tactical dynamics while staying true to the series' core strategy gameplay and historical depth.

A polished expansion with meaningful depth

Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend introduces a nine-mission campaign that brings a fresh, non-European perspective to the series, emphasizing stories often overlooked in mainstream strategy titles. Players are pushed to rethink their approach through multi-front battles, diverse objectives, and rich cultural variety. With added civilizations like the Japanese and Byzantines, plus expanded naval mechanics, the game offers significantly enhanced replay value and strategic depth across varied terrains.

Despite its historical shift, the program remains highly accessible to seasoned players and newcomers. It preserves the classic mechanics that fans love while layering in more nuanced objectives and mission variety. Some difficulty spikes — especially during multi-objective stages — may prove frustrating for casual players. Still, the improved AI behavior enhances strategic depth, making each match feel more rewarding, reactive, and tailored to smart decision-making.

This version runs noticeably smoother than its predecessor, thanks to significant performance improvements and enhanced visual fidelity. Players will appreciate the faster load times, smoother transitions, and more responsive unit pathfinding, which together improve gameplay flow. While some camera clunkiness persists during chaotic battles, the game’s overall presentation — from immersive voice acting to a stirring soundtrack — maintains a consistently high production value throughout the experience.

Worthy expansion with substance

Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend is a thoughtful and engaging expansion that enriches the historical depth of the core game. It introduces refined mechanics, improved visuals, and deeper storytelling that elevate the real-time strategy experience. Though a few minor flaws linger, it remains a standout addition for RTS enthusiasts seeking a more immersive and strategically layered campaign journey.

• Introduces nine new campaign missions focusing on Muslim resistance
• Adds new civilizations, including Byzantines and Japanese
• Enhances naval combat mechanics with new ship types
• Improves pathfinding and overall game performance
• Refines AI to be more dynamic and context-aware