Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a turn-based strategy game for PC developed by Triumph Studios and published by Paradox Interactive. It is the fifth installment in the Age of Wonders series, and the first one to abandon the high fantasy setting. Planetfall is set in the science-fiction world of Star Union, a ruined intergalactic government, destroyed by an unknown disaster.

The player takes the side of one of the remaining human factions and leads them against others in an attempt to rebuild crumbled humanity and bring forth a new Age of Wonders. The game combines the strategy elements with the 4X mechanics – map exploration, expanding factions territory, exploitation of resources and extermination of enemies. Age of Wonders: Planetfall offers both single-player campaign and multiplayer mode. 

Gameplay

The core gameplay mechanics of Age of Wonders: Planetfall revolves around gaining control over the world of the game. To do that player must engage the enemy factions on several levers, including battle and diplomacy. At the beginning of the campaign, the player chooses their faction and customizes its leader. As the leader of the faction, the player has the power to broker peace or declare war, as well as assign secret operations, like espionage.

The game’s map is created procedurally. Sectors of the map are made of biomes, which contain resources that player will have to harvest to progress. Resources can be spent on production, growing produce for food and collecting energy. Players can also invade camps of other factions to steal their resources and technological advancements.

Combat in Age of Wonders: Planetfall is turn-based and observed from a top-down perspective. Each turn allows the player to take three actions, like opening fire or taking cover. Certain actions can “stagger” the enemy, disrupting their special attacks, etc.  

Campaign mode and factions

The story of Age of Wonders: Planetfall’s campaign mode is set in the sci-fi universe of Star Union, an intergalactic human government. Due to an unknown cataclysm, the Union was destroyed and humans scattered across space. New factions arose from the collapsed government, each fighting for control over decimated mankind. The player takes the role of one of the faction leaders. Their job is to find out what caused the cataclysm that destroyed the human race and to assert dominance as the true leader of humans.   

Age of Wonders: Planetfall features six factions which players can choose to be the leader of, including the Vanguard, space explorers and colonizers, the Amazons, a faction of women, who ride dinosaurs into battle, the Dvar, a dwarf-like faction of miners and Kir’ko, former slave race, who use the fall of the union as a chance to regain independence. Each of the factions possesses special traits and abilities to use in battle and during exploration. 

Reception

Age of Wonders: Planetfall received positive first impressions from the critics, who commended the developers for trying to take the series into a new direction. Among the praised elements of the game, what stood out the most was the sci-fi setting, varied factions, with their own doctrines to follow and interesting military units – especially the dinosaur-riding Amazons, and certain mechanics of the game, such as Secret Technologies. 

Prices on G2A.COM

Age of Wonders series has a history of being one of the best turn-based strategy series’. It has managed to maintain this title since the first game, released nearly 20 years ago. By taking Planetfall in the new direction, and abandoning the fantasy setting in favor of the outer space, developers took a huge risk.

If you want to find out if it was worth it, you should purchase Age of Wonders: Planetfall at G2A.COM. The verified marketplace sellers offer the game at competitive prices and the built-in browser will let you know if there is any DLC available. Buy the Age of Wonders: Planetfall digital download key today on G2A.COM. 

Premium and Deluxe editions

Age of Wonders: Planetfall Premium Edition includes additional content to make the conquest of space even more entertaining. Premium Edition includes the Pre-Order content, which comes with the Paragon Noble cosmetic pack. This pack gives the player the option to change the look of their units and bring chic and shine into the farthest reaches of the universe.

Additionally, Premium Edition comes with the Deluxe Edition of the game, which gives the players access to two new cosmetic packs – Bravado Bundle and Space Punk. Deluxe Edition also provides the player with the chance to take on new scenario planet missions in the Infested Worlds, where they must confront alien plants and animals as well as the vengeful race of the Kir’ko.  With Deluxe Edition players can also enjoy the artwork made for the game and original soundtrack.

Premium edition includes all the content available in the deluxe edition as well as a season pass for all the game’s forthcoming downloadable content, wallpapers for the computer and forum icons, which can be used on the aow.triumph.net website.    

Key features:

• Age of Wonders series reaches for the stars in the new intergalactic setting
• Choose one of the factions and lead them to discover the truth behind the cataclysm that destroyed the Space Union
• Engage other factions on the battlefield, using a variety of units and tactics in turn-based skirmishes
• Develop your power using resources gathered from a procedurally generated map
• Lead your people to intergalactic domination using all means necessary, from diplomacy to war
• Premium Edition offers new interesting content, such as skin packs and scenario missions