Age of Empires IVvsCities Skylines
Unbiased side-by-side comparison of verified reviews, user ratings, features, and pros/cons to help you decide which software fits your business needs.
Quick answer: Age of Empires IV vs Cities Skylines
In our 2026 comparison of Age of Empires IV and Cities Skylines, the products are too closely matched to name a clear overall winner. Age of Empires IV is rated 4.7/5 from 134 user reviews; Cities Skylines is rated 4.7/5 from 133 user reviews. Age of Empires IV starts at $39.99/month; Cities Skylines starts at $29.99/month.
Last updated
| At a glance | Age of Empires IV | Cities Skylines |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Games Apps | Games Apps |
| User rating | 4.7/5 (134 reviews) | 4.7/5 (133 reviews) |
| Starting price | $39.99/mo | $29.99/mo |
| Listed features | 12 | 11 |
| Integrations | 3 | 4 |
| Platforms | Windows PC, Xbox Series X/S | Windows, macOS, Linux, PS4, PS5 |
| Ease of use | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Customer support | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 |
Age of Empires IV
Starting Price
Paid
Community Pulse
Advanced Ratings
Pros
- The game offers a variety of civilizations with unique mechanics, including new variants like the Japanese and their Mounted Samurai units, which are particularly strong in team games .
- The game remains actively supported, though a significant portion of the community feels the balance has degraded in favor of certain civs .
- It features a robust community that provides feedback on balance and gameplay, with ongoing discussions about unit counters and strategies .
Cons
- Some players find the current meta stale, with specific civilizations like Japan dominating team games and making others less viable .
- Players report that Mounted Samurai are too powerful, having no real counter and becoming unstoppable once Castle Age is reached .
- There are complaints about the declining quality of the game due to too many new civs being introduced without sufficient polish and bug fixes .
Cities Skylines
Starting Price
Paid
Community Pulse
Advanced Ratings
Pros
- The game has sold over 12 million copies across all platforms, making it the dominant city-building simulation franchise .
- Robust modding support via Steam Workshop allows players to access user-generated content and community-built modifications that extend gameplay .
- Detailed transportation system based on the studio's previous Cities in Motion series, allowing realistic public transit planning .
Cons
- The original game released in 2015; while still receiving updates, the sequel was released in 2023, making this version older .
- The sequel (Cities: Skylines II) received mixed reviews, causing some franchise uncertainty .
- Game engine (Unity) support and performance may not match the most current city-building standards .
Product Overview
What each platform does and who it's for
Primary Category
The main classification for each product
Editorial Quality Rating
Independent expert panel ratings and quality validations
Age of Empires IV
Expert Score
Cities Skylines
Expert Score
Integration Ecosystem
Compare supported third-party apps and services
Age of Empires IV Integrations
Cities Skylines Integrations
Platform Support
Supported platforms across each product
Age of Empires IV
Cities Skylines
Sentiment & Feedback
Real-world pros and cons from verified users
Age of Empires IV Feedback
User sentiment analysis
- The game offers a variety of civilizations with unique mechanics, including new variants like the Japanese and their Mounted Samurai units, which are particularly strong in team games .
- The game remains actively supported, though a significant portion of the community feels the balance has degraded in favor of certain civs .
- It features a robust community that provides feedback on balance and gameplay, with ongoing discussions about unit counters and strategies .
- The game includes multiple game modes like 1v1 and team games, with a large portion of the player base engaged in team-based matches .
- Some players find the current meta stale, with specific civilizations like Japan dominating team games and making others less viable .
- Players report that Mounted Samurai are too powerful, having no real counter and becoming unstoppable once Castle Age is reached .
- There are complaints about the declining quality of the game due to too many new civs being introduced without sufficient polish and bug fixes .
Cities Skylines Feedback
User sentiment analysis
- The game has sold over 12 million copies across all platforms, making it the dominant city-building simulation franchise .
- Robust modding support via Steam Workshop allows players to access user-generated content and community-built modifications that extend gameplay .
- Detailed transportation system based on the studio's previous Cities in Motion series, allowing realistic public transit planning .
- Available on multiple platforms including PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch .
- The original game released in 2015; while still receiving updates, the sequel was released in 2023, making this version older .
- The sequel (Cities: Skylines II) received mixed reviews, causing some franchise uncertainty .
- Game engine (Unity) support and performance may not match the most current city-building standards .
Feature Comparison
Detailed side-by-side capability checklist
Age of Empires IV
12/19 features
- City building
- Multiplayer
- Multiplayer battles
- Online multiplayer
- Traffic simulation
- Classic series
- Game creation tools
- Mini-games
- Multiple civilizations
- Retro games
- Offline access
- Offline mode
- Real-time strategy
- Strategy
- Urban planning
- Xbox Game Pass
- Historical campaigns
- Cross-play support
- Mod support
Cities Skylines
11/19 features
- City building
- Multiplayer
- Multiplayer battles
- Online multiplayer
- Traffic simulation
- Classic series
- Game creation tools
- Mini-games
- Multiple civilizations
- Retro games
- Offline access
- Offline mode
- Real-time strategy
- Strategy
- Urban planning
- Xbox Game Pass
- Historical campaigns
- Cross-play support
- Mod support
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Pricing & Plans
Compare plans, features, and starting points side-by-side
Age of Empires IV Pricing
PaidFull real-time strategy game.
Cities Skylines Pricing
PaidCore city building simulation.
Specific simulation additions.
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Community Intelligence
Real-time crowdsourced comparison feedback and buyer signals.
Community Matchup Voting
Real-time crowdsourced buyer signals
Community vs. Editorial Alignment
Agreement between algorithmic rating & user voting
Draw
Calculated by features, pricing, support & ratings.
Awaiting Votes
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Which software did you choose?
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Head-to-Head Winner Analysis
Data-backed performance comparisons across pricing, features, usability, and support
Matchup Scoreboard
At-a-glance scorecard results
Weighted Overall Scorecard
Normalized composite performance scores
Smart Recommendation Matrix
Head-to-head decision matrix based on your business workflow
- Users wanting a streamlined, user-friendly workspace interface
- Teams looking for native integration with core workflow tools
- Buyers relying on extensive peer validation and battle-tested industry adoption
- Budget-conscious teams seeking competitive entry pricing ($29.99/mo)
- Users wanting a streamlined, user-friendly workspace interface
- Teams looking for native integration with core workflow tools
Age of Empires IV
Dimension scorecard
Multi-Dimension Performance
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Tied for overall winner with a composite score of 91%.
Pricing: $39.99/mo (No Free Trial), a less accessible entry point than the leader.
Tied with a solid set of 12 features.
Strong usability with a user rating of 4.7/5 stars.
Reliable support with a user rating of 4.7/5 stars.
Available on 2 Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox Series X/S, fewer than the leader.
Cities Skylines
Dimension scorecard
Multi-Dimension Performance
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Tied for overall winner with a composite score of 91%.
Cities Skylines has the most accessible pricing ($29.99/mo (No Free Trial)).
Tied with a solid set of 11 features.
Strong usability with a user rating of 4.6/5 stars.
Reliable support with a user rating of 4.6/5 stars.
Widest platform availability (8 Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, PS4 +4 more).
⚖️ Virtually Tied
Age of Empires IV and Cities Skylines are extremely well-matched overall. If Platform Support is your priority, Cities Skylines has the edge — otherwise, your specific workflow requirements should be the deciding factor.
Composite Score Breakdown
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Frequently asked questions: Age of Empires IV vs Cities Skylines
Which is better: Age of Empires IV or Cities Skylines?
Age of Empires IV and Cities Skylines are extremely well-matched overall. If Platform Support is your priority, Cities Skylines has the edge — otherwise, your specific workflow requirements should be the deciding factor. Neither product has a decisive overall lead, so the best choice depends on your workflow, budget and required integrations.
How do users rate Age of Empires IV and Cities Skylines?
Age of Empires IV is rated 4.7/5 from 134 user reviews. Cities Skylines is rated 4.7/5 from 133 user reviews. Ratings come from approved user reviews on SoftwareHope.
How much do Age of Empires IV and Cities Skylines cost?
Age of Empires IV starts at $39.99/month. Cities Skylines starts at $29.99/month. Cities Skylines has the lower entry price. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's site, as plans change.
Which platforms do Age of Empires IV and Cities Skylines support?
Age of Empires IV supports Windows PC and Xbox Series X/S; Cities Skylines supports Windows, macOS, Linux, PS4, PS5 and Xbox One.
Which is easier to use, Age of Empires IV or Cities Skylines?
Age of Empires IV has an ease-of-use rating of 4.7/5, Cities Skylines has an ease-of-use rating of 4.6/5. The difference is small, so both are similarly easy to adopt.
Most Helpful Reviews
Community-voted helpful feedback from verified users
Super clean interface with responsive controls. Highly recommended for anyone looking for high-quality entertainment apps.
Age of Empires IV is my go-to application for daily entertainment. The app launches fast, streams cleanly without buffering, and offers a fantastic user experience.
Using Age of Empires IV has been great for listening and viewing on mobile. The offline download feature works reliably during commutes.
Age of Empires IV is my go-to application for daily entertainment. The app launches fast, streams cleanly without buffering, and offers a fantastic user experience.
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