Age of Empires 4: How to Play Multiplayer Co-op


Two civilisations going to war with each other in Age of Empires 4.

Age of Empires 4 is the latest instalment in the series, with it having been 16 years since the last game. There is a wealth of modes for players to engage in, but for some of us, the most fun is to be had by going to war with other players in multiplayer co-op.

In this guide, we've explained how to play multiplayer against others or against A.I. in Age of Empires 4.

Read More: Age of Empires 4: Tips for Playing Skirmish Mode

How to Play Multiplayer

The multiplayer menu in Age of Empires 4.
click to enlarge

First and foremost, once having opened Age of Empires 4, click 'Multiplayer' to commence with various multiplayer game modes.

Against Other Players

To battle against other players, select 'VS Players' from the menu. So far, there is only a Standard game mode available to play. Following this, players can choose whether they want to play in a 1v1, up to a 4v4. Once choosing which mode they want to play, they can click 'Search for a Game' to begin searching for a match.

Against A.I.

If players don't feel ready to play against others just yet, they can get practice in by going up against A.I. first. The A.I. teams can only be played in 2v2 up to 4v4, meaning players will have another A.I. ally team playing alongside them.

Additionally, the difficulty of the A.I. can be changed; they can be Easy, Intermediate, Hard, or Hardest.

Ranked

Ranked is not quite ready yet. By hovering over it in the Age of Empires 4 multiplayer menu, players will see 'Coming Soon' suggesting that ranked games are on the way. We assume that once the mode is available, players will be able to engage in matches competitively in a bid for a higher rank. We'll update this space when we know more.

Custom

Players can create custom matches if they wish to battle against their friends. By clicking 'Custom', players can either find and join someone else's match or host their own. When hosting, other players can be invited to the game. Then there are further options to add A.I.'s, allow observers, make the lobby public or private, and change the map entirely.

Observe

If the troops aren't ready for battle just yet, players can instead choose to observe other multiplayer matches from the menu. By clicking Observe, there will be a list of other matches to choose from. Why not take some time to learn from others techniques?

Now that you know everything about how to play multiplayer and the various modes available, it's time to round up the troops and engage in some quick matches or fight against your friends. We have more tips on how to get started in Age of Empires 4 here. Mainly, don't forget to farm resources and collect plenty of stone to have the best defence possible!

For more articles like this, take a look at our Age of Empires and Guides page.