Are you an Age of Empires fan searching for the best mobile alternatives to build empires and strategize battles on the go?
DomiNations, Rise of Kingdoms, and The Battle of Polytopia are among the best games to bring Age of Empires’ excitement right to your phone. Each game provides unique twists on the empire-building genre, offering engaging gameplay, historical strategy, and multiplayer modes optimized for mobile.
In this article, we’ll explore the best alternatives to Age of Empires for mobile, breaking down their features, gameplay style, and what makes them a standout choice for RTS (real-time strategy) fans.
What Makes a Great Age of Empires Alternative on Mobile?
To replicate the thrilling gameplay of Age of Empires, these mobile games emphasize resource management, civilization growth, and historical or strategic combat. An ideal alternative should provide smooth touch controls, short session options for mobile, and the ability to engage with a community of players through alliances and multiplayer options.
DomiNations
DomiNations is an excellent Age of Empires alternative, especially for those who love advancing through historical ages. Created by Big Huge Games, DomiNations challenges players to lead their nation from the Stone Age to the Space Age. The game allows you to choose between nations like the British, Greeks, and Japanese, each with unique strengths.
You’ll focus on expanding your economy, managing resources, and protecting your territory through three main building types: Defense, Economy, and Army. This setup makes DomiNations a great mobile option for players who enjoy diverse, customizable gameplay.
Rise of Kingdoms
Rise of Kingdoms brings real-time battle strategy, alliance-building, and a massive world map for exploration right to your phone. In this game, you can choose one of 13 civilizations, each with distinct leaders, special units, and unique abilities. The game’s expansive map and territory management are standout features that make it one of the closest mobile experiences to Age of Empires.
With detailed control over units during battles, you can strategize in real-time and even join alliances for support in global battles.
The Battle of Polytopia
The Battle of Polytopia is a vibrant, turn-based strategy game perfect for quick gaming sessions. The game has a unique low-poly art style, making it easy to navigate on mobile screens, and offers different tribes to play, each with specific abilities and advantages. It’s especially ideal for fans of Age of Empires who prefer a lighter, more colorful take on the classic RTS formula.
Polytopia offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, letting you conquer territories or face off against friends in a simplified yet deeply strategic environment.
Empire: Four Kingdoms
For fans who enjoy castle-building, medieval Warfare, and PvP battles, Empire: Four Kingdoms is an excellent choice. This game involves building your empire from the ground up, raising armies, forming alliances, and defending your kingdom. The game’s emphasis on real-time multiplayer elements allows for engaging player-versus-player battles, and its medieval theme will feel familiar to Age of Empires enthusiasts.
The freemium model lets you play for free, with options for in-app purchases to enhance gameplay.
Clash of Clans
Although different in style, Clash of Clans shares the Age of Empires’ focus on base-building, resource management, and strategic defense. You’ll build and upgrade your village, defend against attacks, and join clans for large-scale clan wars. This highly social game offers an engaging take on the empire-building genre with quick actions and regular updates to keep gameplay fresh.
Clash of Clans is ideal if you’re looking for a more compact, action-based version of a strategy game.
Rusted Warfare
Inspired by classic RTS games, Rusted Warfare offers tactical combat in a simple, mobile-friendly interface. Players engage in quick, action-heavy battles with streamlined controls that work well on touchscreens. If you enjoy military-based RTS games, Rusted Warfare’s fast-paced gameplay is worth exploring.
The game’s focus on combat mechanics over civilization growth makes it a unique alternative that is more focused on real-time military strategy.
Why Choose Mobile Strategy Games?
Mobile strategy games offer convenience, flexibility, and shorter play sessions, making them ideal for on-the-go gaming. These games have been optimized for touch-based gameplay and offer free or freemium models, which allow you to explore different games without immediate investment. Plus, with frequent updates and social elements, mobile RTS games are increasingly popular among Age of Empires fans.
Conclusion
If you’re missing the immersive empire-building of Age of Empires, try these mobile alternatives to get your fix. Each game brings something unique to the table, from historical progression in DomiNations and Rise of Kingdoms to casual, turn-based fun with The Battle of Polytopia.