Rise of Nations: Extended Edition

23 years later.. as it came out originally in 2003.. and I'm still playing this game.. Thousands of hours of true enjoyment.. Brian Reynolds outdid himself.. From insane balance, satisfying progression, great animations (that hold up today), the music? really? so classic.. I can't say enough about it.. and with mods? creates new experiences.. I'm an avid gamer.. nearly 50 years in.. can't recommend it enough..

I grew up playing this game, and here I am still playing it for 11 years now. GOATED GAME

I was about 9 years old when I used to launch games on Windows XP/7, and Rise of Nations was one of those games that genuinely changed my life. Some games can shape you forever especially when you’re just beginning to explore the world. I’m glad I opened myself up to something new back then. This game, along with a few others, helped me become a more structured and strategic person later in life: learning how to think ahead, earn money, build a reputation, and position myself in society. Back then, things were different. Games could actually develop you, not just push you into repetitive actions. Now it often feels boring to play-AAA companies are mostly trying to squeeze money out of players, while indie developers are the ones still trying to impress. Ironically, many AAA companies built their fortunes on games like Rise of Nations-deep, thoughtful, and made with passion. And now they often follow a path focused purely on monetization. So here’s the point: if you want to understand what a real RTS is, think a little, and still relax-give Rise of Nations a try.

One of my favorite childhood game. Timeless strategy game that's easy to learn but offer plenty of depth. If you like game like cilivisation where you go through the age of history, I strongly recommend this one. Nuking people end game never gets old.

Best RTS game ever made? Maybe. Countless hours on the original CD version of the game. I probably have that lying around somewhere... Works on Linux and Steam Deck after forcing Proton 9.0-4 and manually installing directmusic and directplay through protontricks (you can use the desktop mode of the Steam Deck to download protontricks from the software library IIRC)

The superior Age of Empires that sadly Microsoft abandons

Rise of Nations still remains to be the best RTS game out there. The age progression system has yet to be replicated well in newer games. Its a shame that this IP had been abandoned :(