Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition vs Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition wins 10 of 14 head-to-head metrics. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is $11.39 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition | Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Worth It × Worth It | 70 | 71 |
| Quality | 81 | 84 |
| Value | 74 | 72 |
| Popularity | 38 | 42 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $4.85 | $16.24 |
| Steam Review Score | 85% positive | 85.9% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 3.6K | 8.2K |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
GAMIVO Cheapest Key marketplace$4.85−86%Buy 
Green Man Gaming Authorized reseller$19.99−43%Buy 
Loaded Authorized reseller$28.99−17%Buy Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
Kinguin Cheapest Key marketplace$16.24−59%Buy Loaded Authorized reseller$32.99−18%Buy Green Man Gaming Authorized reseller$39.99Buy Side by side over time
Age of Empires III: Definitive EditionAge of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
Details and requirements
| Item | Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition | Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | October 15, 2020 | October 28, 2021 |
| Developers | World's Edge, Forgotten Empires | World's Edge, Relic Entertainment |
| Publishers | Xbox Game Studios | Xbox Game Studios |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| OS (minimum) | Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher | Windows 10 64bit | Windows 11 64bit |
| Processor (minimum) | Intel i5-3300 @ 3.0GHz or AMD FX-8350 or equivalent with an average CPU Passmark score of 4100 or better | 3.6 GHz 6-core (Intel i5) or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 | CPU with AVX support required |
| Memory (minimum) | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | GeForce GTX 980 or Radeon R9 Fury or equivalent with an average Passmark G3D Mark of 9500 or better @1080p | Nvidia GeForce 970 GPU or AMD Radeon RX 570 GPU with 4GB of VRAM |
| DirectX (minimum) | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Network (minimum) | Broadband Internet connection | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition or Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition?
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition won the comparison against Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition worth buying over Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition?
Based on the metrics, Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 12:16 PM UTC