Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - The African Royals expands the real-time strategy experience with two new civilizations set in Africa. Players manage economies, construct buildings, train units, and engage in combat across historical scenarios on PC.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on resource gathering, base development, and military engagements in a real-time strategy format. The African Royals expansion introduces specialized mechanics for the Ethiopians and Hausa civilizations. These factions use a unique age-up system that grants new alliances upon advancing through ages. Influence serves as a resource to recruit allied units or unlock their technologies.
Ethiopian gameplay emphasizes defensive and artillery options. Players construct Palaces and Mountain Monasteries. Shotel Warriors handle frontline assaults while mortars deliver explosive damage to groups of enemies and structures. Additional units include Oromo cavalry counters and Neftenya infantry specialists. Alliances provide flexible options for adapting strategies.
Hausa gameplay focuses on economic growth and early aggression. Griots inspire troops, Livestock Markets facilitate cattle trading, and Universities support research. Maigadi guards defend holdings while Fulani Archers, Raiders, and Lifidi Knights form mobile strike forces. The Palace enables recruitment of mercenaries, alliance troops, imported artillery, and the Gatling Camel unit.
Supporting structures include the Granary, which attracts hunted animals to improve food collection, and the Livestock Market for trading Sanga and Zebu Cattle. A Royal Banquet generates substantial Influence to bolster allied support. These elements integrate into standard real-time strategy progression of exploration, commerce, and imperial ages.
Game Modes
Skirmish mode allows single-player matches against AI opponents on various maps, including new African-themed ones added with the expansion. Multiplayer supports unranked lobby games for competitive or cooperative play.
Historical Battles provide scripted single-player scenarios based on specific events. The Battle of the Three Kings depicts an Iberian invasion of Morocco and the Saadi response. Fall of the Hausa covers a revolution led by Usman dan Fodio involving Fulani nomads, Hausa peasants, and escaped slaves. The Era of the Princes follows Kassa Hailu as he confronts warlords during Ethiopia's period of internal conflict.
The Art of War mode offers challenge scenarios designed to teach advanced tactics and mechanics. Story Mode delivers the remastered campaign with updated visuals and adjustments.
New Civilizations and Features
Ethiopia draws from highland kingdoms with emphasis on mountainous terrain advantages and versatile infantry-artillery combinations. Hausa reflects Sahelian trading states with strengths in livestock economy and rapid raiding forces. Both civilizations access five new native settlements for alliances and benefit from 15 additional maps.
These additions expand strategic variety without altering the foundational real-time strategy systems of the base game. Units and buildings tie directly into the Influence and alliance mechanics for distinct playstyles.
Is It Worth Playing?
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition maintains active multiplayer servers and receives periodic maintenance updates. The base game earned generally favorable critical reception. The African Royals expansion adds targeted content for players interested in African history and new civilization mechanics.
This content suits enthusiasts of real-time strategy who enjoy civilization variety and historical battle scenarios. Those seeking extensive ongoing expansions may find the post-2025 content situation limited, as a planned follow-up release was canceled. The title remains available for single-player exploration and unranked multiplayer sessions.
