Random Map is the primary game mode throughout the games of the Age of Empires series. In the mode, the player starts out with a map randomly generated for each game. The overall topography of the map remains the same on each map type, with different landscapes and landforms on every corner of the map. The size of the map and the number of players affect the generated terrain of the map.
Additionally, The Conquerors introduces Real-World maps based on real locations around the world. While their geography is of fixed size and will always resemble their real-world counterpart, resources are randomly distributed around the map every time it's played.
Name
Description
Image
Britain
Expect lots of naval combat in the North Sea and across the English Channel.
Byzantium
Rome never truly fell, it just changed continents.
Central America
The Aztecs and Mayans vie for domination of Central America with invaders from across the sea.
France
Re-enact the Moslem invasion and the Hundred Years' War.
Iberia
The Iberian Peninsula, including Spain and Portugal.
Italy
Rome has fallen and the peninsula is up for grabs.
Mideast
Where continents, cultures and world religions collide.
Norse Lands
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Holland.
Sea of Japan (East Sea)
Japanese warships and Korean Turtle Ships do battle in this rocky sea.
Texas
Relive the classic Mayan and Korean skirmish in the Lone Star State.
Custom Maps
Ensemble Studios created additional Custom Maps for The Conquerors that were originally available for download on the official website. They were later included with Patch 1.0c, Gold Edition and HD Edition. The filenames for all of maps begin with "ES@" to help players find them during multiplayer.
Name
Description
Image
Canals
A network of canals creates a spider web effect as they try to connect every player’s starting town.
Capricious
Starting food, gold and stone might be at normal levels, in short supply, or in abundance. Starting trees will always be the same.
Dingos
Villagers shepherd their flocks while avoiding rampaging wild animals. Lots of sheep, lots of wolves, no Scout.
Graveyards
Control weed-choked graveyards packed with scary trees and abandoned buildings that conceal resources and ancient relics.
Metropolis
Control three Town Centers, three sets of villagers, three Scouts and three sets of resources!
Moats
Each player’s town is surrounded by a narrow body of water with several land bridges for access and moats narrow enough for ranged units to fire across.
Paradise Island
Start on a tropical island with your enemies. The map is loaded with fish, boars, and berries. Find the three relics at the base of the volcano in the center, but beware of the guardians!
Pilgrims
Your starting island may be small, but there is a whole new world to discover! Hop in your Transport and race your enemies to the new world!
Prarie
Food is often scarce and there aren’t a lot of natural defenses, but your two Scouts can cover a lot of ground.
Seasons
Based on the 4 seasons in a year, with a 25% chance of loading up a Winter map, Spring map, Summer map, or Autumn map.
Sherwood Forest
Multiplayer only. Your town is surrounded by forests, yet you can walk freely through them. Use your hunting wolf to scout the terrain or for sneak attacks on your enemy’s villagers.
Sherwood Heroes
Single player version of Sherwood Forest. Start out with some familiar heroes.
Shipwreck
A few bruised villagers and their waterlogged sheep stranded on a desert island.
Team Glaciers
In the frozen north, each team must defend its own hunk of ice and snow against frequent enemy raids. Bad weather makes ships and walls rare, though strangely, this has led to a bumper crop of deer.
The Unknown
Everything is random. Everything. From the moment the game starts, you have to scout (with a random number of Scouts, of course) to figure out whether you are on an island, a mainland, or inside a clearing of trees.
The Forgotten
The Forgotton includes twelve standard maps, with many featuring a unique variation on standard gameplay. Three additional maps are also available only for Capture the Relic mode, as well as an option to randomly select between these maps.
Name
Description
Image
Acropolis
Battle on the barren slopes of your base as you defend your hill and conquer the enemy's.
Budapest
Two towns and a plethora of wildlife odder unconventionally intense battles.
Cenotes
An open land studded with sinkholes but only a few clusters of trees.
City of Lakes
An endless maze of lakes and rivers winding through a sparsely forested desert.
Golden Pit
A ravine filled with gold beckons but its depths loom treacherously as enemies lie in wait on the other side.
Hideout
A palisade wall provides only false comfort over the palpable feeling of enemy lurking just around the corner.
Hill Fort
A fortified stronghold perched on a mountain top may be virtually impregnable but scarce resources and lack of space drive players to expand their empires into the lowlands around.
Lombardia
A handful of cities on opposite ends of a wintry landscape must share, trade and coordinate in their efforts to defeat the enemy.
Steppe
Dare you leave the safe shelter of the trees to hunt the graceful deer roaming the open ground?
Valley
A dried up river stands between enemy towns but also poses an opportunity as animals gather there to gulp down the last drops.
MegaRandom
Ever dreamed of an endlessly unpredictable map where anything is possible and nothing is guaranteed? Multiply it by ten and you have... MegaRandom
Hamburger
The ultimate Easter Egg map. Located on either side of the tasty burger, will you eat through it, or sail around the bun and surprise the enemy?
CtR Monsoon
One of the three most challenging Capture the Relic maps. There is only limited space to build on as most of the map is covered in endless marshes, which in the coldest seasons turn to ice. The relic stands in the centre, enclosed in a sacred grove of trees.
CtR Pyramid Descent
One of the three most challenging Capture the Relic maps. Players appear huddled up around the relic atop a vast pyramid but their monasteries lie all the way on the bottom stair.
CtR Spiral
One of the three most challenging Capture the Relic maps. The center of the map has been engulfed in a spiral of deep waters and the only way to reach the relic is to follow the current in long and treacherous circles.