History and legend collide as Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition expands into one of China’s most iconic historical periods.
The Three Kingdoms expansion is now here, bringing five new civilisations, three sweeping campaigns, and a host of new units and features to the classic real-time strategy game on Xbox and PC.
Five New Civilisations Enter the Fray
Priced at £14.99, this substantial expansion introduces five distinct civilisations, allowing players to command legendary forces from the Three Kingdoms era and beyond:
- Shu: Follow Liu Bei’s dream of restoring the Han dynasty. Field the White Feather Guard infantry who slow enemies and the bolt-firing War Chariot.
- Wei: Step into the boots of the ambitious Cao Cao, utilizing powerful cavalry. Command the Tiger Cavalry which levels up with kills, and the arrow-storming Xianbei Raider cavalry archer.
- Wu: Lead the Sun Clan to southern supremacy through infantry and naval might. Deploy Fire Archers with incendiary arrows and heavily protected Jian Swordsmen.
- Jurchens: Hailing from northeast China, command the Great Jin dynasty’s hunters, Iron Pagoda heavy cavalry (which can block melee attacks), and bomb-throwing Grenadiers.
- Khitans: Relive the glory of the Liao dynasty with mobile hordes. Unleash the Liao Dao infantry causing lasting damage and the unique camel-mounted Mounted Trebuchet. Khitans also gather food from Pastures, tended by two Villagers instead of one farm per Villager.
New Units & Technologies Enrich the Battlefield
Beyond the new civilisations, The Three Kingdoms expansion adds several new units and unit lines shared across various civs for greater historical immersion:
- Hei Guang Cavalry: Replaces the Knight-line for Shu, Wei, and Wu.
- Traction Trebuchets: Mobile, long-range siege for Shu, Wei, and Wu.
- Lou Chuans: Floating naval fortresses available to Chinese, Jurchens, Shu, Wei, and Wu.
- Fire Lancers: Spear infantry with an occasional explosive ranged attack (Chinese, Jurchens, Khitans, Koreans, Vietnamese).
- Rocket Carts: Replaces Mangonels with incendiary rockets (Chinese, Jurchens, Khitans, Koreans).
- Dragon Ships: The ultimate Fire Ship, exclusive to the Chinese.
Three Epic New Campaigns
Experience the Romance of the Three Kingdoms firsthand through three fully-voiced campaigns, each offering unique perspectives and gameplay features:
- Liu Bei (Shu): Fight alongside sworn brothers to restore the Han dynasty against Cao Cao.
- Cao Cao (Wei): Scheme and conquer as you rise from cavalry commander to the power behind the throne.
- The Sun Clan (Wu): Avenge your father’s murder and carve out a kingdom in southern China.
Across these campaigns, players will: relive famous events like the Battle of Red Cliffs; encounter legendary figures like Lü Bu and Zhuge Liang; unleash powerful Heroic abilities; train heroes in the new Hall of Heroes building; make impactful decisions through an interactive system; choose new difficulty levels (Easiest & Legendary); and enjoy enhanced atmospheric visuals.
A True Classic, Expanded Further
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition remains a titan of the RTS genre, and expansions like The Three Kingdoms continue to add incredible value and variety.
As we noted in our 4.5/5 review of the Definitive Edition base game: “It’s not necessarily what’s been done to the game which makes it so good, but how it highlights the genius of the original… Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition brings a true classic back for a new generation. Whether you are a die hard strategy fan or first time invader, there is no better place to start.“
This expansion offers a deep dive into a fascinating historical period with new ways to play for veterans and newcomers alike.
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition – The Three Kingdoms is available now as long as you have the base game in place. Just head to the Xbox Store. The game is playable on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC, through Game Pass if you like.
