Best strategy game 2023: Age of Wonders 4

An endless well of strategic possibilities

Pikmin 4 is getting a lot of deserved love at various awards given out this year in the strategy category, but it misses some crucial elements that make it my best strategy game of 2023.

Most critical of all, the Nintendo Switch title doesn’t let me play as cybernetic bird conquistadors that burn down the hostile jungle around them by using giant steam tanks. It also fails to provide me with the option of playing as an ancient dragon whose sole goal in life is to amass wealth, for the purpose of which it cultivated a loyal following of felines – the only other species with as fine a sense for aesthetics as the majestic reptile. Pikmin 4 also doesn’t allow me to throw the world into an eternal winter as my powerful spells rob the populations of entire cities of their souls to add them to my growing undying legions. My choice for best strategy game of 2023, Age of Wonders 4, enables me to do all of that and more.

Endless possibilities await on the other side of this gate :: Triumph Studios / Paradox Interactive

Developed by Triumph Studios and published by Paradox Interactive, Age of Wonders 4 is the heir to a successful series of turn-based 4X strategy games. Combining strategic intricacy with thrilling tactical battles, the bread-and-butter mechanics of this sequel feel familiar to anyone who ever set foot into this genre before and will be simple to pick-up for any newcomers.

What makes Age of Wonders 4 stand out is the massive amount of customization options it has in store for players. Taking a page from the book written by Paradox for Stellaris, Triumph handed users a powerful faction builder that allows them to freely combine traits, cultures, and visuals to create their own dream – or nightmare – fantasy faction, including its legendary leader (for these powerful heroes and villains play a major role in the game, as is tradition in the series).

While some fans may bemoan the loss of elaborately crafted, predetermined factions that come with a vast well of lore to be discovered as they play them, this is – in my view – easily offset by what we’ve gained: the total freedom to handcraft a faction and role-play it just as we want to. There is still a great amount of story and lore to be explored in Age of Wonders 4, since there are some premade factions and a series of narratively-driven campaign matches, providing tales that connect the game to previous entries into the series. You’re simply no longer bound to that. If you so want, you can create your own fantasy world inside of Age of Wonders 4, crafting all the factions inhabiting it, and then run a game with them all to see how things develop. Combined with the tools that generate maps to the specific parameters of your taste, this title provides a huge sandbox for you to play in.

Age of Wonders 4 comes with a powerful faction builder :: Triumph Studios / Paradox Interactive

It’s a formula that has worked out well for Paradox with Stellaris and Crusader Kings 3 and that is becoming more common in the strategy genre – and Triumph Studios nailed it.

That’s only half of what makes Age of Wonders 4 great, of course. All of this freedom has a firm and fantastic foundation: a mechanically satisfying turn-based 4X game. From the moment you strike out from your starting city you’re faced with strategic choices when it comes to expansion, research, and your approach to other factions. You can – should! – inform these decisions with role-play, but it’s perfectly fine to min-max as well. No matter which mechanic we’re talking about, be it the Empire Development, research of Magic Tomes or which structures to build in your cities, you are always at the forefront of meaningful choices that are going to be reflected not just in some numbers under the hood, but visually on the map and in battle as well.

Powerful Race Transformations can change the look and feel of your entire faction. Mighty spells can change the face of entire continents, covering them in eternal ice or creating lush forests. It is a wonderful power fantasy that you have at your fingertips.

Battles can become quite epic affairs :: Triumph Studios / Paradox Interactive

Age of Wonders 4 even satisfies that “gotta catch ‘em all” feeling from Pokémon (I swear I’m not just trying to annoy Nintendo fans) with its variety in available units. One of the best parts of exploring the ancient wonders, which are dungeons of varying difficulty levels found on most maps, is the ability to add some its denizens to your army afterwards through the Rally of the Lieges mechanic. This allows you to hire units from wonders you control as well as from your vassal states, enabling you to recruit from an incredibly deep and fun pool of units outside of what your own culture and tech can offer.

This enhances the battle gameplay, since you’ll be able to experiment with different compositions and can experience the thrill of defeating your enemies with their own weapons sometimes. Add the ability to cast spectacular spells and equip your heroes with some game-changing gear and you’ve got some tactically engaging combat on your hand that will further reinforce your faction’s identity.

Triumph Studios is delivering some very fun DLC content and quite substantial free updates for the game as well, which have already expanded several areas of the game and added exciting toys to the sandbox. It’s a sandbox I know I’ll find myself returning to regularly over the coming years – and it’s worthy of being hailed as the best strategy game of 2023.

Age of Wonders 4 review: a power fantasy with unlimited possibilities