About Age of Empires
Age of Empires is a real-time strategy game based on the ancient world. Ensemble Studios developed it and Microsoft published it, with the North American release on October 13, 1997 and the UK release ten days later. Bruce Shelley directed it, Brian Sullivan and Rick Goodman are credited as designers, and Stephen and David Rippy wrote the music. It was the first game in the Age of Empires series, and it later reached Windows Mobile and the Macintosh as well.
You act as the leader of an ancient civilization and advance it through four ages, and each advance unlocks new and improved units. DOS.Zone’s description puts it this way: you start with a band of hunter-gatherers and aim to build an Iron Age empire by gathering resources, creating units and buildings and researching new technologies. There are twelve civilizations to choose from. The game is built on the Genie Engine, a 2D engine that draws everything with sprites. According to DOS.Zone, it won several awards, including Game of the Year, and reviewers liked the way it blended ideas from Warcraft and SimCity.
How it runs in your browser
This one is a Windows game rather than a DOS game, and DOS.Zone still runs it with js-dos. When you press Play, dos.zone opens in a new tab, and js-dos, DOS.Zone’s open-source browser port of DOSBox, starts an emulated PC that runs the original Windows release. The game files are delivered by the site, so you won’t install anything or provide a copy of your own. There’s no account to make, and the site carries no ads.
The listing has a rating of 4.8 from 306 player reviews. It doesn’t mention multiplayer, so expect to play against computer opponents, and save support isn’t described.
Controls and devices
You’ll need a keyboard and mouse. After the game loads, click into its window so the emulated PC receives your input. The host’s page doesn’t list the controls, so the game’s own menus are the place to look.
DOS.Zone offers virtual on-screen controls for phones, but Age of Empires was built for a mouse and keyboard, and a desktop or laptop will serve you much better.
Who it’s for
It suits players who remember the 1997 original and want to see it again as it was, before the Definitive Edition remaster, and anyone who likes strategy games built around history. When you’re ready to move from the ancient world to the Middle Ages, the sequel, Age of Empires II, is on DOS.Zone too. For a fantasy setting from the same era, try Warcraft II.
Is Age of Empires Free, Safe and Official?
Can I play Age of Empires 1 online for free?
You can play it free in a browser tab on DOS.Zone, with no account or download. Multiplayer isn’t listed for this version, so it’s a game against the computer.
Is this the Age of Empires Definitive Edition?
No. It’s the original 1997 Windows release. The Definitive Edition is a later remaster developed by Forgotten Empires and Tantalus Media and published by Microsoft.
Can I play Age of Empires on a phone or Chromebook?
Neither has been confirmed. DOS.Zone offers on-screen controls for phones, but the game was built for a keyboard and mouse, so a computer is the better fit.
