Summary
Some players have found the newAge of EmpiresMobileto 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 likeAge of Empires.
6Honorable Mention: Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus
Sci-fi Turn-Based Combat
If players are looking for more strategic turn-based combat,Warhammer 40,000: Tacticusprovides turn-based combat on a more simplified level thanAge of Empires. It seems to be geared towards preexisting fans of the franchise, as officialWarhammermagazines can provide in-game upgrades.
That being said, theWarhammerstoryline 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.
5March of Empires: War Games
The Same Aspects That Make Age of Empires Fun
March of Empires: War Gameshas a lot of the same elements that makeAge of Empiresgreat. It has domestic civilization building and citizen welfare management in addition tocomplex strategiccombat. 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.
4Game of Empires: Warring Realms
Warriors Converge
Game of Empires: Warring Realmshas 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 earlyAge of Empiresfor 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.
3The Battle of Polytopia
More Than Meets The Eye
While the aesthetic is miles away from that ofAge of Empires, for those simply looking for turn-based combat gameplay with customizability,The Battle of Polytopiais 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.
The Battle of Polytopiahas 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-basedstrategy gamesdon’t come much better thanPolytopia. However, its viability as a replacementAge of Empiresgame is heavily dependent on what elements of gameplay are most important to the individual player.
2Great Conqueror 2: Shogun
The Fog Of Warfare Engulfs The Era Of Sengoku
Great Conqueror 2: Shogunfeatureshistorical fictionscenarios 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.
1Rise of Kingdoms
Explore the Fog
While the initial aesthetic and early game give the impression thatRise of Kingdomswill be more likeSid Meier’s Civilizationthan an Age of Empiresgame, the more granular combat focus quickly begins to shine through.The tutorial mini-questsare 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 Kingdomshas 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 inRise of Kingdomsis the ability to assist and ask for assistance from allies.
