Released in 1997 by Ensemble Studios, Age of Empires (or AoE) is a RTS game based on history for Windows 98 and was also ported to Windows Mobile and Macintosh. The player is placed in control of a troup of hunter-gatherers, with the goal to develop an enormous Iron Age Empire. They must gather resources, create units, buildings and research new technologies. The choice consists of twelve unique civilizations.

The game was received well, with reviews being around 80-90% and had won many awards, including Game of The Year and PC Strategy Game of the Year. The reviewers praised the game's unique blend of Warcraft and SimCity.