Gameplay: 1 out of 10
Campaigns: Totally Sucks
I play Age of Empires IV exclusively against the AI. I have no interest in competitive multiplayer, ranked matches, or esports. For me, this game is a way to relax after work, enjoy a peaceful evening, think through my strategies, and simply have fun. That's why the lack of a proper pause feature in single-player is one of the most baffling and frustrating design decisions in the game.
I've never understood why, in a match where there are no human opponents, I can't pause the game and calmly issue orders. The AI won't get upset, it won't gain an unfair advantage, and it certainly won't mind waiting. I'm playing alone, so the only person's experience affected by this decision is mine.
Real-time strategy games involve an incredible amount of multitasking. You have to manage your economy, train villagers, produce military units, scout the map, defend multiple fronts, use unit abilities, expand your base, and constantly react to enemy attacks. As the match progresses, the workload increases dramatically. Sometimes you need to make several important decisions at the same time, and without the ability to pause, what should be an enjoyable strategy game turns into unnecessary stress.
I want to win because I made better strategic decisions, not because I can click faster than everyone else. Strategy games have always been about planning, decision-making, and tactical thinking. Without a pause feature, many interesting strategies become impractical simply because there's no time to execute them properly. Instead of thinking ahead, you're forced to rush every decision.
There are also everyday situations that every player experiences. Someone rings the doorbell. Your phone starts ringing. A family member needs your attention. You want to grab a drink or simply take a short break. In almost every single-player game, you just press Pause and continue when you're ready. In Age of Empires IV, however, you're forced to either let your army die and lose the match or quit the game entirely. That makes no sense in a single-player mode against AI opponents.
What's even stranger is that many classic RTS games already solved this problem years ago. Age of Empires II allows you to pause the game whenever you want. Many modern strategy games even include an Active Pause feature, letting players issue commands while the game is paused before resuming. It's a simple, convenient feature that doesn't affect players who choose not to use it.
Some people argue that the lack of pause makes the game more intense. That may be true in multiplayer, where everyone competes under the same conditions. But why force that philosophy on players who never touch multiplayer? Players should be free to choose how they want to enjoy a single-player experience.
Not everyone has the same reaction speed. Some players are older, some have physical limitations, and many simply prefer a slower, more thoughtful style of play. Games should be as accessible as possible instead of artificially punishing players who want to enjoy strategy at their own pace.
The most frustrating part is that adding a proper pause feature wouldn't affect game balance at all. Simply make it available only in single-player matches against the AI and disable it in multiplayer. Everyone wins. Competitive players keep their uninterrupted real-time experience, while single-player fans finally get the relaxing and thoughtful gameplay they're looking for.
Campaigns:
Another major disappointment is the campaign. In my opinion, Age of Empires IV has some of the most boring campaigns I have ever played in a strategy game.
A good RTS campaign should make you feel like you are experiencing an epic historical story. It should introduce interesting characters, create memorable battles, give you unique objectives, and make you want to continue playing to see what happens next. Unfortunately, the campaigns in Age of Empires IV often feel more like a collection of basic missions connected by short documentary videos rather than a truly engaging adventure.
The biggest problem is that many missions lack creativity and variety. Too often, the gameplay comes down to the same repetitive formula: build your base, gather resources, create an army, and destroy the enemy. There are very few moments that make you think, "This is something I have never done before." Instead of feeling like a historical journey, many missions feel like ordinary skirmishes against the AI with a different map.
The documentary videos are an interesting idea, but they cannot replace a real story. A strategy campaign needs emotional investment. Players should care about the people, the conflicts, and the events they are experiencing. Older games in the series managed to create memorable campaigns because they focused on characters and dramatic moments. Age of Empires IV often feels too distant and cold, like watching a history lesson rather than participating in history.
Another problem is that the campaigns do not make enough use of the unique abilities and mechanics of each civilization. A campaign is the perfect place to show players why each civilization is special, but many missions do not fully take advantage of that opportunity. They could have created unique scenarios with different goals, special challenges, and more interesting gameplay situations.
For a game focused on history, the campaigns should be the place where Age of Empires IV shines the most. Instead, they are one of the weakest parts of the experience. After finishing some missions, I did not feel excitement or satisfaction — I mostly felt relief that they were over.
A great strategy game should make you remember its campaigns years later. Unfortunately, most of the Age of Empires IV campaigns are not memorable. They feel safe, repetitive, and lacking in imagination. This is especially disappointing because the game has such a strong foundation and could have delivered something truly special.
