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Celebrating 25 Years of Age of Wonders!

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HeyTiko

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Today, a quarter-century ago...

The first Age of Wonders game was released! The series began as a dream from a small group of computer science students, driven by the idea to create a strategy role-playing game with the epic scope of the fantasy books we grew up reading. It was a mammoth project for us as inexperienced developers, taking over six years of development - including a full rewrite after we finished our studies and officially founded Triumph Studios. With support from Epic Games, Gathering of Developers, and like-minded young talent, we managed to bring the game from our dorms and bedrooms to a global audience.

We never imagined that this labor of love would still be keeping us busy 25 years later in a drastically changed world. Through each new chapter, Age of Wonders evolved, embracing new technology and, perhaps most importantly, finding a balance between innovation and staying true to the spirit of the original. We achieved this by welcoming fresh talent to the veteran developers and by incorporating invaluable feedback from players like you.

With the 2023 release of Age of Wonders 4 under the Paradox Interactive umbrella, the series reached new heights. We feel that this fourth iteration truly delivers on the original promise of allowing players to role-play as the ruler of a fantasy realm. AoW4 has become the most successful title in the franchise’s history, proving that some dreams only grow stronger with time. We hope to continue supporting it for a long time to come!

To all the incredibly talented developers and publishing partners who poured their skill and creativity into this journey over the years - thank you. And to you, the players - thank you for supporting us, for every conquest, alliance, and story you’ve created within this universe. Without your passion and loyalty, none of this would have been possible.

Here’s to Age of Wonders - may the legacy live on, and may the adventures continue for many years to come!

Lennart Sas – Game Director and Co-Founder Triumph
Arno van Wingerden – Tech Director and Co-Founder Triumph


Anniversary Treats!
  • To celebrate the occasion we organized a series of Giveaways on our Discord server — every couple days you will have a chance to get the legendary Dire Penguin plushie or one of the game keys during this week!
  • We also prepared amazing Ways of War wallpapers for those who appreciate the breathtaking artwork. Download them here!

Follow us and be the first to know when we drop new content!
 
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Triumph has given me the EXACT game that i love to play. And i am forever grateful that a small group of computer science students made this move back in the day.

AoW4 is the BEST 4x game ever in my book. And my favourite game by far.

Onwards to the future!
 
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Congratulations on the anniversary. This series has been with me for half my life now and is filled with so many wonderful memories. The map alone, which I fiddled with again and again for months in AoW 1. I then rebuilt and perfected it in the second part. Somehow AoW is more like a book than a computer game for me.
I still remember the excitement I felt when the option to build cities myself was added in the second part and the province system in Planetfall (the SiFi setting didn't excite me as much, though).
And then last spring I was totally bored of all computer games and genres and thought there had to be something that really captivated me again, so I just googled around without much expectation and thought, “Oh, let's see if there might be a new AoW in the pipeline” and then number 4 was actually announced for May! It also looked as pretty as the previous parts in the first promotional trailers.
And what can I say, I love all the parts, but the fourth one is the best in my opinion. I'm already looking forward to the other DLCs.

(ceterum censeo, I'd like the fifth part to have a map maker as simple as in the first two parts)
 
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I've been play Age of Wonders since the very beginning and each one has raised the bar of the genre. Thank you so much for being students fiddling around with an outlandish idea and bringing it to a fantastic reality. Congrats on the 25th anniversary! I'm certain that your dedication and willingness to always bring in new, young talent will create a brilliant 25 years more.
 
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Happy birthday Triumph/AoW! It has been a blast exploring Athla (and the Star Union) throughout the series. Truly AoW now stands on it own, and has grown into something special. Well done and cheers.
Here's to many more years!
 
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Hoorray Age of Wonders!!! ^^

Though AoW IV may have proven not to be my particular cup of tea, I have thoroughly enjoyed the series over the years, and still think the original game and Shadow Magic are unbeated as an strategic/tactical fantasy adventure game! :)

Long may the IP remain and grow over the years!

Brazilian hugs for Lennart, Arno and RayB, as well as my fellow Heaven Games' players that may be lurking out here. Hope the series can flourish and never forget its roots as it grows!
 
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You went from an interesting alternative to my favourite fantasy strategy games of all time - Heroes of M&M III and Disciples II - to currently my nr 1 favourite ongoing franchise (unfortunetly those two other franchises weren't as lucky to have competent developers like you Guys).

I started with AoW III where I found you introduced some really cool concepts (Leader types, unique races, neutral dwelling system to name a few). Then there was Planetfall which also introduced some cool ideas (interesting take on some sci-fi tropes, mods, secret tech). But I think what made you stand out the most with your current game is the Tome system, customziation possibilities for your "race/faction" concept and the leaps you made in the art department. Not to say your previous games were lacking in some cool stuff (T-rexes with lazers anyone?), but you really nailed on the coolness in how everything looks now - the models, the sites, the overall aesthetics. It's simply a weird nerd like me wet dream and now it also looks cool :D Never have I had so much fun with creating my own factions, my roleplaying fantasies (nothing weird here, simply sth different from your standard human/elf/dwarf/orc fare).

There's probaly no other game out there that let's you play as a Dragon leading Lizardmen, Wolf furries summoning giant spiders or Bird people summoning Eldritch Horrors xD. Plus so many cool fantasy tropes in one place (feudal knights, primal shamans, evil barbarians or Samurai, magitech factions to name a few) . Literally a "fantasy race simulator".

But don't just rest on the laurels - keep on going and keep bringing us fresh ideas, more cool stuff and more things to munch on. And if I could suggest something - keep fleshing out your lore like you did with Planetfall - I understand AoW 4 is supposed to be these canvas to create your own stuff as a player, but you have some cool fluff ideas yourself so it's nice if you flesh it our more?
 
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I still remember the first AoW map I ever played, it was the only map in the demo I had, so I played it over and over again till I finally got the full version. ^-^
 
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KotharTheKotharian said:
I hope we revisit Planet Fall.

I enjoy the 4X games single player only with pre-made scenarios telling a story.
Click to expand...
I rewatched some of the trailers and damn the production value of those was high. I need to revisit this title at some point.

Quest chains and those tidbits of information here and there really build the single player expierience (why is there no unit fluff entires in the Encyclopedia in AoW 4 is beyond me). The overall premise that you are building stuff on remains of a fallen empire enabled some nice setting ideas.

The game also had a lively multiplayer scene so it's not that it was totally singleplayer focused.
 
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Congratulations for this milestone!

For nostalgic reasons I inspected all the physical copies I have of Age of Wonders. On Age of Wonders 1 there is a price-tag of 29,95 Dutch Guilders :D. Those were the days - remembering great user-made maps for AOW1 and mods for Shadow Magic!
Thanks for continued dedication in all these 25 years.

Here’s to Age of Wonders - may the legacy live on, and may the adventures continue for many years to come!
 
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I've been playing Age of Wonders since it's beginning, and enjoyed the hell out of it. I even liked Planetfall. Of all the species I'd love to see make a comeback, the High Men, as they were in Age of Wonders, well, let's just say we haven't seen their like yet. Planetfall almost got there with the Oathbound, and we do have the whole Celestial thing going on, and the High culture, and they kinda get there, but things like the Astral Deva, and the Valkrie, and the Titan, would be *very cool to see*
 
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nvc for the soul said:
Congratulations for this milestone!

For nostalgic reasons I inspected all the physical copies I have of Age of Wonders. On Age of Wonders 1 there is a price-tag of 29,95 Dutch Guilders :D. Those were the days - remembering great user-made maps for AOW1 and mods for Shadow Magic!
Thanks for continued dedication in all these 25 years.

Here’s to Age of Wonders - may the legacy live on, and may the adventures continue for many years to come!
Click to expand...
Speaking of user made maps, that's the one thing I sorely miss. I remember a time when I first went underground and was dazzled by a map creator turning the underground into a brilliant green and lush landscape. And there were various sites besides mana nodes and gold or iron to explore and exploit. It's a fantasy game, and I pine for the ability to create our own maps and to have a fantasy experience when underground. BTW, 29.95 Guilders? How strong was the Guilder back then? When I went to Amsterdam in the early 70's it was something like 4 to the dollar, and I could stay at a small hostel for just 11 Guilder a night, including full American breakfast and free hash at the bar. Those were the days. :cool:
 
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