Age of Empires II: Age of Kings (Windows, Mac)

AGE OF EMPIRES II: THE AGE OF KINGS is a historically based, real-time strategy (RTS) game that allows players to found and build up one of 13 civilizations, such as the Celts, Franks, or Chinese. Players must balance exploration, economic, and building needs and battle in order to succeed in this game.

As an RTS game, the play is continuous: Both the player and opponents are active at the same time. Each civilization has special abilities, units, and heroes (historical figures including Genghis Khan and Joan of Arc). Players must gather resources and construct buildings to expand the civilization and develop more advanced units.

The game offers hours of play, challenging computer artificial intelligence, and the ability to play against friends on other computers. Although the game involves military conquest, it is offered in a historical context and is not explicit. It is an excellent entertainment value. It requires complex thought about economics and strategy rather than simple action and reaction, and it makes an effort to educate about the civilizations and time periods it covers.