In the pantheon of real-time strategy (RTS) games, few titles hold as much reverence as Age of Empires II . Released in 1999, the base game— The Age of Kings —established a gold standard for historical strategy. However, it was the 2000 expansion pack, Age of Empires II: The Conquerors , that polished the experience into a flawless gem, creating a competitive and cultural legacy that persists more than two decades later.
Released in August 2000, Age of Empires II: The Conquerors (AoC) stands as a landmark in real-time strategy (RTS) history. Developed by Ensemble Studios , this first expansion pack for Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
You cannot easily buy The Conquerors as a standalone disk anymore (though old CDs fetch high prices on eBay). Instead:
For nearly 15 years, Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors (version 1.0c) was the standard for competitive play on platforms like and GameRanger .
The Conquerors also delivered three new single-player campaigns that are still remembered for their narrative depth and challenge.
Mastering the Middle Ages: The Legacy of Age of Empires II: The Conquerors
