Command 18 Civilizations
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is a real-time strategy game where you build a base, gather resources, and command armies across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. You lead one of 18 civilizations, including the Swedes, Inca, Mexico, and the USA, each with its own bonuses. A key mechanic is the Home City, which sends you cards with reinforcements and upgrades. All cards are unlocked by default, so you can build a deck from the start or use a pre-built one. As you advance through ages, you can trigger Revolutions like Brazil, Indonesia, or Egypt to unlock new nation-specific units and cards for a late-game pivot.
Play History Together in Co-Op
The game includes 9 scenario-driven historical battles built for two players. You and a friend take on the roles of commanders fighting against enhanced AI in objective-based missions inspired by real events. Success depends on coordinating your armies and splitting responsibilities, such as one player focusing on a specific front or resource while the other pushes an objective. Beyond these missions, you can jump online for PvP skirmishes against other players or team up with friends to take on AI opponents across a variety of maps, including 30 new ones added in this edition.
Tools for Learning and Watching
If you are new to RTS games or want to sharpen specific skills, the Art of War challenge missions offer focused scenarios that test your economy, tactics, and combat execution, with Gold Medals as goals. The Definitive Edition also includes modern tools like Spectator Mode for watching matches, Photo Mode, and a Mod Manager for installing community content. The game features refined unit balance, reworked campaigns, naval formations, and expanded unit variety compared to the original. Note that the Knights of the Mediterranean DLC is listed as available separately, and this edition already includes content from the United States, Mexico, and Hero Cosmetic Pack Vol 1 DLCs.