Age of Wonders 4: Everything We Know

After a nine year hiatus, Paradox Interactive and Triumph Studios have finally come together to conjure Age of Wonders 4, the long overdue fourth chapter in the award-winning 4X saga. And the best part is, it'll be shaping up for an early May launch on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

So, what more do you need to know about the next leg of the fantasy realm-building series? Well, here's everything we've been able to gather since first hearing of its plans to hit consoles and PC last year. Age of Wonders 4: what is it, and why should you be gearing up to tackle its turn-based waters over the next few months?

What Is Age of Wonders 4?

Age of Wonders 4 is an upcoming 4X turn-based strategy game by Triumph Studios. Running in a similar vein to its previous instalments, the latest chapter will allows players to rule their own kingdom and make moves to monopolize the world in a classic turn-based format. In order to ascend the ranks and colonize the realms, budding rulers will, of course, need to craft strategies and evolve their kingdoms, chunk by chunk.

In Triumph Studios' own words: “Triumph Studios’ award-winning strategy series has emerged into a new age, evolving the game’s iconic empire building, role-playing, and warfare to the next level.”

“Rule a fantasy realm of your own design! Explore new magical realms in Age of Wonders’ signature blend of 4X strategy and turn-based tactical combat. Control a faction that grows and changes as you expand your empire with each turn!”

Story

So, will there be a story in the fourth chapter? Well, technically, yes. That said, it won't feature a bog-standard linear narrative in the traditional sense, but a “new event system” that “provides unexpected levels of storytelling for 4X games.” What's more, it will feature a stepping stone system—a schematic that, regardless of whether or not you've succeeded or succumbed to an opposing realm, lets you “ascend your rulers to an in-game pantheon and unlock ways to further customize your experience.”

But what's the story here? Well, according to the game's official blurb, “powerful Wizard Kings have returned to the realms to reign as gods among mortals.” As a result of this ongoing feud, you will need to step forth and “claim and master the Tomes of Magic to evolve your people, and prepare for an epic battle that will determine the ages to come.”

Of course, the outcome of the story itself will be entirely dependent on the actions you make as ruler. Question is, will you evolve your people to become angelic beings, or evil tyrants? In Age of Wonders 4, every step you take as the overlord will pave the way to a new era for the realms and all its loyal subordinates. So, who will you become?

Gameplay

Adhering to a traditional 4X city-building format, Age of Wonders 4 will let you formulate your own realm and its species—from a “clan of cannibal halflings to mystic moon elves.” As overseer of the custom kingdom, you will step forth and develop your biome and evolve its citizens through the use of “bodily forms, societal traits and arcane powers,” after which you will work to colonize the world in a familiar turn-based format.

“Tactical turn-based battles bring your armies to life, showcasing their power in an environment shaped by your decisions,” the blurb adds. “From skirmishes with roaming monsters to vast sieges with mighty armies, with the addition of a morale system and more features, every battle brings a fresh challenge.”

As with any 4X strategy game, Age of Wonder 4 will adapt to the actions you make along the way. To this end, your decisions will “shape the world around you, from growing cities and roaming armies to world-warping magic effects.”

Fortunately, Age of Wonders 4 will also feature a multiplayer mode—a “versatile and replayable” experience that will reportedly support both live and asynchronous games. In short, this means players won't have to be online at the same time in order to make their moves. So that's, you know, convenient.

Development

Triumph Studios, a firm best known for its lineage of award-winning 4X games, has been churning out Age of Wonders entries since 1999. Its fourth main instalment, due to launch this coming May, will be a follow-up to Age of Wonders: Planetfall, a spin-off that launched back in 2019.

Paradox Interactive lay the foundations for Age of Wonders 4 back in January, at which point the acclaimed publisher revealed a forty-minute presentation outlining its latest gameplay features. Since then, the fourth entry has received several teasers, along with a slew of info dumps relating to the characters and the game's general aesthetic.

Trailer

Piqued your interest? If so, you'll be pleased to know that Triumph Studios did in fact lift the veil on Age of Wonders 4 a fair ways back over on its chosen streaming channels. You can catch the initial announcement trailer in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Age of Wonders 4 will be coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on May 2, 2023. Does this mean there's a chance it'll launch on Game Pass or PlayStation Plus? In theory, yes, though Paradox Interactive has yet to announce its intention to do so. Having said that, Age of Wonders has made an appearance on Xbox Game Pass in the past, so there's certainly a chance—if only a sliver.

You can pre-order Age of Wonders 4 in two editions: Standard, and Premium. Here's what you'll find included in each of the two:

Standard Edition — $49.99

• Age of Wonders 4
• Pre-Order Content Pack

Premium Edition — $89.99

• Age of Wonders 4
• Expansion Pass
• Aric Rex Ruler
• Lion Plate Armor Set
• Athlan Crown
• Imperial Cape

For more information on the Age of Wonders 4 launch, you can follow the official social feed here. If anything changes ahead of its May release, we'll be sure to let you know all of the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Age of Wonders 4 when it drops? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.