Summary
Age of Empiresis one of themost legendary RTS seriesof all time, with all of its games being celebrated by the masses as some of the very best in the genre. The first two games are quite famous, with the third game having its fair share of fans, too. After what felt like eons of waiting, the fourth game was released to positive reviews, even if some people felt like it was trying to emulate the success ofAge of Empires 2a bit too much for their liking.
Regardless,Age of Empires 4is a must-play for RTS fans, with its campaign taking on the form of a documentary as players wage historic battles and achieve landmark successes that are huge for their time. Players who want to make this game more enjoyable can do so with a wealth of greatAge of Empires 4mods. These fan-made pieces of content cover numerous verticals and will go a long way in ensuring that most people aren’t fatigued after playing this game for too long.
Updated on May 12, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat:Age of Empires 4 or almost every other RTS game with a skirmish mode provides unlimited hours of fun and playtime aside from the main campaign. However, diversity is something needed at some point, and what could diversify an RTS better than mods?
The good thing about Age of Empires 4 is that the developers have dedicated an exclusive hub for mod creators, allowing them to share their latest ideas with the community, and also letting the players download and install the mods through an easy and safe process.
19Dire Wolves
Subscribers: 29,634
Dire Wolves is a small but impactful mod recommended to players who look for a more challenging and less forgiving nature. The mod specifically focuses on the pack of wolves lurking around the map, making them hard to deal with and giving them more power.
The mod increases the damage output, size, and health bar of the wolves, which means players need stronger units to deal with them, while they will also fight back with deadly attacks. The total appearance of the wolves on the map remains unchanged, though.
18Mountain Pass With Walls
Subscribers: 92,248
Most of theAge of Empires 4modsfeature custom-made maps with unique gimmicks that players can use to make a multiplayer session all the more engaging, and such is the case with this mod, which is pretty self-explanatory. Players who loveusing strategic advantagesto get to an enemy’s base to wreak havoc will love what this mod brings to the table.
Players must use sound strategies to break through the wall that gates the passage to an enemy’s region while ensuring that they don’t get outmaneuvered tactically by other players. It’s easier said than done, and players will likely want to play a few practice games on this map to figure out the best approach before playing a competitive game where they must secure victory at all costs.
17The Tunnel
Subscribers: 56,143
Small passes that narrow down the enemy forces trying to make their way to a base will leave them vulnerable to an enemy counterattack, which is why players should make it a point to prepare beforehand for this contingency before playing on a map that involves such bottlenecks. Such is the case with thisAge of Empires 4mod, where players must work around these claustrophobic areas to secure victory.
Unless players have a massive army that can handle some losses, they should try not to go on the offensive too much while playing on this map. Trying to pass through the tunnel in the middle of the map is akin to a death sentence for unprepared players.Veterans will know what to do, but the tide of battle can still turn against them if they get too overzealous and try to mount an early offense that can’t handle the wealth of losses they’ll incur as they pass through this narrow zone.
16Permanent Bodies
Subscribers: 45,503
Warfare is a huge part ofAge of Empires 4’s gameplay loop. Players will form a ton of armies and watch these units go down by the dozen as they strive to conquer bases and take out opposing forces. While the bodies of their fallen soldiers stay on the map for a while, they eventually fade away to not clutter up the map and make it easier to visually discern what’s happening. It’s a smart solution, but some players may want to see the aftermath of the carnage they’ve induced on the map.
ThisAge of Empires 4modhelps facilitate the same, ensuring that bodies remain on the map permanently no matter how much time has passed. It’s a sobering way to show the sheer number of losses that have been incurred in a game, especially if these skirmishes have been going on for so long that the entire map is littered with bodies.
15The Lord Of The Rings Middle Earth Map
Subscribers: 88,468
The Lord of the Ringsis one ofthe most famous IPs around, and it’s easy to see why so many people love the adventures of Sam, Frodo, and the others as they strive to throw the One Ring into Mordor and end Sauron’s reign of tyranny once and for all. WhileAge of Empires 4may not have the fantasy gameplay people would expect from aLord of the Ringsgame, this doesn’t mean that players can’t pay homage to this beloved fantasy series in their own way.
There are many greatAge of Empiresfan-made maps that allow players to have a fun time setting up skirmishes and trying their hardest to develop their economy and take out their enemies in no time. One such mod replicates the environment ofLord of the Rings, making for a great time as players try their hardest to establish dominance on a map that will invoke some great memories.
14Great Wall Of China
Subscribers: 17,985
For any player looking to challenge themselves in a game of siege, the Great Wall of China is an amazing mod to try out with a little bit of historical authenticity. The map puts the player in a 1v7 scenario, where the player takes the role of the Chinese empire, with a long, sturdy wall protecting it from threats and an abundance of resources available.
On the other hand, seven allied enemies prepare to take over the player’s territory while dealing with the lack of resources. This is also a great mod to play with friends, training some siege tactics to destroy the Great Wall, if possible!
13AoE Battlegrounds
Subscribers: 63,900
Some people may feel thatAge of Empires 4features gameplay that can be a bit too rigid for their liking. While the reasoning behind this sentiment is understandable, there are still some ways these people can enable fresh and unique gameplay loops for their titles. One great way for players to enjoyAge of Empires 4in a different way is to check out the AoE Battlegrounds mod.
This mod is inspired by Hearthstone’s Battlegrounds and StarCraft’s Tavern Battle Mode, making it the perfect mod for players who want to check out something different and engaging.Age of Empires 4wears its inspirations a bit too much on its sleeve at times, so any mod that helps take both the game and players out of this comfort zone is much appreciated.
12Battleground
Subscribers: 45,366
Featuring an area with plentiful resources and a mountain pass that’s hard to navigate, Battleground is a great mod for players to check out if they want to enjoy fun 1v1 and 2v2 gameplay sessions. Navigating troops is easier said than done on this map, and players must employ every strategy in their arsenal to come out victorious.
11World Map
Subscribers: 24,311
This is one of those maps that has proven to be quite entertaining in its utmost simplicity! As the name implies, the mod brings the map of the world with all its continents to the game on a smaller scale and turns it into a battleground between the nations ofAge of Empires 4.
Despite being a replica of the world’s map, the design and the distribution of resources on the World Map mod have been handled excellently to deliver a balanced experience for every part of the map with reasonable challenges to deal with. The map even features the frozen lands of antarctica, which comes with more challenges in finding resources.
10Gulch
Subscribers: 71,393
The fact that the developers themselves release mods for players to check out in the game is a testament to how well they understand the title’s passionate community. Most of these mods may be custom maps, but fans won’t have any issues with that. After all, the base game maps have probably been played to death by veterans, so playing through carefully curated maps made by other people familiar with the gameplay loop ofAge of Empires 4is pretty appealing.
The Gulch is a tactical map that requires players to be smart about how they go about with their plans for conquest. The river in the center is what makes or breaks the game, and any player who establishes control on this part of the map will almost guarantee their win. It’s a greatAge of Empires 4modfor players looking for a unique competitive map to play in.
