: You can often find used copies of the Age of Empires II: Age of Kings CD-ROM or the Gold Edition (which includes the Conquerors expansion) on sites like eBay or Amazon.
The most reliable way to get the original experience on modern computers is through official digital storefronts.
: Note that running the original 1999 CD version on Windows 10 or 11 may require community patches (like the UserPatch) to work correctly with modern resolutions and hardware. 3. Community Platforms (Voobly) download original age of empires 2
: This is the current standard for the series. While it features overhauled 4K graphics and new civilisations, it includes all the original campaigns and content. It is available on the Microsoft Store and Steam . 2. Buying Physical Copies
: Formerly known as the " HD Edition ," this is the closest digital version to the original 1999 release. It retains the original art style and mechanics but includes minor updates for compatibility with modern Windows. You can find it on Steam listed as "Retired," though it is still available for purchase. : You can often find used copies of
How to Download the Original Age of Empires II If you’re looking to (specifically the 1999 Age of Kings and its Conquerors expansion), the landscape has changed significantly since its initial release. While the "original" disc version is no longer officially sold by Microsoft, there are several legal ways to experience that classic 2D gameplay today. 1. Official Digital Versions
Many purists still play the original version online via . To use this, you generally need an installation of the original game (from CD or the Steam "Retired" version). Voobly provides a client that supports the original CD-version's multiplayer and applies balance patches used by the competitive community. System Requirements for the Original (1999) It is available on the Microsoft Store and Steam
If you manage to source a copy of the 1999 version, it has extremely low requirements by today's standards: Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Age of Empires II Definitive Edition