Setting The developer team states that the game is set during the
Early Middle Ages to the early
Renaissance, with the earliest appearance of any civilization being in the year 750.
Civilizations There are 22 civilizations available in the game, with ten being available with the purchase of the base game, known as
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, and six with
The Sultans Ascend expansion, with four of the expansion civilizations being "variant civilizations" that are changed versions of other previously released civilizations. Two variant civilizations were added with
Knights of Cross and Rose expansion, and four more were added with
Dynasties of the East expansion. A 23rd civilization will be added with ''Yue Fei's Legacy'' expansion There were eight civilizations available at the original release of the game. Two civilizations, the
Ottomans and
Malians, were added on 25 October 2022, a year after release, for free.
Campaigns The game has six single-player campaigns (one available with
The Sultans Ascend DLC): • The Rise of a King (exclusive to console versions): a tutorial campaign, focusing on the basics of the game (1047–1066) • The Normans: about the
Norman conquest of England and conflicts of subsequent English kings (1066–1217) • The Hundred Years War: a conflict between
England and France (1351–1450) • The Rise of Moscow: about the rise of
Grand Duchy of Moscow amongst other
Rus' principalities, Lithuania and the Tatars (1238–1552) • The Mongol Empire: expansion of
one of the largest empires of all time (1223–1273) • The Sultans Ascend:
Crusades from the perspective of the
Muslims (1111–1426) - available with the DLC
Ages The game features four Ages, the same as those in
Age of Empires II Dark Age, Feudal Age, Castle Age, and Imperial Age. Advancing through Ages does not happen at the Town Center (except for Knights Templar) but by constructing
Landmarks.
Buildings Most civilizations have the same roster of buildings: • Economic - Farm, House, Lumber Camp, Mill, Mining Camp, Market, Town Center • Military - Archery Range, Barracks, Dock, Siege Workshop, Stable • Technology - Blacksmith, University/Madrasa • Defensive - Keep, Outpost, Palisade Wall, Palisade Gate, Stone Wall, Stone Wall Gate, Stone Wall Tower • Religious - Monastery, Mosque, Prayer Tent • Wonder Civilizations have replacement buildings which fill the same role differently and are available to only that civilization. They may also have unique buildings.
Landmarks In addition, every civilization with the exception of the Abbasid Dynasty, Ayyubids, Golden Horde, and Knights Templar have four landmarks (the starting town center plus one each in Feudal, Castle, and Imperial Ages). Each landmark constructed to advance to the next age is special in its own way and is chosen from a selection of two. The Chinese and Zhu Xi's Legacy are unique in that they can build both of their landmarks to enable a Dynasty. The Abbasid Dynasty, Ayyubids, and Golden Horde can build a single landmark, the
House of Wisdom or Golden Tent respectively, with advancement to the next age being researched in through that landmark building. Knights Templar are also unique in having only a single landmark, the starting town center, being the only civilization to advance to the next age via researching it in their starting town center. == Development ==