Age of Empires II: The Conquerors vs Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Age of Empires II: The Conquerors is the acclaimed expansion to the classic real‑time strategy masterpiece, adding five new civilizations, new campaigns, and a wealth of gameplay refinements. It builds on the solid foundation of the original, delivering deeper strategic options and richer historical scenarios for both solo and multiplayer experiences.
Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome is the acclaimed expansion to the classic real‑time strategy classic, adding new civilizations, units, and technologies set in the ancient world. Players command Romans, Greeks, Carthaginians, and more, mastering resource management, tactical combat, and empire building across single‑player campaigns and multiplayer battles. The expansion refines the original engine with improved AI, balanced gameplay, and richer historical scenarios, delivering a deeper and more immersive RTS experience for both veterans and newcomers.
- Rich addition of new civilizations
- Deep strategic depth
- Strong multiplayer community
- Extensive modding tools
- Rich historical content
- Diverse civilizations with unique units
- Improved AI over the base game
- Strong multiplayer community
- Graphics are dated compared to modern RTS titles
- AI can still be predictable on higher difficulties
- Limited native support for newer operating systems without patches
- Graphics are dated by modern standards
- Limited to PC platform
- Campaign length can feel short for some players
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth are classic RTS titles with strong multiplayer, but Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome offers a focused Roman campaign and slightly lower price, while The Conquerors adds more civilizations and HD graphics upgrades.
Key differences
- •Rise of Rome adds four specific ancient civilizations (Romans, Greeks, Carthaginians, Persians) versus Conquerors' five varied civilizations.
- •Conquerors includes HD graphics and widescreen support; Rise of Rome only mentions enhanced graphics without HD.
- •Rise of Rome costs $49.99, Conquerors $39.99, making Conquerors cheaper.
- •Conquerors provides three extensive historical campaigns; Rise of Rome offers a single comprehensive Roman campaign.
- •Both have scenario editors, but Conquerors emphasizes a robust map editor for custom scenarios.
Pricing & value
Conquerors is $10 cheaper ($39.99 vs $49.99) while offering more civilizations and campaigns.
Gameplay & fun factor
Both feature revised AI, deep tech trees, and multiplayer for up to eight players; neither is clearly superior.
Platform availability
Both are PC‑only; no difference, but Rise of Rome explicitly listed as PC only.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Both support single‑player and multiplayer up to eight players with competitive and cooperative modes.
Content & replayability
Conquerors adds three campaigns and five new civs versus Rise of Rome's single Roman campaign and four civs.
Difficulty & accessibility
Rise of Rome mentions a revised AI for more realistic opponents; Conquerors notes AI can be predictable at high levels.
Graphics & performance
Conquerors offers HD graphics and widescreen support; Rise of Rome only notes enhanced graphics, dated by modern standards.
Choose Age of Empires II: The Conquerors if…
Players seeking more civilizations, HD graphics, and lower price with broader campaign content.
Choose Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome if…
Players who prioritize a dedicated Roman campaign and prefer the original 1998 experience.
Common questions
Which game is cheaper?
Age of Empires II: The Conquerors costs $39.99, while Rise of Rome costs $49.99.
Do both support multiplayer for up to eight players?
Yes, each title includes multiplayer mode supporting up to eight players in competitive and cooperative matches.
Is there a difference in graphics quality?
Conquerors provides HD graphics and widescreen support; Rise of Rome has enhanced graphics but is considered dated.