Age of Empires

Age of Empires (1997)

by Ensemble Studios, MacSoft Games, Microsoft
Genres:Strategy, Real Time Strategy (RTS)
Themes:Historical, Warfare
Game modes:Single player, Multiplayer
Story:Age of Empires (AoE) is a history-based real-time strategy video game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft. The game uses the Genie, a 2D sprite-based game engine. The game allows the user to act as the leader of an ancient civilization by advancing it through four ages (the Stone, Tool, Bronze, and Iron Ages), gaining access to new and improved units with each advance.Show more
user avatarAdded by @Uereg
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.
42 916
Trailers and screenshots
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Stories about this game (19)
What’s your memory of Age of Empires?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
user avatar@placeholder

Make sure to follow our Guidelines when adding new Stories.

If not sure what to write:
  • What made this game unforgettable?
  • Who did you play this game with?
  • What made it fun or challenging?
  • Why do you want this game on GOG?
user avatar@dix.selkenuser avatar@dix.selken
January 29, 2025
Age of Empires is a true relic of the RTS Genre. This game is one of the main reasons i became interested in history, which later expanded to my interests in economics and politics. I remember getting this game in xmas 1998 and my life changed ever since. This game was simply enough to learn, but hard enough in the main campaigns to pose a true challenge. This game has aged relatively well to be a worthy addition to GoG's DRM-free catalog, even without the later remasters.
First strategy game I was ever given to play... and made a mess of it by focusing on building cities because it was cool. Oh, to be 9 years old all over again...
user avatar@ion00user avatar@ion00
January 30, 2025
Yes, AOE 2 improved the gameplay A LOT, but for me the first AOE will always have a special place in my heart. I've been playing this game for over 25 years now. I don't think it has ever left my hard drive. This game is pure nostalgia for me. The music especially gets me every time I hear it, especially the expansion OST. In case you didn't know there's an unofficial patch (called UPatch) that lets you play the game on modern operating systems flawlessly. It also adds some much needed balance changes, although unfortunately range units still reign supreme. The game is owned by Micros*ft so I'm not getting my hopes up.
Premier jeu que j'ai acheté sur PC, je pouvoir seulement y jouer sur le pc de travail de ma mère pendant les vacances. Il m'a donné goût à l'histoire, même s'il y a quelques erreurs. J'ai passé énormément de temps dans l'éditeur de cartes pour faire mes propres aventures. Cela m'a donné également plus tard au modding.
user avatar@Andreasqiaouser avatar@Andreasqiao
January 29, 2025
My very first PC game and my childhood as well. It's simple yet addictive. The first time I've ever seen that wololo priest, never seen that done in other RTS games, except the sequel.
user avatar@TombaZocktuser avatar@TombaZockt
January 30, 2025
-Translated from German to English, with Google:- The game was my first RTS as a child. I sat in front of the screen for an evening, I should have been asleep. My mother came in twice and told me off. The third time she ripped the cables from the screen like a madman, which were still screwed on at the time - all the pins were bent and I had to go to bed. A great time. :) -German:- Das Spiel war mein erstes RTS in der Kindheit. Ich saß einen Abend gebannt vor dem Bildschirm, ich sollte eigentlich schon schlafen. Meine Mutter ist 2x reingekommen und hat mich ermahnt. Beim dritten Mal riss sie wie eine Furie an den Kabeln vom Bildschirm, die damals noch festgeschraubt waren - alle Pins verbogen und ich musste ins Bett. Eine tolle Zeit. :)
user avatar@T00N1Xuser avatar@T00N1X
February 01, 2025
The first Game I ever got to play on PC. To this day, I remember the cheats I used when playing this, because my 10-year-old brain wasn't capable of winning without them. "bigdaddy" for cars with rocket launcher, or "flying dutchman" for ships who can drive on land. But even without cheats, the sound effects of the game are also burned into my mind. It's hard to describe how much nostalgia I feel for this game.
user avatar@Bunny92Buser avatar@Bunny92B
February 04, 2025
Demo of AoE 1 was my very first game that I've played on pc. Loved that game. It got me into RTS genre. I have non DE and also DE version of it on steam. AoE 1 is mostly popular in Vietnam and people mostly prefer AoE 2 over AoE 1. But i personally also love AoE 1, it's a shame that it did not receive as much love and updates as AoE 2 DE did. I'd love to see it released DRM-free on GOG.
user avatar@lyricallyuser avatar@lyrically
February 05, 2025
This is the game my husband got me into gaming with. We played co-op games together against the machines or we played against each other. All's fair in love and war?
user avatar@DV2FOXuser avatar@DV2FOX
January 30, 2025
Never got able to finish this entry back then and the remake's path finding issues are a deal breaker. If this gets ported it'll be a pleasure... Please keep ALL the languages!
Those games also need your vote!
Arc the Lad III
Arc the Lad IIIThe events of this game take place several years after Elk and Arc faced their ultimate enemy in "Arc the Lad II". You control Alec, a teenager whose entire village was destroyed by an unknown evil - an event that was later called "The Great Disaster". He was saved by a mysterious Hunter. Since then, growing peacefully in a village he was brought to, which was like a new home for the survivors of the Great Disaster, Alec dreams about meeting the Hunter again, and becoming a Hunter himself. Together with his best friend Lutz he tries his luck in nearby towns, receiving small Hunter jobs, until the fate crosses the ways of the two young people with a mysterious organization called the Academy. And there their adventure really begins... The gameplay of this third installment of Arc the Lad series is very similar to that of the predecessor. You fight enemies in turn-based battles, and can move freely on the battlefield, positioning your party members the way you like. You can upgrade your weapons by forging them with special materials, and have a variety of techniques and magic spells at your disposal.
Fantasy
Fantasy
356
Arc the Lad II
Arc the Lad IIThis direct sequel to "Arc the Lad" continues the unfinished story of the first game, but starts from a totally different perspective. You control a bounty-hunter named Elk, who suffers from amnesia. On his quest for his own true identity he discovers the powers hidden within him, and the destiny of his entire tribe. While pursuing his archenemy, Elk meets up with Arc, the hero of the first game, and then both realize they have been looking to destroy the very same evil. The battle system of "Arc the Lad II" is similar to the one used in its predecessor: in battles you can move your characters on the battle field, and your proximity to the enemies plays an important role. You cause and take different amounts of damage depending on your position on the battle field. Unlike the first game, this one is a full-fledged adventure/RPG, without the "strategy" feel of the predecessor. You move through the game world on your own, visiting towns and exploring dungeons.
Fantasy
Fantasy
364
Arc the Lad: Monster Game with Casino Game
Arc the Lad: Monster Game with Casino GameArc the Lad: Monster Game with Casino Game is a spin-off from the Arc the Lad series and a bonus expansion to Arc the Lad II, as it uses the player's saves from the second game so the player can compete in the tournament with his monsters, visit shops, trade items etc. In addition there is a collection of casino mini-games that complete the package.
56
Arc the Lad
Arc the LadArc the Lad is a tactical role-playing video game developed by G-Craft for the PlayStation and is the first game in the Arc the Lad series. It was released in 1995 in Japan, and released in North America on April 18, 2002, as part of Arc the Lad Collection. The Japanese released was published by SCEI, while the North American release was published by Working Designs. It was the best-selling Japanese PlayStation game of 1995 with over a million copies sold. Arc the Lad was followed by two direct sequels and many games that make up the series.
Action
Fantasy
Action
Fantasy
391
Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest
Cubivore: Survival of the FittestEat or be eaten! Assume the role of an animal in it's early stages of evolutionary development. As your animal instincts take over, you will boldly traverse hostile environments, savagely stalking your prey to assert your place in the animal chain of power. Will you have what it takes to become the new king of beasts? The game started development on the Nintendo 64, but went unreleased, being later ported to the Nintendo GameCube. A prototype of the Nintendo 64 version has been found.
Action
Action
64
1
Arc the Lad: Kijin Fukkatsu
Arc the Lad: Kijin FukkatsuA spin-off story in the Arc the Lad series featuring Elc form the second game. Was only released in Japan.
Fantasy
Science fiction
Fantasy
Science fiction
174
Minami Lane
Minami LaneMinami Lane is a small-scale management game where players build and manage a Japanese-inspired street. The game involves placing and customizing buildings, managing shops by adjusting inventory, recipes, and prices, and ensuring the happiness of the villagers. Each level has specific objectives that guide progression, while a sandbox mode allows for freeform play without goals. Additional mechanics include keeping the street clean by picking up trash and interacting with various animal inhabitants, such as tanukis and cats.
Kids
Kids
14
Hot Springs Story
Hot Springs StoryBuild your own resort and propel it to success with but a touch of the finger in this one-of-a-kind simulation!
Business
Business
14
The Gnorp Apologue
The Gnorp Apologue(the) Gnorp Apologue is the journey of the gnorps as you guide them towards their goal of delightfully excessive wealth accumulation.
14
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The GatheringMagic: The Gathering is a computer game published by MicroProse in April 1997 based on the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. The game takes place in the plane of Shandalar, where the player must travel the land and fight random enemies to gain cards, and defeat five wizards representing the five colors. The player must prevent one color from gaining too much power, and defeat the planeswalker Arzakon, who has a deck of all five colors. Adventure game and role-playing game elements are present, including inventory, gold, towns, dungeons, random battles, and character progression in the form of new abilities and a higher life point total. An oversized version of Aswan Jaguar was included in the game box.
Fantasy
Fantasy
4 939
26