The units must fight and explore the fog around them. Players begin with a city and a few units. Once the customization is done and the first turn begins, how the game is played is familiar due to similarities of recent games like Civilization 6 or Humankind. From the traditional Human Empire that focused on faith to a group of Magical Moles that used teleport magic, I was constantly building and playing wacky combinations that were fun in theory and then even more interesting to play with. The race modifiers and magic tomes will set the tone for the game, and I have already had a blast with the customization and have made quite a few factions and enjoyed each immensely. There are so many customizable options to create unique games, with the freedom to create realms, races, leaders, pick magic tomes and regalia to match or tear down fantasy tropes.

Make a race of Wizard Orcs, Underground dwelling Dark Elves, or Evil Necromancer Halflings on a realm of your choosing or creation. Many narrative events will come, but there is no objective besides the various win conditions so players can feel free to enjoy this wacky game however they like. Instead of following the story, you’re fully in charge of it. Playing a standard or custom realm is basically the same, but with less guidance via narrative events. The story realms are a fairly enjoyable experience, with plenty of guidance for newer gamers and a throughline between the realms that keeps the player engaged in creating their own factions journey. Story realms are 5 realms that follow a singular storyline, set upon the backdrop of war between ancient Wizard Kings returning to take control of different races and Champions of the respective races rising to fight back. Upon launching into the first game, players are presented with a series of realms. Triumph Studio and Paradox Interactive’s latest title changes the formulae with magic, incredible creatures, and highly customizable races and maps to create narrative chains that feel unique for each player. Age of Wonders 4 is a turn-based civilization builder, utilizing a hex grid, resources, and stacks of units for laying waste to other civilizations.

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