NEW AGE

The Mongols were a fascinating civilisation, spreading in all directions from the barren plains of the Steppe in a dust cloud of horses, yurt encampments, and a whole lot of pillaging. Yes, the Mongols killed an unthinkable number of people, but they were also brutal pragmatists who would much rather their enemies capitulate so they could recruit their finest generals, thinkers and troops to their cause. And if you refuse to surrender? Well, don’t say they didn’t warn you…

This meant that by the late 13th century, with much of the world from China to Hungary under its control, the Mongol empire was incredibly diverse – religious freedom, a super-squad of international generals, and prestigious scientific institutions that attracted scholars from Persia, China, even Greece.

Beyond Genghis Khan’s marauding years, the Mongol empire became so vast and varied that it doesn’t easily fit the traditional Age of Empires mould of distinct civilisations with their clearly defined traits and tropes. I sat down to chat with Relic about the Mongols in Age of Empires IV. Unsurprisingly, they’re probably the most leftfield civ in the game, but they also encapsulate Relic’s philosophy to make the the most asymmetrical – and tactically deep – Age of Empires game to date.

There will be four campaigns in – English, French, Mongol, and Rus – divided into 35 missions. What’s interesting is that