Best Mobile Games Like Age Of Empires

Some players have found the new Age of Empires Mobile to be somewhat disappointing, failing to capture the civilization building and combat of the PC versions. Meanwhile, others have found their interest in historical strategy games rekindled and are looking for more. This has left players looking for ways to scratch that turn-based itch on their mobile phones. There are quite a few games that seem to be quite similar in either their gameplay or aesthetic.

But not all of these games are created equal. Because it takes a while to get used to the mechanics in turn-based games like these, players may have to invest considerable time to make the call on whether to continue. As a result, testing them can be quite tedious. Here is a ranked list of some of the top-rated mobile games like Age of Empires.

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6

Honorable Mention: Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus

Sci-fi Turn-Based Combat

• Release Date: 2022
• Developer: Snowdrift Studios AB
• Platforms: Android and iOS
• Website

If players are looking for more strategic turn-based combat, Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus provides turn-based combat on a more simplified level than Age of Empires. It seems to be geared towards preexisting fans of the franchise, as official Warhammer magazines can provide in-game upgrades.

That being said, the Warhammer storyline is relatively inconsequential to the gameplay. It is a fun little turn-based combat game that is quite one-dimensional at the beginning, but does increase in complexity as the levels go up. The game is quite demanding on phone resources, and older phones may struggle to cope.

5

March of Empires: War Games

The Same Aspects That Make Age of Empires Fun

• Developer: Gameloft
• Platforms: Windows, iOS and Android
• Website

March of Empires: War Games has a lot of the same elements that make Age of Empires great. It has domestic civilization building and citizen welfare management in addition to complex strategic combat. It features PvP and PvE modes and there are multiple strategic approaches to battle scenarios.

The visual design is beautiful, and there is significant scope for customization for players who love to get into the minutia of faction perks and unit stats. Unfortunately, the monetization approach gets in the way. Frequent intrusive promotions for in-game purchases pop up throughout play, and long-term players seem disillusioned with the current direction. There were also issues with stability, with the game freezing on numerous occasions.

4

Game of Empires: Warring Realms

Warriors Converge

• Developer: Droupnir Entertainment Limited
• Platforms: iOS, Android and Windows
• Website

Game of Empires: Warring Realms has a similar visual design and UI to many other turn-based strategy games of its kind. It is relatively balanced between combat, civilization building, and citizen welfare. Controls for individual units are a bit finicky and have poor accessibility features, but for the most part, combat runs smoothly. The combat mechanics are simple with no frills, akin to early Age of Empires for the PC.

Monetization speeds up progress, which can seem essential as wait times get longer and the pressures of multiplayer invading forces and citizen welfare begin to stack. As with many of these games, long-time players have expressed dissatisfaction with new directions in monetization, problems with matching, and the quality of special events.

3

The Battle of Polytopia

More Than Meets The Eye

• Release date: 2016
• Developer: Midjiwan AB
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS
• Website

While the aesthetic is miles away from that of Age of Empires, for those simply looking for turn-based combat gameplay with customizability, The Battle of Polytopia is a strong contender. It is a stable and accessible pseudo-historical turn-based strategy game. The graphics are delightfully vibrant and simple, but don’t judge a book by its cover.

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The Battle of Polytopia has adjustable difficulty levels, different game modes, and multiplayer. It has a simple skill tree and basic unit types. The game’s microtransactions are primarily for skins for armies and societies. Condensed turn-based strategy games don’t come much better than Polytopia. However, its viability as a replacement Age of Empires game is heavily dependent on what elements of gameplay are most important to the individual player.

2

Great Conqueror 2: Shogun

The Fog Of Warfare Engulfs The Era Of Sengoku

• Release date: 2023
• Developer: EasyTech Games
• Platforms: Android and iOS
• Website

Great Conqueror 2: Shogun features historical fiction scenarios and player conquests based in Feudal Japan. The emphasis is on combat, with domestic concerns such as upgrading markets undertaken in order to sustain war efforts and support recruitment. Players are responsible for maneuvering units, recruitment, deploying special skills and upgrading facilities during turn-based combat. There is significant complexity in the preparation stages, especially when it comes to army management and recruiting generals.

Players can spend real world money in-game to rejuvenate weary and wounded units and to recruit generals. Much of this can be achieved through grinding. One of the drawbacks is that tiny details on the map are a bit hard to discern at times, but units with available actions are highlighted and well signaled, so the most important actions are not missed before the player ends their turn.

1

Rise of Kingdoms

Explore the Fog

• Release date: 2018
• Developer: Gameloft SE
• Platforms: iOS, Mac, Android and Windows
• Website

While the initial aesthetic and early game give the impression that Rise of Kingdoms will be more like Sid Meier’s Civilization than an Age of Empires game, the more granular combat focus quickly begins to shine through. The tutorial mini-quests are helpful rather than intrusive, and actually teach the core mechanics of the game. Monetization seems to be primarily linked to resource chests and task speed-ups. Big building projects coupled with other long-duration activities may mean that when trying to play for free, progress comes to a complete standstill.

Rise of Kingdoms has PvE and PvP elements. There are NPC barbarians to fight, as well as combat with other player’s kingdoms. To soften the brutality of PvP raids, there are resource packs that are not lost when a kingdom is invaded. Possibly the best part about online multiplayer in Rise of Kingdoms is the ability to assist and ask for assistance from allies.

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