Paradox Interactive and Triumph Studios have released a new story trailer for Age of Wonders 4, the latest entry in the fantasy 4X strategy series, with pre-orders going live ahead of it launch on 2nd May 2023 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Following on from the story of Age of Wonders 3, Age of Wonders 4Â sees the powerful wizard kings break through the barriers between realms to try and conquer countless new fantasy world and search out the Tomes of Magic.
As with previous entries, it blends together strategy, role playing and turn-based combat, with the 4X world map giving way to turn-based battles, but for the first time in the series, you’ll be able to create a custom faction along the way – combine bodily forms, societal traits and powers to create clans of cannibal halflings or moon elves.
We’ve just posted a new preview of Age of Wonders 4, where I dig into this customisation:
“You can obviously stick to the various fantasy tropes, with snooty Elves, violent Orks and the like, but each of the races – which include Toadkin, Ratkin, Orcoid, Molekin, Halfling, Goblinoid, Feline and Elfkin – can then be modified from their default attributes and natural body traits.
“Want some long-legged, fast-running Dwarves? You can do that. Toadkin are naturally good, resilient and adapted to swamps, but you can swap those out, to have sneaky, evil toads that ride around on giant spider mounts.”
The game will be available in two editions, with pre-orders of either Standard or Premium Edition getting a bonus ruler and armour set – Aric Rex, a Tigran High King, and his elegant Lion Plate armour, Imperial Cape and Athlan Crown. The standard edition will be priced at $49.99 / £41.99 / €49.99, while the Premium Edition bundles in an Expansion Pass alongside that for $89.99 / £74.99 / €89.99.
While it’s been nine years since Age of Wonders 3, that wasn’t the last game in the series. Age of Wonders: Planetfall leapt from fantasy to science fiction, with a galaxy-spanning narrative and a nice blend of ideas for the races you face, following it up with a trio of expansions through 2019 and 2020.
I wrote in our Age of Wonders: Planetfall review, “The science fiction setting puts a compelling new spin on Age of Wonders: Planetfall, with a lengthy single player campaign and half a dozen contrasting factions to see rise from the ashes of the Star Union. There’s some niggles I have on console, but this is easy to recommend if you’re hankering for a new 4X strategy game.”
Source: press release
