Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition

Historical real-time strategy built around civilizations and card-based Home Cities

World's Edge, Tantalus Media, Forgotten Empires · Published by Xbox Game Studios · Released Oct 15, 2020

Reviews: Very Positive; 86% of 55K
Recent reviews: Very Positive; 90% of 217 in 30 days
Playing now: 3,043; right now
Steam Deck: Unsupported
Last update: 1 week ago; Sep 10, 2026

What is Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition?

A historical real-time strategy game where you develop a base and economy, choose Home City cards, and command civilization-specific armies. It includes campaigns, skirmishes, challenge missions, competitive multiplayer, and two-player historical battles.

For you if...

+you enjoy balancing economic growth with real-time warfare
+you want civilization-specific units, upgrades, and deck customization
+you play campaigns, skirmishes, or competitive multiplayer

Not for you if...

−you dislike managing economies and armies simultaneously
−you want persistent Home City leveling and unlocks

What players say

86% of 55,044 reviews are positive · 90% of 217 in the last 30 days

Players praise the Home City card decks, varied civilization playstyles, campaigns, and multiplayer battles. Common complaints include out-of-sync errors and crashes during long multiplayer matches, stuttering or freezing, and campaign changes compared with the original.

Screenshots and trailer

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition system requirements

As published by the developer.

Minimum

OS: Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher
Processor: Intel i3-2105 @ 3.1GHz or AMD Phenom II X4 973 with an average CPU Passmark score of 1830 or better
Graphics: GeForce GT 430, Radeon HD 5570, or Intel HD 4400 with an average Passmark G3D Mark of 570 or better @720p
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Storage: 42 GB available space
DirectX: Version 11
Notes: 2 GB VRAM

OS: Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher
Processor: Intel i5-3300 @ 3.0GHz or AMD FX-8350 or equivalent with an average CPU Passmark score of 4100 or better
Graphics: GeForce GTX 980 or Radeon R9 Fury or equivalent with an average Passmark G3D Mark of 9500 or better @1080p
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Storage: 42 GB available space
DirectX: Version 11
Notes: 4 GB VRAM

PC version details

DRM, required accounts, controller support and Steam features.

DRM: None declared on Steam
Controller: Keyboard and mouse
Platforms: Windows
Achievements: 121
Steam features: Cloud saves, Family Sharing, Trading cards

Steam Deck: Unsupported

Not supported on SteamOS

Multiplayer and co-op

Languages

Full audio: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Portuguese - Brazil, Simplified Chinese. Text only: Japanese, Korean, Russian, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Vietnamese, Malay.