Choose Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
Choose Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 27,761 Steam reviews back the pick.
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition vs Arcane Wilds
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition and Arcane Wilds both land in Strategy on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Strategy games on Steam. Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition (2021) is 3 years older than Arcane Wilds (2024). Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (86.4% positive) than Arcane Wilds (80% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Arcane Wilds
Choose Arcane Wilds if you want an Early Access game with LAN PvP. On Steam, it's currently about 55% cheaper on the Steam Store. Arcane Wilds launched in 2024.
Both Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition and Arcane Wilds sit in Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition |  Arcane Wilds | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy | Strategy, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 17.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 86.4% positive (27,761 reviews) | 80% positive (10 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | World's Edge, Relic Entertainment, Forgotten Empires, Climax Studios | Avancadia |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition (2021) is 3 years older than Arcane Wilds (2024).
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (86.4% positive) than Arcane Wilds (80% positive).
- Arcane Wilds is currently ~55% cheaper on Steam than Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition (17.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Playable.
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition vs Arcane Wilds — FAQ
- Should I play Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition or Arcane Wilds first?
- If you want chronology, Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition (2021) came out before Arcane Wilds (2024). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition and Arcane Wilds similar?
- They overlap on Strategy on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition and Arcane Wilds have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Arcane Wilds ships Online Co-op, Co-op.