Parents' Guide to Age of Empires III

Game Windows 2006
Age of Empires III Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Jeremy Gieske , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

New World RTS battles sport gorgeous visuals.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

age 10+

Based on 14 kid reviews

Kids say this game is a great strategy-based experience that encourages critical thinking and planning, making it suitable for mature children, though parents should be aware of its violent themes and messages surrounding conquest. Many reviewers praise its engaging gameplay and historical context, but note that the campaign can be easy and online interactions may pose risks due to unmoderated chats.

  • strategy based
  • suitable for mature children
  • engaging gameplay
  • violent themes
  • easy campaign
Summarized with AI

What's It About?

AGE OF EMPIRES III (AOE III), part of the popular Microsoft-powered Real-Time-Strategy (RTS) game series, places players in the New World, with European civilizations and native cultures fighting for supremacy in the Americas. The focus, as before, is on resource-gathering and building a balanced fighting force to attack enemy bases. However, to get a leg up, players can now make use of a home city that can send extra resources and assistance. AOE III also introduces a well-rounded campaign mode that has players following the legend of the fictional Black family.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say ( 14 ):

Technically the game is a masterpiece. Outstanding graphics and sound help immerse the player in the Florida Everglades, the jungles of South America, and the plains of the American West. Battles are complete with jubilant cheers from the victorious troops when a skirmish is won, and the soundtrack is a perfect match.

The game does, naturally, contain a large number of battles, with some blood and explosions present. Also, although the game does have some historical facts (helped a great deal by the well-designed in-game encyclopedia), there is a lot of fiction mixed in. Indeed, this version is the least historically accurate of the three games. Definitely entertaining, even slightly educational, AOE III is a worthy successor to the previous AOE games.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the quality of graphics can influence a game's popularity and success. Why are the visuals so important? What makes the visuals in this game stand out? If you have other games in the series, how are those games different? How are they similar?

Game Details

  • Platform : Windows
  • Pricing structure :
  • Available online? : Available online
  • Publisher : Microsoft
  • Release date : October 9, 2006
  • Genre : Real-Time Strategy (RTS)
  • ESRB rating : T for blood and violence
  • Last updated : October 9, 2025

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