Age of Wonders 4: Thrones of Blood

The main pros of the game

• Aesthetic and Theme: Many users praised the vampire aesthetic, including the visuals, music, and overall atmosphere, making it a fun experience for fans of the genre.
• Customization Options: Players appreciated the ability to customize their vampire rulers and units, allowing for diverse playstyles and thematic builds.
• New Mechanics: The introduction of new tomes, abilities, and units, such as the Rose Knights and Blood Magic, was well-received, with some users finding them powerful and engaging.
• Unique Gameplay Experience: The vampire ruler type offers a different playstyle compared to other rulers, with interesting mechanics tied to sunlight penalties and vampiric abilities.

The main cons of the game

• Content Shortcomings: Several reviews pointed out that the DLC feels lacking in content compared to previous expansions, particularly in terms of the number of new features, units, and story realms.
• Gameplay Balance Issues: Many players found the vampire rulers to be underpowered, especially in the early game, which led to frustrations with gameplay, particularly regarding the sunlight penalties.
• Limited Transformations and Customization: Users expressed disappointment over the lack of significant transformations for vampires and the limited customization options for their abilities compared to other ruler types.
• Bugs and Technical Issues: Several players reported bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly in multiplayer modes, which detracted from the overall experience.

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

• More Unique Content: Players wished for additional story realms, new forms, or more diverse gameplay mechanics that could enhance the vampire experience.
• Expanded Customization Options: There were calls for more visual and gameplay customization options for vampires, including the ability to have unique transformations similar to other ruler types.
• Improved Gameplay Mechanics: Users suggested that the game would benefit from a focus on different themes, such as sea-based gameplay or chaos affinity, rather than more necromancy content.
• Better Balancing: Many reviews highlighted the need for buffs to the vampire ruler's abilities and overall power to make them more competitive with other rulers in the game.

Summary

• Overall, while Age of Wonders 4: Thrones of Blood offers appealing aesthetics and some interesting new mechanics, it has been criticized for its perceived lack of content, balance issues, and technical problems, leading to mixed reviews from players.

Summary generated on: December 8, 2025