Age of Wonders 4 is a 4X turn-based strategy game that places players in command of customizable fantasy empires on procedurally generated or hand-crafted realms. Released for PS5 in 2023, the title blends empire management with tactical combat in a high-fantasy setting where rulers evolve their factions through magical tomes and societal choices.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around expanding influence across a realm while managing resources such as gold, mana, production, and knowledge. Players begin by designing a faction through selections of physical forms, cultural traits, and starting affinities. These choices influence unit capabilities and long-term development paths.
Exploration reveals new locations, free cities, and roaming threats that can be incorporated into the empire or eliminated. City building focuses on constructing buildings that boost yields and unlock advanced options. Research progresses through an empire development tree that branches based on prior selections.
Combat occurs on separate tactical maps where units move and act in turn order. Armies can include dozens of troops during large engagements, and terrain features created or altered during the strategy layer affect positioning. A morale system adds another layer, as units may break or gain bonuses depending on battlefield conditions and leadership.
Decisions made on the world map trigger events that alter relations with other factions, spawn new challenges, or introduce magical effects that reshape the environment. Rulers can ascend to a pantheon upon completing a game, allowing their creations to appear as rivals or allies in future sessions.
Game Modes
Single-player sessions center on realm creation or selection, where players set parameters for map size, difficulty, and starting conditions before embarking on a full campaign of empire growth and conflict resolution. Empire mode structures play as a series of linked scenarios that advance a larger narrative across multiple games.
Multiplayer supports both classic sequential turns and simultaneous turns, allowing participants to plan actions at the same time while battles remain turn-based. These options accommodate different pacing preferences for competitive or cooperative sessions.
Realms can be generated anew each time or loaded from previous creations, providing variety through combinations of biomes, wonders, and starting positions. The pantheon system carries elements forward between games without requiring a continuous campaign.
Customization and Progression
Faction design extends beyond initial setup. Tomes of magic are collected and mastered to grant new spells, unit upgrades, and physical transformations that visibly alter follower appearances and abilities. Cultures and affinities further differentiate playstyles, encouraging repeated playthroughs with distinct strategies.
Units and heroes gain experience and equipment that persists across battles, while the overall empire evolves through affinity shifts and tome selections. This layered progression rewards experimentation with different combinations of traits and magical paths.
Is It Worth Playing?
Age of Wonders 4 suits players who enjoy deep 4X strategy paired with tactical combat and extensive customization options. The game maintains active development with regular updates and expansions that introduce new content and refinements years after launch.
Reception has been generally favorable, with critics and players highlighting the replayability from realm variety and faction building. Those seeking a fantasy strategy experience with strong single-player depth and optional multiplayer will find substantial value in its systems and ongoing support.
The title delivers consistent strategic challenges without relying on external services or limited-time events, making it a solid choice for dedicated sessions on PS5.
