SoftwareHope Logo
CtrlK
Blog & Research
LoginSign Up
LoginSign Up
Security Verification Diagnostic Catalog
SoftwareHope Logo

SoftwareHope is a comprehensive B2B software and tech services directory. Discover, compare, and evaluate verified software solutions with authentic user reviews.

Ask an AI about SoftwareHope

Get the latest software reviews & tech trends delivered weekly:

Discover

  • Software Directory
  • All Categories
  • Software Categories
  • Service Categories
  • Compare Software
  • Deals & CouponsHot
  • Changelog

Vendors

  • Launch Your Product
  • Claim Your Product
  • Vendor Portal
  • Affiliate Program
  • Reviewer RewardsEarn

Resources

  • Blog & Research
  • Video Reviews & Demos
  • User Testimonials
  • Development & IT
  • Development Tools
  • DevOps & Cloud Engineering
  • IT Management

Company

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Press & Media Kit
  • Trust Center
  • Community Guidelines
© 2026 SoftwareHope. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy•Terms of Service•Cookie Policy••Refund Policy•Sitemap
  1. Compare
  2. Age of Empires IV vs Path of Exile

Age of Empires IVvsPath of Exile

Unbiased side-by-side comparison of verified reviews, user ratings, features, and pros/cons to help you decide which software fits your business needs.

Age of Empires IV
Age of Empires IV
4.7
(134 reviews)
View Profile ↗
Path of Exile
Path of Exile
4.5
(4 reviews)
View Profile ↗

Quick answer: Age of Empires IV vs Path of Exile

In our 2026 comparison of Age of Empires IV and Path of Exile, Age of Empires IV comes out ahead overall (weighted score 90% vs 86% for Path of Exile). Age of Empires IV is rated 4.7/5 from 134 user reviews; Path of Exile is rated 4.5/5 from 4 user reviews. Age of Empires IV starts at $39.99/month; Path of Exile has a free plan.

Last updated September 20, 2026

Key facts: Age of Empires IV vs Path of Exile
At a glanceAge of Empires IVPath of Exile
CategoryGames AppsGames Apps
User rating4.7/5 (134 reviews)4.5/5 (4 reviews)
Starting price$39.99/moFree plan
Listed features1212
Integrations35
PlatformsWindows PC, Xbox Series X/SWindows, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Ease of use4.7/54.5/5
Customer support4.7/55.0/5
Age of Empires IV:OverviewReviewsPricingAlternatives
Path of Exile:OverviewReviewsPricingAlternatives
Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV

4.7
(134)

Starting Price

Paid

Community Pulse

95%
Would Buy Again
94%
Good Value

Advanced Ratings

Usability
9.4
Performance
9.4
Support
9.4

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 .
View Full Profile
Path of Exile

Path of Exile

4.5
(4)

Starting Price

Free

Community Pulse

0%
Would Buy Again
95%
Good Value

Advanced Ratings

Usability
9.0
Performance
9.5
Support
10.0

Pros

  • The passive skill tree is legendary; over 1,300 nodes allow virtually infinite character customization, though the intimidation factor is high for new players .
  • Skill gems slot into equipment, decoupling class from abilities; any class can use any skill provided they meet stat requirements, enabling unconventional builds.
  • Leagues introduce new mechanics (Delve, Betrayal, Harvest, Sanctum) regularly, keeping the endgame fresh and the economy active years after launch .

Cons

  • The learning curve is notoriously steep; new players face information overload from the passive tree, league mechanics, and crafting systems without adequate in-game tutorials.
  • Performance can suffer during high-density mapping, with particle effects and on-death explosions causing frame drops even on capable PCs.
  • Trade relies on external websites; there is no in-game auction house, forcing players to manually message sellers, a cumbersome process for high-volume trading .
View Full Profile
Swipe to compare

Product Overview

What each platform does and who it's for

Age of Empires IV
Age of Empires IV
Age of Empires IV is a massively anticipated, highly sophisticated digital real-time strategy (RTS) masterpiece explicitly engineered to completely resurrect an absolutely legendary historical digital franchise. It fundamentally bridges the incredibly massive gap between absolute hardcore classic RTS veterans and highly casual digital newcomers, flawlessly delivering absolutely deep, highly complex digital medieval warfare mechanics alongside an incredibly massive, highly engaging digital campaign. The software heavily revolves around incredibly brilliant, highly asymmetric digital civilization design. Players can seamlessly command absolute massive English longbowmen or flawlessly master the highly complex nomadic digital mobility of the incredibly massive Mongol empire. It flawlessly features incredibly intense, highly adaptive digital artificial intelligence, explicitly designed to absolutely constantly deeply pressure players during absolutely massive digital multiplayer skirmishes. Operating exclusively as a highly premium, completely massive one-time digital purchase, Age of Empires IV completely completely eschews highly frustrating digital microtransactions. It provides absolute, uncompromising digital historical strategy, perfectly delivering incredibly high-fidelity digital graphics and heavily refined modern gameplay to a highly massive, deeply dedicated global audience heavily seeking the absolute apex of massive digital competitive medieval warfare.
Path of Exile
Path of Exile
Path of Exile is a massively robust, incredibly highly specialized digital action-RPG platform explicitly engineered to completely provide absolutely pristine, deeply rapid digital dungeon crawling directly across massive standard PC and console ecosystems. It fundamentally entirely avoids deeply complex, highly frustrating pay-to-win microtransaction setups, flawlessly allowing absolutely any player to seamlessly instantly rely upon incredibly massive highly secure digital passive skill tree architecture. The application heavily utilizes incredibly advanced, deeply proprietary digital skill gem customization technology. As absolute massive digital player abilities are seamlessly flawlessly handled, Path of Exile perfectly completely analyzes highly complex digital socket databases, instantly accelerates incredibly dynamic digital character builds, and seamlessly perfectly ensures absolutely highly secure digital economy flow across entirely all massive digital Wraeclast environments effortlessly. Operating exclusively as a highly accessible, strictly ethical free-to-play model supported by cosmetics, Path of Exile completely targets highly dedicated, deeply build-conscious digital gamers. It provides absolute, uncompromising digital infrastructure perfectly designed to radically protect incredibly highly sensitive personal progression while completely ensuring absolutely massive digital endgame scalability without ever requiring deeply frustrating, highly complex digital paywall procedures.

Primary Category

The main classification for each product

Age of Empires IV
Age of Empires IV
Games Apps
Path of Exile
Path of Exile
Games Apps

Editorial Quality Rating

Independent expert panel ratings and quality validations

Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV

Expert Score

Standard
N/A
Editorial score pending audit
Path of Exile

Path of Exile

Expert Score

Standard
N/A
Editorial score pending audit

Integration Ecosystem

Compare supported third-party apps and services

Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV Integrations

3 supported apps
Discord integration logo
Discord
Steam integration logo
Steam
Xbox Live integration logo
Xbox Live
Path of Exile

Path of Exile Integrations

5 supported apps
Discord integration logo
Discord
Twitch integration logo
Twitch
Steam integration logo
Steam
Xbox Live integration logo
Xbox Live
PlayStation Network integration logo
PlayStation Network

Platform Support

Supported platforms across each product

Age of Empires IV logo

Age of Empires IV

2 Platforms
Windows PC
Xbox Series X/S
Path of Exile logo

Path of Exile

6 Platforms
Windows
macOS
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series X/S

Sentiment & Feedback

Real-world pros and cons from verified users

Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV Feedback

User sentiment analysis

High Praise
  • 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 .
Common Gripes
  • 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 .
Path of Exile

Path of Exile Feedback

User sentiment analysis

High Praise
  • The passive skill tree is legendary; over 1,300 nodes allow virtually infinite character customization, though the intimidation factor is high for new players .
  • Skill gems slot into equipment, decoupling class from abilities; any class can use any skill provided they meet stat requirements, enabling unconventional builds.
  • Leagues introduce new mechanics (Delve, Betrayal, Harvest, Sanctum) regularly, keeping the endgame fresh and the economy active years after launch .
  • Path of Exile 2 is in Early Access with significant engine upgrades, new ascendancy classes, and a rebuilt Atlas endgame .
Common Gripes
  • The learning curve is notoriously steep; new players face information overload from the passive tree, league mechanics, and crafting systems without adequate in-game tutorials.
  • Performance can suffer during high-density mapping, with particle effects and on-death explosions causing frame drops even on capable PCs.
  • Trade relies on external websites; there is no in-game auction house, forcing players to manually message sellers, a cumbersome process for high-volume trading .

Feature Comparison

Detailed side-by-side capability checklist

Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV

12/20 features

Leader
Education & Learning
  • Classic series
Location & Maps
  • Endgame mapping system
Streaming & Entertainment
  • Free-to-play
  • Multiplayer
  • Multiplayer battles
  • Online multiplayer
General & Miscellaneous
  • Game creation tools
  • Massive passive skill tree
  • Mini-games
  • Multiple civilizations
  • Retro games
  • Seasonal leagues
Technical & Infrastructure
  • Gem system
  • Offline mode
Collaboration
  • Offline access
Professional Services & Consulting
  • Real-time strategy
  • Strategy
Gaming & Entertainment
  • Xbox Game Pass
Digital Marketing Services
  • Historical campaigns
Customer Experience (CX) & Support
  • Cross-play support
Path of Exile

Path of Exile

12/20 features

Leader
Education & Learning
  • Classic series
Location & Maps
  • Endgame mapping system
Streaming & Entertainment
  • Free-to-play
  • Multiplayer
  • Multiplayer battles
  • Online multiplayer
General & Miscellaneous
  • Game creation tools
  • Massive passive skill tree
  • Mini-games
  • Multiple civilizations
  • Retro games
  • Seasonal leagues
Technical & Infrastructure
  • Gem system
  • Offline mode
Collaboration
  • Offline access
Professional Services & Consulting
  • Real-time strategy
  • Strategy
Gaming & Entertainment
  • Xbox Game Pass
Digital Marketing Services
  • Historical campaigns
Customer Experience (CX) & Support
  • Cross-play support

Login to see the complete feature comparison

Free account — takes 10 seconds

or

No credit card required. Create account

Pricing & Plans

Compare plans, features, and starting points side-by-side

Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV Pricing

Paid
Starting Price
$39.99
Anniversary Edition
Current price: $39.99/lifetime

Full real-time strategy game.

10 highly distinct historical civilizations
4 massive historical campaigns
Robust online competitive multiplayer
Path of Exile

Path of Exile Pricing

Free
Starting Price
Free
Free-to-Play
Current price: $0/lifetime

Ethical microtransactions only.

Massive passive skill tree
Skill gem system
Deep endgame map system

Login to see detailed pricing plans & tiers

Free account — takes 10 seconds

or

No credit card required. Create account

Community Intelligence

Real-time crowdsourced comparison feedback and buyer signals.

Community Matchup Voting

Real-time crowdsourced buyer signals

0 votes
Who wins this matchup?
50% Age of Empires IV50% Path of Exile
Feature & Dimension Voting
0 / 7 Voted
Better Pricing & Plans
More Powerful Features
Faster Customer Support
Simpler Ease of Use
Overall Value for Money
Better for Startups / SMB
Better for Enterprise

Community vs. Editorial Alignment

Agreement between algorithmic rating & user voting

0 Votes Cast
Editorial Choice
Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV

Calculated by features, pricing, support & ratings.

Community Choice

Awaiting Votes

Cast your vote above to update results.

Which software did you choose?

Share your decision anonymously with the community

Ad Placement Spot
Available Spot

Promote to Age of Empires IV vs Path of Exile Buyers

Capture high-intent Games Apps evaluators

Available Slot
Apply for Spot

Head-to-Head Winner Analysis

Data-backed performance comparisons across pricing, features, usability, and support

Matchup Scoreboard

At-a-glance scorecard results

Age of Empires IV
Age of Empires IV
1 Win
VS2 Ties
Path of Exile
Path of Exile
3 Wins

Weighted Overall Scorecard

Normalized composite performance scores

Recommended
Age of Empires IV
90%
Path of Exile
86%

Smart Recommendation Matrix

Head-to-head decision matrix based on your business workflow

Age of Empires IV
Choose Age of Empires IV if…
UX LeaderMarket Favorite
  • Teams prioritizing intuitive, zero-learning-curve UX and fast onboarding
  • Teams looking for native integration with core workflow tools
  • Buyers relying on extensive peer validation and battle-tested industry adoption
Path of Exile
Choose Path of Exile if…
Free / FreemiumEasy Onboarding
  • Teams seeking a zero-cost or freemium entry tier for Path of Exile
  • Users wanting a streamlined, user-friendly workspace interface
  • Teams looking for native integration with core workflow tools
Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV

Dimension scorecard

Multi-Dimension Performance
⭐User Satisfaction93%
🖱️Ease of Use4.7 / 5 (94%)
💰Value for Money4.7 / 5 (94%)
🎧Support Quality4.7 / 5 (94%)
📊Market Trust134 (100%)
🔌Integration Ecosystem3 apps (60%)
🏅Expert Editorial ScoreNo data
👍Would Recommend95% (94%)
⚙️Feature Richness12 features (100%)
💸Pricing & Accessibility10%
💬Sentiment Balance4 Pros / 3 Cons (55%)
💻Platform Support2 Platforms (33%)
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Overall Performance
Winner

Age of Empires IV wins overall with a weighted score of 90% based on user rating, pricing, features, usability, and support.

Pricing & Value
Runner-up

Pricing: $39.99/mo (No Free Trial), a less accessible entry point than the leader.

Feature Completeness
Tied

Tied with a solid set of 12 features.

Usability & Design
Tied

Strong usability with a user rating of 4.7/5 stars.

Customer Support
Runner-up

Decent support with a user rating of 4.7/5 stars.

Platform Support
Runner-up

Available on 2 Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox Series X/S, fewer than the leader.

Path of Exile

Path of Exile

Dimension scorecard

Multi-Dimension Performance
⭐User Satisfaction84%
🖱️Ease of Use4.5 / 5 (90%)
💰Value for Money4.8 / 5 (95%)
🎧Support Quality5.0 / 5 (100%)
📊Market Trust4 (33%)
🔌Integration Ecosystem5 apps (100%)
🏅Expert Editorial ScoreNo data
👍Would Recommend0% (25%)
⚙️Feature Richness12 features (100%)
💸Pricing & Accessibility70%
💬Sentiment Balance4 Pros / 3 Cons (55%)
💻Platform Support6 Platforms (100%)
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Overall Performance
Runner-up

Path of Exile is a runner-up with a composite score of 86%.

Pricing & Value
Winner

Path of Exile has the most accessible pricing ($0/mo (No Free Trial)).

Feature Completeness
Tied

Tied with a solid set of 12 features.

Usability & Design
Tied

Strong usability with a user rating of 4.5/5 stars.

Customer Support
Winner

Ranked #1 for support with a user rating of 5.0/5 stars.

Platform Support
Winner

Widest platform availability (6 Platforms: Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 +2 more).

AI-Powered Decision Intelligence

Final Verdict:
Age of Empires IV
Age of Empires IV

Composite scores are within 5 points. Age of Empires IV edges ahead on sample-size-adjusted user satisfaction.

Composite scores are within 5 points. Age of Empires IV edges ahead on sample-size-adjusted user satisfaction.

Analysis Quality
high
Based on rich data across all key dimensions.
Weighted Composite Analysis · Updated November 2026
high Confidence Level
SoftwareHope
Google Search Preference

Prefer SoftwareHope on Google

Get SoftwareHope highlighted in your Google searches for software research.

⭐Prefer SoftwareHopePrefer us on Google
Ad Placement Opportunity
Available Spot

Promote Your Software to Games Apps Decision Makers

Slot StatusAvailable Slot
Apply for Spot

Frequently asked questions: Age of Empires IV vs Path of Exile

Which is better: Age of Empires IV or Path of Exile?

Composite scores are within 5 points. Age of Empires IV edges ahead on sample-size-adjusted user satisfaction. The best choice still depends on your team's workflow, budget and required integrations — use the side-by-side sections above to check the details that matter to you.

How do users rate Age of Empires IV and Path of Exile?

Age of Empires IV is rated 4.7/5 from 134 user reviews. Path of Exile is rated 4.5/5 from 4 user reviews. Ratings come from approved user reviews on SoftwareHope.

How much do Age of Empires IV and Path of Exile cost?

Age of Empires IV starts at $39.99/month. Path of Exile has a free plan. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's site, as plans change.

Do Age of Empires IV and Path of Exile offer a free plan or free trial?

Age of Empires IV does not list a free plan or trial; Path of Exile offers a free plan.

Which platforms do Age of Empires IV and Path of Exile support?

Age of Empires IV supports Windows PC and Xbox Series X/S; Path of Exile supports Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

Which is easier to use, Age of Empires IV or Path of Exile?

Age of Empires IV has an ease-of-use rating of 4.7/5, Path of Exile has an ease-of-use rating of 4.5/5. The difference is small, so both are similarly easy to adopt.

Most Helpful Reviews

Community-voted helpful feedback from verified users

Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV analytics tracking system

by Kyle C.

Super clean interface with responsive controls. Highly recommended for anyone looking for high-quality entertainment apps.

Pros:Offline download capabilities work smoothly for mobile listening and viewing.
Cons:Personalized recommendation algorithms take a few days of usage to calibrate.
Was this review helpful?
Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV feature automation system

by Olivia K.

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.

Pros:Age of Empires IV delivers fast performance with intuitive media controls.
Cons:Free version includes periodic ad breaks between streams.
Was this review helpful?
Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV performance workflow system

by Sean T.

Using Age of Empires IV has been great for listening and viewing on mobile. The offline download feature works reliably during commutes.

Pros:User interface is clean, modern, and easy to navigate for daily entertainment.
Cons:Catalog availability can vary slightly depending on regional licensing.
Was this review helpful?
Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV fast processing speed and

by Wendy G.

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.

Pros:Integrates seamlessly across mobile devices, desktop, and smart TVs.
Cons:Mobile application requires background data permissions for offline sync.
Was this review helpful?

Login to read full user reviews

Free account — takes 10 seconds

or

No credit card required. Create account

Trending Software

Calculated via real engagement & conversions

#1
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V
4.0 (250)
34 pts
#2
Devil May Cry 5
Devil May Cry 5
4.2 (248)
33 pts
#3
Arcade Classics
Arcade Classics
4.5 (4)
32 pts
#4
Assassin\'s Creed Valhalla
Assassin\'s Creed Valhalla
4.3 (251)
31 pts
#5
God of War
God of War
4.2 (253)
31 pts

Users Also Compared

Age of Empires IV vs Cities SkylinesAge of Empires IV vs Civilization VIPath of Exile vs Dragon\'s DogmaPath of Exile vs Fallout 4

Best Alternatives in Games Apps

Other highly-rated software you might want to consider

Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2

4.5
4 verified reviews
Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins

4.5
4 verified reviews
Elden Ring

Elden Ring

4.9
149 verified reviews
Uncharted 4

Uncharted 4

4.9
126 verified reviews
StarCraft II

StarCraft II

4.9
138 verified reviews
Tekken 8

Tekken 8

4.8
146 verified reviews