You take command of a society and guide it through four distinct eras, or "ages." The game opens in the Dark Age, with only a handful of buildings and units available; once you have met the requirements, you can advance to the Feudal Age, unlocking new upgrades, buildings, and units, then to the Castle Age — where you can raise the mighty Castle and produce powerful forces, including your civilization's unique unit — and finally to the Imperial Age, evoking the dawn of the Renaissance, when the full breadth of your civilization's upgrades, units, and structures becomes available. At the heart of your economy are the Villagers, whom you can direct to move, build, gather resources, repair structures, garrison inside a Castle or Town Center for safety, and more — the indispensable backbone of any thriving empire.