Very Positive(82%)
Customization options
Tactical combat
Fantasy setting
Strategic depth
Replayability
Combat focus
DLC influence
Balance concerns
Expensive DLC
Multiplayer issues
Performance problems
AI predictability
Overall, Age of Wonders 4 is highly praised for its deep customization options and engaging tactical combat within a vibrant fantasy setting. However, the expensive DLC model and multiplayer stability issues are significant drawbacks, as are performance optimization concerns. Players are drawn to the game's strategic depth and replayability, yet seek better balance and more content within the base game to avoid the current perception of an incomplete experience without extensive DLC investment.
Positive Points
The game offers extensive customization options for creating unique races, factions, and leaders, allowing players to experiment with various combinations and playstyles.The tactical combat is engaging and offers depth, with numerous units, abilities, and spells to explore. Players can also choose to use the reliable auto-resolve for quicker battles.The game's fantasy setting and world-building elements are praised for their richness, with varied environments and a consistent art style that enhances immersion.The strategic layer of the game is well-implemented, focusing on exploration, expansion, and interaction with a variety of neutral factions and AI opponents.The pantheon system and quest rewards encourage replayability and allow players to customize future playthroughs with previously ascended characters.Negative Points
The game's extensive DLC model is heavily criticized for being expensive, leading to concerns about locking significant content behind paywalls.Multiplayer stability is a major issue, with frequent desyncs and crashes reported, undermining the experience when playing with friends.Performance optimization issues, including long load times and stuttering, detract from the overall experience, especially on higher-end systems.Some players find the late-game AI too predictable or reliant on excessive resources to present a challenge, diminishing strategic depth.Mixed Points
The game's focus on combat can be appealing for some but repetitive or tedious for others, especially without the option to fully auto-resolve without losing units.The influence of Paradox's DLC policies is a double-edged sword; while the game receives ongoing content updates, it also requires significant investment to access the full experience.The balance between different playstyles and unit types can feel uneven, particularly with DLC content being perceived as stronger than the base game.Common Themes
Customization and replayability are standout features, with immense depth in faction and race creation, contributing to prolonged player engagement.Concerns about pricing and DLC practices are prevalent, with many players feeling that the cost of full content is prohibitively high.Performance and stability issues, particularly in multiplayer, are frequently highlighted as areas needing improvement.Players appreciate the game's strategic and combat mechanics but desire more polish and balance tuning to enhance long-term satisfaction.Updated 5/1/2026, 12:01:55 AM UTC