Summary

  • Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition offers various mods for fresh gameplay and challenges.
  • Regicide Diplomacy Map Bundle adds custom maps for regicide game mode, while Gerudo Bandits RPG introduces an RPG-like experience.
  • Full Invasion turns the game into a tower defense game, and Defensive Empire balances civilizations for better empire defense.

Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition is a grand strategy game, that also manages to incorporate real-time strategy aspects, into a seamless experience. The game is noted for its complexity, and the fact that it has several different gameplay modes. The game had a fairly active modding community in its day, and many of these mods are still worth trying out.

Age Of Empires 2 Definitive Edition Best Civs For Beginners
Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition - Best Civilizations For Beginners

Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition features so many civilizations that it can be difficult for beginners to know where to get started.

Even the most committed fan eventually completes every challenge, and begins to tire of a game. This is where great mods can be a way to add fresh new gameplay and additional challenges to a game. Age Of Empires 2 has some great mods, some of which entirely transform the base strategy game.

6 Regicide Diplomacy Map Bundle

Massive Map Pack

Regicide Diplomacy Map Bundle Mod For Age Of Empires 2

This isn’t a complex mod, adding or modifying the Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition gameplay in some way. What it is, is a large pack of custom-made maps that are designed to be used in conjunction with the regicide game mode.

Age-Of-Empires-2-10-Hardest-Campaign-Missions-B
Age Of Empires 2: 10 Hardest Campaign Missions

Age Of Empires 2 is one of the most difficult games of its kind, and its campaign missions are a big part of that challenge.

In regicide game mode, each player has a special unit, the King. The task is to firstly, keep the King alive, and secondly, kill the King of every other faction. This can be a brutal, often hilarious gameplay mode, and these high-quality maps are specially designed to make the game more fun.

5 Gerudo Bandits RPG

Adds An RPG Like Challenge

Gerudo Bandits RPG Mod For Age Of Empires 2

This mod is pretty unique, as it introduces an interesting, RPG-like gaming experience to this grand strategy game. The story revolves around El Cid and his group of Gerudo Bandits, who are hell-bent on conquering the Western world.

The mod adds a completely new upgrade path for 13 of the factions in the original game, and each of these factions is also given its own, unique hero unit based on the history and culture of the faction. The player takes control of one of these updated factions, and prepares to repel El Cid and his hordes.

4 Full Invasion

Conflict On A Grand Scale

Full Invasion Mod For Age Of Empires 2

Some players revel in chaotic, map-wide conflicts in grand strategy games such as Age Of Empires 2. This mod is aimed squarely at these kinds of players. In effect, the mod turns this strategy game into a tower defense game.

The player will be attacked by wave upon wave of enemy units that they will have to defend against. The longer the game goes on, the more powerful and frequent these attacks will become. Careful resource management and tactical use of limited units are absolutely vital to survival. This is a fantastic mod that adds a new twist to an already great game.

3 Defensive Empire

Defensive Empire Mod For Age Of Empires 2

This mod attempts to balance civilizations a little better than they are in the original game. The goal is to change gameplay so that a small group of units can no longer destroy an undefended but high-level base. This is done by modifying unit stats.

Featured - Age of Empires 2 Tips on Defeating Extreme AI
Age Of Empires 2: Tips For Defeating The "Extreme" AI Difficulty

The Extreme AI setting in Age of Empires 2 can push players to their limits. However, these tips can help even the odds.

Furthermore, certain defensive structures have been tweaked in this mod. Towers now have an upgrade path, and both castles and wonders are not stronger. Overall, this is a good mod for Age Of Empires 2 if a player is struggling to defend their civilization against much stronger enemies.

2 Eight Kingdoms Diplomacy

A Completely New Game Mode

Eight Kingdoms Diplomacy Mod For Age Of Empires 2

For players who have tired of the standard gameplay modes available in Age Of Empires 2, this mod could breathe new life into the title. It adds an intriguing new game mode, that presents its own set of unique challenges.

The Eight Kingdoms Diplomacy mod, sets up a conflict between just 8 kingdoms on a custom game map. Each kingdom has a King or Queen that must be protected, as they cannot be replaced. Certain kingdoms are prevented from allying with certain other factions, due to role-playing considerations, which adds to the spice. Overall, a great addition to the Age Of Empires 2 modding scene.

1 Tower Defense Citadel

Completely Changes The Gameplay

Tower Defense Citadel Mod For Age Of Empires 2

Some mods for a game simply tweak some settings. Other mods add new maps or game features. And then some other mods, are truly transformational. The Tower Defense Citadel mod for Age Of Empires 2 is such a mod. It takes a strategy game, and turns it into a fun tower defense game.

A tri-split of archers, gold mines and farms in Age Of Empires 2
Age Of Empires 2: Best Technologies To Unlock First

Players will want to know which Age of Empires technology is the best to unlock first if they are to grow in power.

The mod does several things to accomplish this sweeping change to the game. Firstly, resource gathering, resource production, and unit training are all ten times faster. Next, hero units have been given upgrades, and can also have additional levels. Lastly, a range of towers and other defenses have been added, that the player can use to set up their defenses. Overall, this mod does a good job, although it can be a little quirky, but this is unsurprising considering its scope.

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Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition Tag Page Cover Art
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition
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Released
November 14, 2019
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition celebrates the 20th anniversary of one of the most popular strategy games ever, now with stunning 4K Ultra HD graphics, and a fully remastered soundtrack. Age of Empires II: DE features “The Last Khans” with 3 new campaigns and 4 new Civilizations. Frequent updates include events, additional content, new game modes, and enhanced features with the recent addition of Co-Op mode!

Explore all the original Campaigns and the best-selling expansions like never before. With over 200 hours of gameplay and 1,000 years of human history, improved experiences await. Head online to challenge other players in your quest for world domination with 35 different Civilizations. You can also experience new Civilizations and Campaigns with the Lords of the West DLC! Recent updates include a Battle Royale game mode, ongoing support for the Scenario Editor, Quick Play for easy social games, enhancements to the game UI, and more!

Choose your path to greatness with an eye-catching and engaging remaster to one of the most beloved strategy games of all time.
 

Developer
Forgotten Empires, Tantalus, Wicked Witch
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy