You pick from a large handful of factions with their own strong backstories and strengths on the field, and then further specialize with a couple of spells. It quickly takes a backseat to the story you build, though, and that story is a major highlight in Age of Wonders 4.

It’s a standard fantasy setup, and the beginning is so rife with enough Proper Nouns and exotic-sounding names that it’ll either inject your brain with glee or feel completely overwhelming. In the world of Age of Wonders 4, a gaggle of ancient, evil wizards breaks free from their prison in the sea and promises to wreak havoc on the world. It’s a stronger experience than Age of Wonders 3 in almost every way and is easily one of the best in the genre. The grand strategy game gives you an almost overwhelming set of options to create a deep, fascinating story around a set of interesting heroes while gradually expanding your influence around the world. Fairy tales tell a fixed story with a moral lesson at their heart, but in Age of Wonders 4, Triumph Studios and Paradox let you make your own fantasy tale of intrigue and war – often with no moral at all, depending on how you play.

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