User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 627 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 67 out of 627

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  1. Aug 19, 2023
    9
    Very good game. I enjoyed playing this game a lot. I strongly recommend this.
  2. Nov 20, 2021
    10
    That is a nice game. I played around 3 consecutive days and for that price, its a good game
  3. Dec 14, 2020
    10
    This game's 4x combat-focused style mixed with its RPG elements make it a truly unique and exhilarating experience. My personal recommendation is playing on a smaller map and turning the water down by 25% ;) (but seriously though).
  4. Aug 18, 2020
    8
    Tisztességes munka a maga műfajában, de nagyon egy Tescos CIV és Total War. Ami elsősorban nem probléma, mivel kiválló hangulata van
  5. Aug 12, 2020
    10
    A Game like Heroes of Might and Magic but really much better. You can now buy the Complete Edition including all expansions for little money (like 'Gold Edition').
  6. Jun 21, 2016
    10
    I bought this 6 months ago on sale.. just now picked it up and started playing it..

    I'm absolutely hooked. Fantastic variability in race/class.. interesting tactical combat with tons of choices and tactics and strategies.. lots of build planning like a normal 4x.. nice graphics.. random map generation with lots of different win/lose options.. the replayability here borders on the
    I bought this 6 months ago on sale.. just now picked it up and started playing it..

    I'm absolutely hooked. Fantastic variability in race/class.. interesting tactical combat with tons of choices and tactics and strategies.. lots of build planning like a normal 4x.. nice graphics.. random map generation with lots of different win/lose options.. the replayability here borders on the extreme.. I'm 80+ hours into the game and literally just scratching the surface.

    If turn based strategy is your thing.. especially tactical battles.. you would be doing yourself a HUGE disservice to miss this..
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  7. May 20, 2016
    8
    As a fan of the former AoW games, I was anxious to play it, but it disappointed me at first. But after playing again, I was able to enjoy it more, and with all the expansions, it is a deeper game.

    The only thing I believe that need to be improved is manual combat, I prefered fast combat, unless is a critical battle.

    I absolutly recommend the game to 4x fantasy strategy game lovers.
  8. Feb 9, 2016
    10
    best 4x game I have ever played. The only annoying stuff is the tutorial where you HAVE TO be a female, but apart from that, amazing game, deep and rewarding strategy
  9. Oct 29, 2015
    8
    Ok. At first I found this game very frustrating. That must have been because I was playing scenarios at normal difficulty level. Apparently the campaigns and scenarios are much more difficult than the random generated maps. Initially, I gave this game a 6, but after a few more play throughs, I've learned a few more things (good and bad).
    The good: There are a ton of units for each
    Ok. At first I found this game very frustrating. That must have been because I was playing scenarios at normal difficulty level. Apparently the campaigns and scenarios are much more difficult than the random generated maps. Initially, I gave this game a 6, but after a few more play throughs, I've learned a few more things (good and bad).
    The good: There are a ton of units for each race, class and even alignment. The higher the tier, the more powerful the unit, but the costs and build times can really tie up your resources so it make sense to fill your armies with a variety of tier/levels and types. An army of all archers could get massacred by infantry if they get in too close and are undefended. So variety is good.
    There are many cool unique locations that you can build your cities around that give your city a new type of building that allows new units to be built or give huge bonuses to newly built units. That's pretty cool and can make a major difference in your army strengths.
    Every class has unique world spells that give bonuses to cities, production, armies, etc. Use these as much as possible, but be careful as they cost mana each turn to operate and that will leave you with less mana to use to cast spells in combat.
    In the random map mode you can build your own loot for your army leaders and heroes. This is awesome. I built them gear that amplified their strengths. The best gear is found in random locations throughout the world map, though, and it's best to build strong enough armies early in the game to start raiding these for the rare powerful loot.

    The bad: There can almost be TOO MANY options in combat. I've found that the strategic battle (where you control all of your units) is difficult and very very time consuming. To make matters worse there is no save/load option during these battles. If you make a wrong move, or (god forbid) fail a dominate save and lose a powerful unit or 2 to the enemy, you have no option but surrender and return to the main map and reload. A massive waste of time. The reason too many options can be difficult? You may have a powerful unit selected and plan to target a certain enemy.. oops, they have resistance to your damage type. You rush a unit in an attempt to stun or convert it.. oops they are immune. You melee attack another unit and for some reason they will get more attacks and damage than your attacking unit. The computer knows which enemy to attack every time because in a split second it searched for the foes it can do the most damage to. I have to highlight enemies around the battlefield to see who I can actually damage without doing too much damage to myself. It's a frustrating system.
    How do I work around it. I make sure to attack with more than enough units I need and select AUTO combat everytime. I know that doesn't sound like fun, but it's the best and quickest way to win in a time consuming game. The weirdest thing is.. the part of the game that should be it's biggest draw, it the most confusing and cumbersome. Otherwise, it's a pretty engrossing and original turn based strategy game.
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  10. Sep 17, 2015
    10
    It's difficult to follow up a classic. It always feels like something is lost when a great game from years ago is brought into the modern age. Things get prettier, bigger, and more streamlined, but many times it feels like some essential chemistry is lost. Some of us blame nostalgia, others simply write the developers off as appealing to the largest audience or the lowest commonIt's difficult to follow up a classic. It always feels like something is lost when a great game from years ago is brought into the modern age. Things get prettier, bigger, and more streamlined, but many times it feels like some essential chemistry is lost. Some of us blame nostalgia, others simply write the developers off as appealing to the largest audience or the lowest common denominator. Sequels always lose something.

    Which is why Triumph Studios had no right to produce such a perfect game.

    This is the perfect sparkling bouquet of what made the original great, combined with the streamlined production quality we've come to expect from a quality modern game. It's asymmetrical and unfair in the most balanced ways possible. Whether you're outfitting your heroes or designing your player class, you'll find great satisfaction in trying to break the game. You'll be very good at some things, and very bad at others, but it will always make sense and it will always feel right.

    The unit design deserves special mention. Each unit is deeply well-crafted and unique, even when comparing racial units of the same role. The attention to synergy is unmatched, both between units of the same race and in the way that race and class combine to make a whole. Leveling up often provides interesting new abilities that also tend to synergize, instead of simply providing better stats.

    As it happens sometimes, this game did not release flawlessly. It had its share of errors, but since that time they have been resolved. Understand that many of the other reviews written on here were made before AoW3 reached maturity. That version of the game is not the version that will be remembered, and it is not the version you will get it you decide to play it now.

    This game has a lot of everything, and all of it affects everything else. You'll build cities, research and cast spells, and train units. You'll command armies on the beautiful strategic map, and when you explore dungeons or fight another army, you'll go down to fight on equally beautiful tilesets. Tactical combat is reasonably simple but very deep. This game has not been casualized. The A.I. is maddeningly clever, and you won't take this statement seriously until you've experienced it. You'll fight skirmishes in the woods with bandits, and you'll fight in truly massive sieges to conquer cities. Your heroes will explore dungeons, find and equip items, and lead your armies into battle.

    You will build your strategy, and then get excited about other strategies you think could work. They probably will. Your race, your class, and your specializations all fundamentally change the way you need to approach the game. It takes a long time to bloom into a full understanding of how the various parts of the game work together, but the journey is pleasant, and you can absorb it by playing.

    The campaign probably deserves it's own review. It's gloriously cheesy golden-age high fantasy. The campaign follows branching questlines, so you can end up doing different missions. The base game has two campaigns of eight missions. Eight does not sound like a lot but you can easily spend an entire day playing one mission. They're huge. Think of them more like chapters. The expansion packs can add another two campaigns. There are also a number of scenarios which are like competitive missions for X players. The "real" Age of Wonders though is in the procedurally generated random map mode, where you can fight other players or the AI. There are a huge number of random features on the maps, such as "dwellings" where you can purchase units from a non-player faction like Giants or Pixies. You'll need to play many games before you've seen everything you can find. Also of note, Age of Wonders has an underground map, full of caves, tunnels, and the cities of the Goblins and Dwarves.

    Triumph is confident enough in the mastery of their game to give the player enormous freedoms to explore how to play. Their own mastery is evident in the careful design of how every element acts together. If you find anything this game does interesting, play it for that reason, but be prepared to fall in love with the rest.

    This is what a strategy game should be. 10/10
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  11. Aug 13, 2015
    10
    It took me a while to appreciate AoW3, it can be a bit rough to get started in it. I'm a veteran of turn based strategy games so I usually don't have any problem learning the rules. However, some concepts in AoW3 I a bit unusual (which is good) but it makes the game tough to learn.

    Compounding the problem is that there is no manual for the game. There isn't really a tutorial for the
    It took me a while to appreciate AoW3, it can be a bit rough to get started in it. I'm a veteran of turn based strategy games so I usually don't have any problem learning the rules. However, some concepts in AoW3 I a bit unusual (which is good) but it makes the game tough to learn.

    Compounding the problem is that there is no manual for the game. There isn't really a tutorial for the game either, at least there wasn't when I was learning the game. I ended up learning the rules by reviewing the in game encyclopedia and by watching some gameplay videos.

    I've completed both campaigns that come with the base game, plus the campaign in the first DLC, almost 200 hours of really enjoyable gameplay. City management in the game is simple, which is fine with me, I enjoy the combat more in turn based strategy games. The combat is great, lots of variety, great graphics - wonderful fun. You can have the AI play out the combat for you and it does a reasonable job, but I rarely use this feature because the combat is such great fun.

    Overall, I highly recommend this game. Much more fun than Endless Legend (which was more like Endless boredom to me)
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  12. Jul 28, 2015
    10
    This game is virtually perfect. At first I was kinda disappointed but with the recent patches, and with continued game play where I failed to realize the dept of this game, I am more than impressed; I am in awe. The reasons are (1) depth (2) love (3) flexibility (4) the best UI I ever have seen. (1) Depth: There are so many bazillion ways that units interact, you would need a superThis game is virtually perfect. At first I was kinda disappointed but with the recent patches, and with continued game play where I failed to realize the dept of this game, I am more than impressed; I am in awe. The reasons are (1) depth (2) love (3) flexibility (4) the best UI I ever have seen. (1) Depth: There are so many bazillion ways that units interact, you would need a super computer to keep track. You have race, class, spells, active terrain, items, hero upgrades and experience. So my Evangelist could be totally different from yours; that doesn't even cover the terrain changes you can make to the map or strategy you can follow to win (2) love: they could have shipped the game without all the really nice touches - the way the dragon breathes fire out of its mouth while resting on the map; the reflective water that if you zoom into it, cascades around the rocks foaming, the highly customized sound effects so that when a Eldritch Horror dies it THUMPS to the ground, etc. etc. These designers cared. (3) flexibility: you can play it like fantasy Civ. but if you're like me miss AOW1, you can recreate that experience!! At first I didn't think you could and was very disappointed, but if you turn off city building, and start with few cities you can further customize the map anyway you want. I played with my vision of an old empire in decay (like the Romans) with few roads, few cities, and many ruins to explore. This means cities are few and far between but there are many places to explore and pillage. (4) finally the UI is flawless. One unit could have like 20 buffs and de-buffs - i kid you not. but click it and first of all you can find out what those buffs are and the reason you have them; then over of an enemy and the computer will tell you EVERYTHING. Positive attack factors in green, negative attack factors in red, and your range of damage FOR EACH ATTACK type. WOW. I could go on. And of course there are some flaws, but really nothing worth mentioning. If you like the original AOW or fantasy turn based, this game is a must. I didn't like it first, but now I realize how wrong I was. Expand
  13. Jul 1, 2015
    9
    Signed up to meteoritic just to write a review of this game. My first impressions were mixed. It has kinda a steep learning curve and the in-game instruction is somewhat lacking but once you begin to develop and appreciation for the game mechanics it is truly a fantastic game. I'd definitely put it among the best games of this genre that I have played. It's immersive and played online vs.Signed up to meteoritic just to write a review of this game. My first impressions were mixed. It has kinda a steep learning curve and the in-game instruction is somewhat lacking but once you begin to develop and appreciation for the game mechanics it is truly a fantastic game. I'd definitely put it among the best games of this genre that I have played. It's immersive and played online vs. other humans it's deeply strategic.

    Rated a 9 because I feel there's some small features missing mostly in terms of usability that i've seen in other 4x games but would definitely recommend. Played 300+ hours.
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  14. Jun 21, 2015
    8
    now this is finally a good 4x game
    i dont liked Endless Legend and i dont liked Fallen Enchantress but i cant stop playing this one.
    Its simple but not shallow, its just fun to play
  15. Jun 15, 2015
    8
    I've always enjoyed the Age of Wonders games. AoW III is a quality sequel. Continuing along the lines of the previous iterations, there is a lot of character customization and a wide variety of maps. Definitely worth picking up on a Steam sale if you enjoy games like Heroes of Might and Magic.
  16. May 14, 2015
    10
    From someone new to the series who has never played an Age of Wonders game: I absolutely love this game. It seems really underrated to me but that could be because of differences between this one and the older games, which I've never played.

    The campaigns are really fun; I usually hate campaigns in strategy games but this game actually has really enjoyable campaigns with great voice
    From someone new to the series who has never played an Age of Wonders game: I absolutely love this game. It seems really underrated to me but that could be because of differences between this one and the older games, which I've never played.

    The campaigns are really fun; I usually hate campaigns in strategy games but this game actually has really enjoyable campaigns with great voice acting, fun little storylines and beautiful artwork. It's also quite atmospheric and the music is mostly really nice (a couple of obnoxious songs but many great ones, too).

    AoW 3 is quite charming. I enjoy exploring the map, finding items, and working on building up my hero/leader. The customization for leaders is superb and there are so many different spells, abilities, items, etc. Tactical, turn based combat is amazingly fun. The option to automate it when you don't feel like doing it is also nice. The exploration sites are especially fun because they are usually in unique battlefield locations (castles, dungeons, etc.) and involve 6v6 balanced battles that end up being very well balanced and challenging.

    The game is not without some minor flaws (e.g., tech tree implemented poorly and you can't see the progression, etc.) and city building is so-so, but there aren't any major issues that break the game and overall it's a blast to play. I have so much fun just playing around with all the different classes, spells, etc., finding items, exploring the map, and enjoying the tactical battles.
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  17. May 7, 2015
    9
    The game is under-rated in my opinion. It is difficult to get into, particularly if you played AoW and AoW2 a lo, because it is fairly different and the differences are not too well explained. I love the game, though. The battle animations are great, the races feel very different, and it keeps me thinking about it way too late at night.
  18. Apr 21, 2015
    10
    I love this game and can't recommend it highly enough. The game has been consistently patched and updated by its developers in the year since its release, and many of the "problems" that reviewers found with it initially have been addressed through free patches. I do also highly recommend the expansions, Golden Realms and Eternal Lords, which add new races, classes, units and much more.I love this game and can't recommend it highly enough. The game has been consistently patched and updated by its developers in the year since its release, and many of the "problems" that reviewers found with it initially have been addressed through free patches. I do also highly recommend the expansions, Golden Realms and Eternal Lords, which add new races, classes, units and much more.

    But the base game is a fantastic game. It stays true to the series' roots in a way that usually doesn't happen with sequels anymore. It is fun, it is innovative, it is challenging, it is rewarding. For anyone who is a fan of 4X or TBS games, try Age of Wonders 3.
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  19. Mar 16, 2015
    10
    Aow3 is in my opinion the best turn based game at the moment, i dont consider the game a 4x but it revolves more around the tactical combat stage wich is Amazing! do yourself a favor and dont play in auto combat :P
  20. Feb 17, 2015
    10
    I know just saying that I've played over 600 hours of Age of Wonders III does not clearly indicate the reason for my score. However, it should at least note that there is considerable game play to be had.

    I have tried some of the other 4X games and found their combat to be lacking. To me, this is the largest pro about AoW III. It isn't simply "build the cap unit" and have the computer
    I know just saying that I've played over 600 hours of Age of Wonders III does not clearly indicate the reason for my score. However, it should at least note that there is considerable game play to be had.

    I have tried some of the other 4X games and found their combat to be lacking. To me, this is the largest pro about AoW III. It isn't simply "build the cap unit" and have the computer auto resolve dice rolls. When two opposing units fight, the game switches to a battle board. From there, both sides take turns moving their pieces. All the units have strengths and weaknesses to other types of units in the game. Additionally, mixing units together to form an army stack allows for certain synergies to take place during combat.

    Mind you, yes, this can be both a pro and a con. If you enjoy in depth tactical battles, akin to the early versions of Battle Isle, this game will likely hook you in for hours and hours of game play.

    When creating a leader, you have a choice in class and race. Furthermore, you are able to pick three times from a list of specializations. Each of these brings additional variables to the table. Therefore, there are a considerable number of variations before you even start on a map. The same number of variables apply to your opponents as well. Thus, each game has its own hurdles to over come. Add in a random map generator, and voila - No two games will be identical.

    If you're looking for a TBS with intricate combat, AoW III is definitely the game to pick up.
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  21. Feb 9, 2015
    9
    One of the best 4X games that i have ever played. The atmosphere and the depth of this game is Astonishing. It also got a strong community of dedicated gamers and a great feedback from the developers who actually listens to its fans. If you are into 4x games then this is for you, it will hook you right into its amazing world and never let go.
  22. Feb 7, 2015
    10
    This game really captures the 'just one more turn!'-feeling. It is addicting and the game becomes better with each patch & DLC.

    Pros: - A beautiful strategic map - Combat is fast, brutal and entertaining - It is fun to level your Heroes and Leader; it adds RPG to the game. Also quests that can be gained from independent cities or dwellings add to RPG-feel. - Concept of Race & Class
    This game really captures the 'just one more turn!'-feeling. It is addicting and the game becomes better with each patch & DLC.

    Pros:
    - A beautiful strategic map
    - Combat is fast, brutal and entertaining
    - It is fun to level your Heroes and Leader; it adds RPG to the game. Also quests that can be gained from independent cities or dwellings add to RPG-feel.
    - Concept of Race & Class for your Leader provide much variety in play. For example, you can play as a Orc Sorcerer, Dwarven Warlord, Elven Rogue, Goblin Dreadnought etc.
    - Classes are really different from each other; this applies to gameplay, spells and units. .
    - Nice campaigns with different outcomes
    - A pretty good Random Map generator with tons of options
    - Users make custom scenarios and challenges with Map Editor
    - Great music
    - The developer (Triumph Studios) listens really well to the community; as of patch 1.4 it has fixed (almost) all bugs/issues and in the next patch there will also be much new functionality.

    Cons:
    - In general races could be more varied. The good news is that the Devs are working on this and is expected to improve in the next free patch.
    - Although the idea behind alignment is nice (good/neutral/evil is based on your actions and not on your race choice), it remains a bit shallow imo. But also this will be addressed in next patch, making alignment having more impact.
    - MOD-tools are not released at this moment (feb 2015). They most probably will in the future though.

    Other comments:
    - For new-comers to the game it can be difficult to learn and to master. It is recommended to watch some videos on YouTube if you are new to the Age of Wonder-series. For example: How to play Age of Wonders 3-videos by iHunterKiller.
    - I cannot comment on Multiplayer as I don't have much experience on it.

    Overall I recommend this game to anyone who has an interest in Turn Based Strategy games.
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  23. Feb 2, 2015
    10
    Excellent game that keeps adding new and free content. Great combat mechanics and a good campaign. Tons of different options make me want to start over again and again.
  24. Jan 30, 2015
    10
    Amazing game, you will not regret buying. Anyone considering this should buy because it is a worthy investment both for your money and for your time spent as a gamer on this top quality product/company.
  25. Jan 30, 2015
    10
    I have played Age of wonders from the very beginning. Sadly for several years they did not have anything, but now they brought it back and is better than ever. The story of Athla has been expanded and the game play has been increased to give us a greater experience. Smarter AIs and tougher opponents. The Dev team is even great listening to the players and giving us new stuff to expand the game.
  26. R20
    Jan 30, 2015
    10
    Yes, it is not the most user friendly turn based game on the market, but it is one of the balanced and well developed game. When you get game mechanic you will discover its full potential. This game makes you think and improvise to achieve victory instead of building big army to win by force. Graphic is great and back story of any creature in game make me smile :)
  27. Jan 30, 2015
    10
    Waited for this game almost for 10 years, when it finally came out i was truly surprised. They didn't ruined title like it happened with HMM and Disciples, they actually made it better. Best turn-based combat oriented fantasy strategy of decade IMHO.
  28. Jan 30, 2015
    10
    I've been playing these kinds of strategy games since MoM in the 90's. Age 3 is simply the best one yet. There is a large variety of customization for your start and a lot of different approaches to choose from already, and more content on the way. Balance seems very good, as is the stability. PBEM (play by email) is on the way. The campaigns are long and can be difficult, testing yourI've been playing these kinds of strategy games since MoM in the 90's. Age 3 is simply the best one yet. There is a large variety of customization for your start and a lot of different approaches to choose from already, and more content on the way. Balance seems very good, as is the stability. PBEM (play by email) is on the way. The campaigns are long and can be difficult, testing your strategy (and resolve!). The artwork is also gorgeous. Get this game if you like a more cerebral approach to your gaming. Expand
  29. Jan 30, 2015
    10
    Age of Wonders 3 brings the modest and shy greatness that AoW1 was into the modern world, retaining much of it's old feeling and that of the other prequels, AoW2 and AoW2SM, while sharing some of the best traits with more strongly established franchises and holding a general environment / atmosphere really pleasant to the eye. If you prefer fantasy worlds and a slight touch of RPGAge of Wonders 3 brings the modest and shy greatness that AoW1 was into the modern world, retaining much of it's old feeling and that of the other prequels, AoW2 and AoW2SM, while sharing some of the best traits with more strongly established franchises and holding a general environment / atmosphere really pleasant to the eye. If you prefer fantasy worlds and a slight touch of RPG elements, this will make you forget Civilization. Age of wonders is much less linear, and what it lacks in management complexity, it makes up with more elaborate combat and exploration. Expand
  30. Jan 18, 2015
    10
    One of the best games I've played in ages. There are so many factors that influence strategy; class, specializations, races... Each unit has a whole list of abilities and even after hundreds of hours of gameplay you'll find out synergies and ways to beat your opponents. The game is so deep, I don't think there's a game like it. This game sets a standard on its own, other things aren't evenOne of the best games I've played in ages. There are so many factors that influence strategy; class, specializations, races... Each unit has a whole list of abilities and even after hundreds of hours of gameplay you'll find out synergies and ways to beat your opponents. The game is so deep, I don't think there's a game like it. This game sets a standard on its own, other things aren't even in the same ballgame. It's quite a lot to take in when you're just starting out but it really grows on you, I'm even waiting for the upcoming DLC more than I am waiting for other games to come out.

    Great fantasy aspect, excellent strategy aspect (especially in Multi Player), huge number of variables that influence gameplay making each game feel totally different. There are 6 classes right now and I've been playing the same class over and over again for the last couple of weeks and keep finding out new things or ways to improve my game.

    Don't sleep on this!
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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 35
  2. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Jul 30, 2014
    84
    Age of Wonders III offers a very good option for turn-base strategy fans, continuing successfully the legacy of the series. It offers many hours of play, especially if you want to taste every bit of detail. Some further improvements which would force the player to ponder of his strategy before acting are needed. Nonetheless, Age of Wonders III is an amazing game that will always keep you thinking "one more turn".
  2. CD-Action
    Jun 28, 2014
    95
    There was nothing in the way of Age of Wonders III maintaining the quality level of its predecessors. But that did not happen and instead of another solid title we got a game that will make every armchair strategist cry... tears of joy. [05/2014, p.52]
  3. May 21, 2014
    80
    If you enjoyed the previous Age of Wonders games and you had any reservations about this game, then rest easy – it is a very good one.