Age of Empires 2campaigns are a series of historical scenarios that allow players to immerse themselves in the battles and events of various civilizations throughout history. Each campaign consists of a set of missions that follow a storyline, with objectives that range from building up an army todefending a castleor conquering territories.
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These are a great way for players to learn about the history of different cultures while also enjoying the gameplay that Age of Empires 2 is known for. With various campaigns to choose from, players can experience different eras, from the rise of the Roman Empire to the conquests of Genghis Khan.
10Jadwiga
The Jadwiga campaign in Age of Empires II is an epic journey that takes players through the struggles ofa young girl who must ascend to the Polish throneand navigate the chaos of ongoing war. With six challenging scenarios, players will play as the Poles and the Lithuanians, contending with formidable leaders like Jogaila and Vytautas the Great.
The campaign is narrated by Jadwiga herself, giving players a unique perspective on the events as they unfold. With a fascinating narrative and a compelling storyline, the Jadwiga campaign makes you feel like you are there, reliving history.
It’s one of only three campaigns featuring a female protagonist and the only one where the protagonist is also the narrator.
9Rajendra
The Rajendra campaign in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Dynasties of India, chronicles the conquests and battles ofRajendra Chola I, the greatest ruler of the Chola dynasty.The campaign features five scenarios, narrated by Rajendra himself, as players take on the role of the Dravidians.
It offers a glimpse into the internal conflicts and political landscape of South India during his reign. During the Suryavarman I campaign, in the fourth scenario, you’re allied with Rajendra’s mighty warriors.
With unique gameplay mechanics and a rich historical narrative, the Rajendra campaign isfascinating from a historical point of view, and it’s also one of the most fun campaigns in the game.
8Bari
The Bari Campaign in Age of Empires II is a challenging and exciting historical journey through the Italian city of Bari. The campaign follows the fictional Nautikos family, descendants of Greek sailors, in the original version, and has been expanded to five scenarios in the Definitive Edition, where players defend Bari as the Byzantines.
Despite being the shortest campaign, it is considered the most difficult due to resource management restrictions. With engaging storytelling and immersive gameplay, The Bari Campaign is a must-play for any Age of Empires II fan looking for achallenging experience spanning over 200 years.
7The Grand Dukes Of the West
The Grand Dukes of the West is a six-scenario campaign in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Lords of the West. The campaign revolves around the dukes of Burgundy, including John the Fearless and Philip the Good, as they fight the Hundred Years' War.
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Players take the role of the Burgundians and play throughsome of the most unique scenarios in the entire game.The campaign is narrated by an unnamed advisor of Philip the Good, telling the story to his son before Joan of Arc’s tragic burning at stake.
This campaign is the only one to feature some unit types, such as Organ Guns in A Kingdom Divided.
6Tamerlane
The Tamerlane campaign in Age of Empires 2 is based on the historical figure of Timur, a 14th-centuryconqueror who fought to restore the glory of the fragmented Mongol Empire.The campaign features six scenarios and follows Timur’s military campaigns, alliances, and rivalries with other powerful kingdoms.
Unlike other campaigns, the story is told from the perspective of a second-hand narrator, who tells the events as they were told to him by Tokhtamysh Khan, a descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur’s friend that later became his enemy. The campaign is known for its length and focus on historical accuracy, and it provides players with a challenging and immersive experience of one of history’s greatest conquerors.
5Kotyan Khan
The Kotyan Khan campaign in the game follows the story of the Cumans, a tribe of amazing horsemen and swordsmen who were hired as mercenaries by European kings and Byzantine emperors. They face a great threat from the East, the ruthless and almost invincible Mongols.
Kotyan, the khan of a small clan, must unite the Cumans to resist the invaders and find a new home for the tribes. The campaign consists of 5 scenarios and is narrated by an unnamed Cuman chieftain who succeeds Kotyan as the khan of the Cumans after his assassination.
This is a spectacular campaign filled withbattles and heroic efforts by one of the greatest groups of warriors ever to exist, the Cumans.
4Genghis Khan
The Genghis Khan campaign in Age of Empires II revolves around the life of the infamous Mongol conqueror who united the tribes of the Mongolian steppes into a giant and highly trained army. The player plays as the Mongols in 6 scenarios, starting from their early struggles and culminating in the establishment of the vast Mongol Empire.
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The campaign is narrated by the author of The Secret History of the Mongols, the oldest surviving literary work in the Mongolian language. Despite facing technologically advanced empires such as China, Persia, and Eastern Europe,a horde of horse archers tried to conquer the world.
3Barbarossa
Barbarossa is a campaign in Age of Empires II that is based on the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. He attempted to force the German fiefdoms into his Holy Roman Empire and expand it into Polish and Italian lands.
His final plan was to lead his army on the Third Crusade, in an attempt to conquer The Holy Land. This campaign consists of 6 scenarios where the player plays as the Teutons, and it tells the story of the one and onlyFrederick Barbarossa, a Teutonic Knight who fought several wars in Italybefore becoming one of the greatest military leaders of all time.
2The Hautvilles
The Hautevilles campaign in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Lords of the West is ahistorically richaddition to the game. It tells the inspiring story of the Norman dynasty’s journeyfrom a band of robbers to becoming kings of Sicily.
The five scenarios allow players to experience their conquests and participation in theFirst Crusade. What sets this campaign apart is the compelling narration by an unnamed Sicilian tutor of young Frederick Roger II, providing insight into the political and personal dynamics of the time.
With unique gameplay mechanics and objectives, The Hautevilles campaign is great for fans who appreciate a rich historical narrative.
1Atilla The Hun
The Attila The Hun campaign in Age of Empires 2 offers an exciting and unique storytelling perspective. The story is told by a second-hand narrator, an unnamed Frankish monk, and reveals the backstory of the old priest named Armand, who defected to the Huns after being captured by Attila.
The player takes on the role of the Huns and participates in theinvasion of Italy, experiencing the events from the perspective of the conquerors. The combination ofhistorical accuracy, unique storytelling, and thrilling gameplaymake the Attila The Hun campaign the most exciting one to play in Age of Empires 2.
