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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Age of Wonders 4 is a turn-based fantasy 4X game built around two linked pleasures: shaping a distinctive magical faction and steering it through empire-scale strategy and tactical battles. Critics were broadly positive about its variety and inventive systems, though the layers of management and long matches may feel demanding. The scores below are from the 2023 review period; they are not fresh evaluations of the game after subsequent updates.
What kind of game is Age of Wonders 4?
It combines the broad strategy of a 4X game—explore, expand, exploit and exterminate—with turn-based battles you command directly. You develop cities and nearby provinces, manage resources such as food, gold and mana, recruit armies, explore the map and pursue victory through magic or conquest. PC Gamer’s review describes this familiar framework as the foundation for the game’s distinctive faction-building.
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Anno 1800 - Standard Edition, PlayStation 5 | $24.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Madden NFL 24 - PlayStation 5 | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Customization is central. You choose a people’s bodily form and societal traits, then develop its magic through tomes. Those choices shape the faction you play, while diplomacy, world events and a pantheon of rulers add other ways for a campaign to unfold. Paradox’s official game page outlines these systems.
What did reviewers think?
The launch-period critic response was favorable, with reviewers often highlighting the freedom to experiment with factions, spells and strategic approaches.
#1 Best Overall
- The Dawn Of A New Era: Prove your skills as you create huge cities, plan logistic networks, settle lush new continents, and dominate opponents by diplomacy, trade, or warfare.
- Build Your Own Empire: Construct large metropolises, manage a thriving economy, and protect your creations from others.
- A Unique City-Builder Experience: Includes a story-based campaign, customizable sandbox mode, and a multiplayer experience.
| Measure | Score and context |
|---|---|
| Metacritic critic score | 83 Metascore from 30 critic reviews on the page accessed in 2026. The displayed breakdown was 97% positive, 3% mixed and 0% negative; aggregator figures can change. Metacritic |
| Metacritic user score | 7.5 from 146 user ratings on the page accessed in 2026. The displayed breakdown was 67% positive, 21% mixed and 12% negative; this is a snapshot, not a universal measure of player opinion. Metacritic |
| PC Gamer | 87/100, in Fraser Brown’s review published April 27, 2023. He called it “A flavourful and inventive 4X full of incredible spells and engaging empire management.” PC Gamer |
Brown praised the variety and replayability but wished the Pantheon progression system did more. Metacritic’s displayed critic excerpts also include reviewers who found the game complex or bookkeeping-heavy, and one concern about the lack of a full-fledged story. Those are individual reviewers’ reservations, not a consensus that every player will share.
Is Age of Wonders 4 hard to learn?
It asks players to keep track of several connected systems: city and province growth, resources, armies, diplomacy, tactical combat and magic. The extensive faction options add another layer of decisions. That depth is part of the appeal if you enjoy planning and trying different builds; it can also make a campaign feel demanding, especially if you prefer a more guided story or shorter, simpler strategy games.
The available reviews support that trade-off, but they do not establish how the current version’s balance or learning curve compares after later updates. The review scores are from 2023, so treat them as assessments of the launch-period game rather than a fresh evaluation of today’s build.
Rank #2
- READY, SET, WARP! Race across 24 tracks and warp to 15 CrossWorlds with Travel Rings, a unique gameplay mechanic that transports the iconic characters from the Sonic and SEGA universes into new dimensions. Use unpredictability to your advantage as you change the landscape of each race!
- RACE WITH THE BEST! Choose from 23 iconic Sonic characters, the largest roster of any Sonic racing game!
- MAKE IT YOURS: Mix and match between 45 unique original vehicles and 70 different gadgets to trick out your ride, level up your kart, and create the ultimate machine to match your racing style.
- GAIN THE ADVANTAGE WITH POWERFUL ITEMS! Dominate your opponents with 23 different items including returning favorites and all-new items like the Monster Truck!
- MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY: Gather with friends and play local split-screen in Grand Prix and the new party mode Race Park, compete against a community of players from around the world with up to 12 players online in World Match, or test your driving skills in Time Trials.
Is Age of Wonders 4 worth it?
It is a strong fit for strategy players who want to invent unusual factions, explore combinations of social traits and magic, and alternate between long-term empire decisions and turn-based battles. Its replay value comes from that experimentation, not from a single fixed campaign premise.
Consider a different game if complex management, extensive choices or long matches are likely to wear you down. The reviews also do not establish the depth of a full-fledged story as a main draw. Whether the game is good value today depends on your region, platform, current offer and interest in add-on content; the cited reviews do not provide a current price comparison or a value verdict for every DLC pack.
Which platforms can you play it on?
Paradox lists Age of Wonders 4 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Its official page links to Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft, GOG, Xbox and PlayStation purchase routes. Check the store for your region to confirm the current edition, price and availability. The sources cited here confirm platform availability but do not provide controlled comparisons of performance or interface across PC and consoles, so choose based on your hardware and comfort with the controls.
Rank #3
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- DUAL ENTITLEMENT - Madden NFL 24 includes Dual Entitlement, which lets you upgrade your copy of Madden NFL 24 from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5. *Conditions apply.
Do you need the DLC?
No. The base game is the starting point; the official announcement presents its additional content as paid expansions and separately identifies a free Witch Update patch. Whether an add-on suits you depends on the content and play style you want. Compare the offer carefully: an expansion pass is not the same as a base-game edition, and planned releases are not the same as content available now.
Expansion Pass 4: announced content and prices
In its October 1, 2026 announcement, Paradox said Expansion Pass 4 was available for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S at suggested retail prices of $49.99, £41.99 or €49.99. Those are announced suggested prices, not a guarantee of today’s regional store price. The announcement lists Singer of Storms as available immediately and The Silver Seas as planned for November 3, 2026. It describes The Silver Seas as adding a Mercantile culture and maritime content, including two forms and four tomes. Singer of Storms includes a premade ruler, a mount and customization options. The same announcement says the free Witch Update patch is available to all players. Paradox’s Expansion Pass 4 announcement
Later planned expansions
Paradox scheduled Court of the Archfey for Q1 2027 and Forge of the Firstborn for Q2 2027. These are future release windows announced on October 1, 2026, and may change. Check the official announcement and your platform’s store for current timing and availability before buying a pass on the assumption that all its content is already released.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
