Age of Empires Online

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 15 expert reviews

Excellent:

1
Good:

6
Average:

4
Bad:

4

Pros:

Core game is oldschool RTS gameplay at its finest; addictive MMOish bits; tons of content.
Can be enjoyed for hours without spending any money, Almost every quest supports cooperative play, MMOstyle rewards keep you hooked, Uniformly great presentation.
Free to play, Addicting, Easy to learn, Supports a wide variety of hardware.

Cons:

PVP matchmaking rarely finds appropriate opponents, Enemy AI isn't very bright, Quests are overly repetitive, Need to spend at least $20 to feel like you're playing a complete game, No Skirmish mode at launch.
Paid premiums can accumulate quickly, Limited launch options available, Early levels can be a slog, Won't challenge players of "serious" RTS games, Available only for PC.

Last revision on May 20, 2015

Editors Liked

Core game is oldschool RTS gameplay at its finest; addictive MMOish bits; tons of content
Can be enjoyed for hours without spending any money, Almost every quest supports cooperative play, MMOstyle rewards keep you hooked, Uniformly great presentation
Free to play, Addicting, Easy to learn, Supports a wide variety of hardware

Editors Didn't Like

PVP matchmaking rarely finds appropriate opponents, Enemy AI isn't very bright, Quests are overly repetitive, Need to spend at least $20 to feel like you're playing a complete game, No Skirmish mode at launch
Paid premiums can accumulate quickly, Limited launch options available, Early levels can be a slog, Won't challenge players of "serious" RTS games, Available only for PC

Expert reviews and ratings

By PC Gamer on May 08, 2012 90

The best free RTS gaming you'll find, the Celts bring AoEO two steps closer to...

By Maximum PC on October 11, 2011 70

Playing Age of Empires Online is like greeting an old friends for the first time in years, but instead of returning your friendly fist-bump, your pal socks you in the gut. Don't get us wrong: AOEO isn't a bad game, and somewhere benearth its mountain...

By New Game Network on September 10, 2011 84

For many, Age of Empires has long stood as one of the hallmarks of not only the real-time strategy genre but as one of the greatest PC game franchises of all time. In Age of Empires: Online, the series makes the jump from AAA retail title to...

By Gameplay Monthly on September 07, 2011 17

To sum it all up, this is a game with a good core (end gameplay) that is detracted by intrusive and unnecessary online features, bad PvP, and borderline ridiculous begging for you to buy premium. My suggested action would be this: don’t put money into...

By ign.com on August 24, 2011 70

For all its flaws, I can’t help but like Age of Empires Online. Caught somewhere between massively-multiplayer online role-playing game and hardcore competitive real-time strategy, Age of Empires Online delivers some of the most addictive parts of...

By 1Up on August 23, 2011 63

When Microsoft shut down Ensemble Studios a few years ago shortly after the release of Halo Wars, I never thought we'd have a new Age of Empires game, much-less one being developed by remnants of that fabled studio. Microsoft, along with Gas Powered...

By Tech Digest on August 19, 2011 60

Name: Genre: Platform: Few real-time strategy series are as revered as Age of Empires. As well as leading the way with perfectly balanced combative units, it had a great defensive system too and finely tuned resource management, tied up in a sweeping...

By Games Radar on August 19, 2011 60

After taking Age of Empires Online for an initial spin, we briefly removed our strategizing caps and stroking (followed by an audible “Hmmm”) beards to give you our first impressions. The short version? We were pleased with the game's offering of...

By Strategy Informer on August 16, 2011 80

It’s easy to forget the stature of Age of Empires as a gaming franchise. The first game was released way back in 1997, and it’s been six years since the robust but unspectacular Age of Empires III. Yet upon its release it was more popular than that...

By PC Mag on August 16, 2011 70

Being able to play a game as elaborate and detailed as Age of Empires Online for free is tantalizing, and novice gamers especially will find a lot to enjoy in it. But if you want a really in-depth experience, money and patience will be required....

By Cheat Code Central on August 16, 2011 84

There's no denying that throughout its history, Microsoft's Age of Empires franchise has been an amazing real-time strategy experience. With the release of Age of Empires Online, however, we see the series in a whole new light: as a free-to-play MMO...

By PC Gamer on October 16, 2011 65

It’s beautiful, free and addictive to a point, but Age of Empires Online’s battles fail to deliver a...

By GameSpot on September 02, 2011

Age of Empires Online effectively infuses its conventional real-time strategy gameplay with massively multiplayer online-style loot and leveling...

By Ars Technica on August 16, 2011

Age of Empires Online is a serious departure from past Age of Empire games: it's cartoony, and features many MMORPG aspects to round out the game's strategic gameplay. The game is still complex and meaty, especially for a free-to-play title. Many...

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