Age of Empires

Ensemble Studios' seminal real-time strategy game plunged players into ancient history, letting them guide a civilization from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. Released in 1997, it became an instant classic with its elegant resource management, deep tech trees, and a multiplayer scene that kept the Microsoft Gaming Zone packed with thousands of players at any hour. The original's balance and strategic depth spawned a massive fan community and set the stage for a series that would define the genre.