It’s got impressive reviews on Steam and comes from Paradox, the stalwart publisher behind Stellaris, Crusader Kings 3, Europa Universalis, and Cities Skylines 2. In combination with a huge new DLC and a recent update that reintroduces past traits and reworks combat, if you haven’t tried Age of Wonders 4 yet, the fantasy 4X game that feels like Civilization set in Skyrim, now is definitely the time, as it’s currently completely free to play.
If you haven’t crossed paths with Age of Wonders 4 before, it takes the tentpoles of the genre – exploration, exploitation, extermination, and expansion – and brings them to new life with a high fantasy aesthetic. Imagine Azeroth, Tamriel, or Sanctuary, except rather than battling the demonic hordes one by one, you’re the Jarl or the Lich King – it’s your job to construct and safeguard your cities, and train mighty armies to take on the hellspawn invaders in large-scale, turn-based battles.
In our own Age of Wonders 4 review, Ian Boudreau calls it “the best 4X game I’ve played in years,” and gives it a mighty 9/10. Over on Steam, it’s similarly lauded, with a ‘very positive’ rating based on 11,500 user reviews.
The latest Age of Wonders 4 DLC, Ways of War, introduces a new culture that you can align with and new in-game events, races, and units. It’s arrived alongside a free update which reworks the game’s heroes and reintroduces the Tropical Realm trait.
To mark these overhauls, the Age of Wonders 4 base game is now completely free to play between Thursday November 7 and Monday November 11. If you want to keep playing after that, AoW 4 is also discounted by 35%, so you can get it for $32.49 / £27.29. Just head here.
Otherwise, try some of the best strategy games, or maybe go bigger with the best grand strategy games on PC.
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