| “ | Most common game; you choose the settings and victory conditions. | ” |
| —Age of Empires II description | ||
Random map is the primary game mode throughout the games of the Age of Empires series. In the mode, the player starts out with a map randomly generated for each game. The overall topography of the map remains the same on each map type, with different landscapes and landforms on every corner of the map. The size of the map and the number of players affect the generated terrain of the map.
Age of Empires
The original Age of Empires offers four random maps. All maps are square, and can be generated in one of several different sizes.
The Rise of Rome
The Rise of Rome introduces four new random maps.
Age of Empires II
The Age of Kings features 14 random maps. All maps are square, and can be generated in one of several different sizes. The Forgotten introduces a new LudiKRIS size that is not available in the original game.
| Map size | Tiny | Small | Medium | Normal | Large | Giant | LudiKRIS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player count | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | Any | Any |
| Dimensions | 120x120 | 144x144 | 168x168 | 200x200 | 220x220 | 240x240 | 480x480 |
- Arabia
- Archipelago
- Baltic
- Black Forest
- Coastal
- Continental
- Fortress
- Gold Rush
- Highland
- Islands
- Mediterranean
- Migration
- Rivers
- Team Islands
The Conquerors
The Conquerors introduces 8 new random maps to the game. Additionally, a new category of maps based on real locations around the world is introduced. The geography of these maps are of fixed size and the layout will always resemble its real-world counterpart. However, resources are randomly distributed around the map every time they are generated.
Ensemble Studios also created additional custom maps for The Conquerors that were originally available for download on the official website. They were later included with Patch 1.0c, Gold Edition and HD Edition. The filenames for all of maps are prefixed with "ES@" to help players find them during multiplayer.
Expect lots of naval combat in the North Sea and across the English Channel.
Rome never truly fell, it just changed continents.
The Aztecs and Mayans vie for domination of Central America with invaders from across the sea.
Re-enact the Moslem invasion and the Hundred Years' War.
The Iberian Peninsula, including Spain and Portugal.
Rome has fallen and the peninsula is up for grabs.
Where continents, cultures and world religions collide.
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Holland.
Japanese warships and Korean Turtle Ships do battle in this rocky sea.
Relive the classic Mayan and Korean skirmish in the Lone Star State.
A network of canals creates a spider web effect as they try to connect every player’s starting town.
Starting food, gold and stone might be at normal levels, in short supply, or in abundance. Starting trees will always be the same.
Villagers shepherd their flocks while avoiding rampaging wild animals. Lots of sheep, lots of wolves, no Scout.
Control weed-choked graveyards packed with scary trees and abandoned buildings that conceal resources and ancient relics.
Control three Town Centers, three sets of villagers, three Scouts and three sets of resources!
Each player’s town is surrounded by a narrow body of water with several land bridges for access and moats narrow enough for ranged units to fire across.
Start on a tropical island with your enemies. The map is loaded with fish, boars, and berries. Find the three relics at the base of the volcano in the center, but beware of the guardians!
Your starting island may be small, but there is a whole new world to discover! Hop in your Transport and race your enemies to the new world!
Food is often scarce and there aren’t a lot of natural defenses, but your two Scouts can cover a lot of ground.
Based on the 4 seasons in a year, with a 25% chance of loading up a Winter map, Spring map, Summer map, or Autumn map.
Multiplayer only. Your town is surrounded by forests, yet you can walk freely through them. Use your hunting wolf to scout the terrain or for sneak attacks on your enemy’s villagers.
Single player version of Sherwood Forest. Start out with some familiar heroes.
A few bruised villagers and their waterlogged sheep stranded on a desert island.
In the frozen north, each team must defend its own hunk of ice and snow against frequent enemy raids. Bad weather makes ships and walls rare, though strangely, this has led to a bumper crop of deer.
Everything is random. Everything. From the moment the game starts, you have to scout (with a random number of Scouts, of course) to figure out whether you are on an island, a mainland, or inside a clearing of trees.
The Forgotten
The Forgotten introduces 12 standard random maps, with many featuring a unique variation on standard gameplay. Three additional maps are also available only for Capture the Relic mode, as well as an option to randomly select between these maps.
Battle on the barren slopes of your base as you defend your hill and conquer the enemy's.
Two towns and a plethora of wildlife offer unconventionally intense battles.
An open land studded with sinkholes but only a few clusters of trees.
An endless maze of lakes and rivers winding through a sparsely forested desert.
A ravine filled with gold beckons but its depths loom treacherously as enemies lie in wait on the other side.
A palisade wall provides only false comfort over the palpable feeling of enemy lurking just around the corner.
A fortified stronghold perched on a mountain top may be virtually impregnable but scarce resources and lack of space drive players to expand their empires into the lowlands around.
A handful of cities on opposite ends of a wintry landscape must share, trade and coordinate in their efforts to defeat the enemy.
Dare you leave the safe shelter of the trees to hunt the graceful deer roaming the open ground?
A dried up river stands between enemy towns but also poses an opportunity as animals gather there to gulp down the last drops.
Ever dreamed of an endlessly unpredictable map where anything is possible and nothing is guaranteed? Multiply it by ten and you have... MegaRandom
The ultimate Easter Egg map. Located on either side of the tasty burger, will you eat through it, or sail around the bun and surprise the enemy?
One of the three most challenging Capture the Relic maps. There is only limited space to build on as most of the map is covered in endless marshes, which in the coldest seasons turn to ice. The relic stands in the centre, enclosed in a sacred grove of trees.
One of the three most challenging Capture the Relic maps. Players appear huddled up around the relic atop a vast pyramid but their monasteries lie all the way on the bottom stair.
One of the three most challenging Capture the Relic maps. The center of the map has been engulfed in a spiral of deep waters and the only way to reach the relic is to follow the current in long and treacherous circles.
The African Kingdoms
The African Kingdoms introduces 5 standard, 8 Real World, and 11 special random maps to the game.
Standard
Real World
- Amazon
- Bohemia
- China
- Horn of Africa
- India
- Madagascar
- West Africa
- Earth (multiplayer only)
Special
- Canyons
- Enemy Archipelago
- Enemy Islands
- Far Out
- Front Line
- Inner Circle
- Motherland
- Open Plains
- Ring of Water
- Snakepit
- The Eye
Rise of the Rajas
Rise of the Rajas introduces 5 standard, 4 Real World, and 5 special random maps to the game:
Standard
Real World
Special
- Border Stones
- Holy Line
- Jungle Islands (multiplayer only)
- Jungle Lanes
- Yin Yang
Definitive Edition/The Last Khans
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition introduces 6 standard, 5 Real World and 5 special random maps as part of the included The Last Khans expansion.
Standard
Real World
Special
Age of Mythology
Age of Mythology features 23 different random maps, and all can be generated in normal or large sizes. For the first time, maps can differ in shape and dimensions, such as being rectangular instead of square. Age of Mythology: Tale of the Dragon introduces a new giant map size that is not available in the original game.
Two of the maps, Black Sea, and River Styx, were released as preorder bonuses for the game, and are included with Age of Mythology: Extended Edition.
| Map size | Normal | Large | Giant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player count | 4 | 8 | Any |
Players start with high resources on plateaus with resources in the valleys and around the edges.
Forgotten Relics and terrible beasts hide between the craggy hills.
The cold desert beyond the Mediterranean is carved by cliffs and gorges that protect Gold Mines.
This sun-swept island chain may isolate players at random.
The dark waters of the inland sea divide team lands into two islands.
Face shades, serpents and rivers of molten earth in Hades' underworld realm.
The sinister, frozen lake in the center of this map may never thaw, but still cannot be built upon.
Mountain passes are the only connections among valleys owned by different teams.
In the center, on water, ice or cliffs, is a Plenty Vault. Whoever controls it starts a countdown to victory.
The pastoral countryside surrounding the middle sea supports many herd animals.
This frozen land is short on food, but the waters surrounding the continent are abundant with life.
our Villagers start scattered with no Town Center. You'll need to find a Settlement to occupy during the time that combat is prevented.
Most of the wood lies in 1 to 4 oases in the center. Build walls to the center to stop enemy incursions.
.jpg "River Nile (Full Map).jpg (3 KB)")
A broad river separates the desert lands of different teams.
The dead waters of the Underworld surround your island and restrict access to enemy islands or the bonus island in the center.
The grasslands of Africa provide plenty of food to hunt, but little water.
A mysterious ocean covers half the map with the player fortresses huddled to one side.
Everyone starts with a Citadel and no free Settlements exist. If your Citadel is lost, you will lose the game.
How long can you stay on the island shared by your team before you need to move to the central island that protects extra resources?
Only the Gods know what this unpredictable map will be. Land or water? Ice or desert? You must explore to find out.
Players on the same team share a city while all the Gold is protected by bandit Migdols.
When the resources on your small island start to run out, the only choice is to set sail for the New World. But watch out for Skraelings.
The migratory herds stop at these rivers and ponds to drink, but there is no other food available.
The Titans
The Titans introduces 6 new random maps, two of which feature new and unique terrain not found on any other map in the game.
Grassy hills separated by rivers with defensive narrow crossings.
Each player is on their own island and must transport to reach others. There are also bonus islands that contain resources and perhaps even more Settlements than normal.
The Gods have decreed that water will be scarce on these lands, but beyond that, you'll have to see for yourself.
A dangerous swamp surrounded by grassy hills. The center is full of huntable animals and relics.
Allies start close to each other and share a large defensible position.
A cold, wind-swept land with little wood and herds of arctic animals.
Tale of the Dragon
Tale of the Dragon introduces 7 new random maps, three of which feature a new terrain type. The Regicide game mode from Age of Kings returns as a map, rather than a game mode.
Small lakes on either side of the map provide players with a safe fishing location.
Grassy clearings in a sea of trees. Follow the paths through the forest to find your allies and enemies.
Players start on islands that are connected by shallows. Overgrown temples are present on the map that can be used once they are repaired by players.
The outer forests give way to large open expanses perfect for farming. Periodic rain is an integral part of this land.
Kill your opponent’s regent before yours meets his fate! All players start with a Fortress.
A long map where players can capture trading posts that generate resources similar to Plenty Vaults.
Age of Empires III
Age of Empires III has 17 random maps, with two of the maps being added to the game through patches. All maps are available in standard size, with only five specific maps available in a large size. The Asian Dynasties adds another four maps with a large version.
Hispaniola was introduced with patch 1.05. Unknown was introduced with patch 1.07. A bonus map, Winter Wonderland, was released online by Ensemble to celebrate Christmas, but has never actually been included with any release of the game.
| Map size | Standard | Large |
|---|---|---|
| Maps | All maps | Carolina, Great Plains, Saguenay, Sonora, Texas Deccan, Siberia, Silk Road, Yellow River |
Fight along the mighty Amazon River.
Swampland with limited space for settlements.
A collection of islands in warm ocean waters.
Start with extra resource crates in this coastal map.
Large lakes surrounded by a single circular Trade Route.
Home of many natives and plenty of Food.
A large island surrounded by warm tropical seas.
Unspoiled wilderness with central lakes and an offshore island.
A long grassy plain divided by a river with shallow crossings.
Continent with Trade Routes, but no Natives.
Teams are separated by a resource-rich valley.
Plenty of resources and good fishing.
Cliffs and valleys, and a winding Trade Route.
An open plain with some cliffs, and two Trade Routes.
A mysterious uncharted wilderness.
A festive new custom map for the holidays!
Dense jungles and nearby natives.
Plenty of silver, and sometimes a river.
The WarChiefs
The WarChiefs introduces 8 new random maps. Ozarks was introduced with patch 1.03. Plymouth was released online by Ensemble to celebrate Thanksgiving, and is only included with Age of Empires III: Complete Collection.
Fight along the western coast of South America.
A wide variety of terrain, from beaches to mountains.
A land of cool, lush rainforests, magnificent mountain ranges, high desert plains, rocky coastlines, and rivers teeming with salmon.
A tropical river map with crossings.
Dense thickets filled with wildlife dot this rolling terrain.
Open desert with plentiful resources but no Trade Route.
A bountiful land of natural treasures and grateful Pilgrims.
The Asian Dynasties
The Asian Dynasties introduces 10 new random maps, as well as introducing four new game modes: Regicide, King of the Hill, Treaty, and Treaty No-Blockade.
A resource-rich island with lucrative Trade Routes in the interior, and surrounded by well-charted waters.
Migrate by sea to a large, resource-rich continent.
A central, forested plateau overlooking a series of strategically placed trade sites.
A series of geographic chokepoints stand in the way of abundant natural resources. A Trade Route runs through this mountainous region.
The same chokepoints of the Himalayas but without the Trade Route to obstruct your wall placement.
A narrow strip of land is surrounded with islands, one of which features a tiny Trade Route.
A resource-rich land with coastal fishing and many possible alliances.
Explore generous grassland populated with unprecedented herds of grazing animals and a distant northern Trade Route.
Honshu! Beginning in a fortified town, search this narrow, resource-rich island for your opponent, being sure to protect your Regent at all costs.
A frozen river divides the map, and a Trade Route runs along the southern edge, with plentiful hunting among the great forests.
Travel the legendary trade route, capturing existing trading posts. You begin with a free Market.
Offers extra resources and choke points when flooded, but is open and fertile when dry. Trade Routes on each side of the map, and many natives
Trivia
- Ensemble Studios held a random map contest in 2007 for Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs, of which the prize was to have the winning map officially included into the game. The winning map would also feature a special building in the centre that would be named after the contest winner:
- RF_Gandalf won the contest with the map Dakota Badlands. The contest ended too close to the then-upcoming patch's release for the map to be included with it. But despite Ensemble's assurances that Dakota Badlands would come with a later patch, the map was ultimately never included for unknown reasons. The map file contains disabled code for spawning the special building in the center, but enabling it does nothing as the building itself was never patched into the game.
- Johnny_Deppig was the runner-up with Sioux Country.
Gallery
