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Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms

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Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Expansion Pack

Age of Empires II: DE - The Three Kingdoms, AoE2 DE: The Three Kingdoms

Released

Release Date: May 6, 2025

Strategy, RTS, Ancient History, Co-op, China, Historical, Romance of The Three Kingdoms, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Internet, LAN

The eighth expansion for the popular remastered RTS from 2019. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms introduces 3 story campaigns and 5 new nations related to the history of China and to the titular kingdoms. There are also new units and heroes available.

4.8

Steam

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The Three Kingdoms is a paid content pack for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. The base game is a 2019 remaster of the iconic real-time strategy that originally came out in 1999 under the title Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.

New features in the expansion

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms introduces five nations, three campaigns, as well as heroes related to the history of China.

Nations

The list of nations created for this expansion is dominated by three kingdoms and their unique units.

  1. Shu commands the White Feather Guard, which is infantry that slows down attacking enemies and uses war chariots.
  2. Wei uses cavalry. A tiger cavalryman can grow in strength as he kills enemies. There's also a Xianbei raider equipped with a bow.
  3. Wu relies on an archer with flaming arrows and on Jian - a powerful swordsman with a shield.

This is not the end, because in the expansion also gives us two other nations:

  1. The Jurched are hunters from northeastern China, whose unique units are cavalrymen called Iron Pagodas and grenadiers who throw incendiary bombs at enemies.
  2. The Kitan people, on the other hand, have their strength in infantrymen equipped with swords and trebuchets pulled by camels. Interestingly, two residents can work in their pastures.

Campaigns

Individual story campaign are dedicated to three kingdoms:

  1. Leading the forces of Shu, as Liu Bei, we strive to restore the rule of the Han Dynasty.
  2. As Cao Cao, we take command of the Wei forces, striving to climb to the very top of the social ladder and ascend to the Chinese throne.
  3. Leading the Sun clan from the Wu kingdom, we seek revenge, while trying to unite southern China under our banner.

Throughout the subsequent missions, we participate in famous events such as the Battle of Red Cliffs or the Battle of Guandu. How the fate of individual kingdoms will unfold depends on our actions on the battlefield, as well as the decisions we make that shape the course of the story.

Heroes

Heroes associated with story campaigns are special units with unique abilities. Liu Bei can regenerate the health points of nearby allies thanks to the power of the People's Defender, Cao Cao increases the attack speed of accompanying soldiers with the help of the Emperor's Decree ability, while Sun Jian accelerates the movements of nearby allies using the Southern Tactics skill.

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows

Xbox One

Xbox One

PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5

Xbox Series X/S

Xbox Series X/S

Developer: Forgotten Empires / World's Edge (PC) / World's Edge (XONE) / World's Edge (PS5) / World's Edge (XSX)

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios / Microsoft Studios

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Game Series

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms

16GAMES

Age of Empires Game Series

The bestselling series of real-time strategy (RTS) games, which is published by Microsoft. Over the years, the development of the series has been handled by various development studios. Its first three installments were developed by the now-defunct Ensemble Studios, while the fourth part of the series was the work of the Relic Entertainment and World's Edge teams (which in 2019 was entrusted with the care of the series). Furthermore, studios as Forgotten Empires, Griptonite Games, Gas Powered Games, Hidden Path Entertainment, Smoking Gun Interactive, and TiMi Studios made their mark on the brand.

Age of Empires Game Series
[game title]

Base Game for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

Features

System Requirements

System Requirements for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core 2 Duo / AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 2.9 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GT 420 or better, 150 MB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i5 2.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 650 or better, 150 MB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms Video Game.

48%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mixed (947)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Endless Content: Many players appreciate the sheer amount of content available in the DLC, particularly in the campaign mode.
  • Unique Mechanics: The introduction of unique units and mechanics, such as the mobile trebuchets and hero units, adds new strategies and gameplay elements that some players find enjoyable.
  • Campaign Enjoyment: Several users enjoyed the storytelling in the campaigns, with some noting that the scenarios were fun and offered interesting challenges.
  • Replay Value: The inclusion of choice elements in the campaign allows for varied outcomes, which enhances replayability.
  • Nostalgia Factor: Long-time fans of the series enjoy seeing new content added to a game they loved in their childhood.

The main cons of the game

  • Historical Inaccuracy: Some players feel that the inclusion of the Three Kingdoms era is out of place in a game that typically focuses on medieval history, leading to a disconnect with the overall theme of Age of Empires.
  • Confusing Civilizations: The unique units and mechanics associated with the new civilizations are seen as overly complex and potentially confusing for new players. The lack of unique voice lines and architecture makes them feel like reskins.
  • Unbalanced Gameplay: Several reviews mention that the new civilizations are unbalanced, leading to frustrations in gameplay.
  • Lack of Campaign Depth: Some campaigns are criticized for being rushed or underdeveloped, with players noting that certain characters lack depth and nuance.
  • Gimmicky Hero Units: The introduction of hero units is viewed as a negative by many, with calls for an option to disable them in skirmish mode.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Additional Campaigns for All Civilizations: Players expressed a desire for more campaigns for the civilizations that lack them, as well as more depth in the existing campaigns.
  • Historical Accuracy and Representation: Some users wished for a broader representation of Chinese history beyond the Three Kingdoms, suggesting other dynasties or civilizations could have been included.
  • Unique Voice Lines and Architecture: The absence of unique voice lines and architectural styles for the new civilizations was noted, contributing to the perception that they are mere reskins.
  • More Balanced Gameplay: Players called for better balancing among the new civilizations to enhance competitive play.
  • Removal of Hero Units: A significant number of users requested the option to disable hero units in skirmish mode, feeling they disrupt the traditional gameplay experience.

Summary generated on:

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