The games are played on a 2D landscape filled with grass, trees, mountains, rivers, etc. The player and the computer control armies separated into squads. All squads have the same number of "hitpoints". Most units can only attack targets in adjacent cells in main compass directions. Several are able to attack at range and diagonally. Combat consists of one unit attacks another, then the target retaliates. If the player has a castleon the level, he/she may purchase additional units from it. The first game requires the player's king to be in the castle for this to happen. This restriction has been removed in the sequel. Standard victory condition for the first game is to kill the enemy king, who is usually found at the castle, making him doubly difficult to kill. In the second game, the kings take a more active role in the gameplay, as they are not required to stay at the castle. Commanders are now able to be purchased at the castle after they are killed. Units gain experience for attacking enemies. Units with low HP may be placed in a castle or a town to heal. Different types of terrain give different defense and movement bonuses to units in them. For example, roads give no defence bonus, as they are good places to be ambushed, but allow a unit to move further per turn. Alternatively, a mountainous area gives a lot of defense bonus as the enemy has to fight uphill, but they are difficult to traverse.
Story
Part 1
The game takes place in a fantasy medieval kingdom of Thorin ruled by the benevolent King Galamar. The game begins with Galamar barely escaping a bloody coup by his younger brother Valadorn, who has taken control of the kingdom and declared a hunt on his brother. Galamar has few troops with him, and he is constantly being attacked by Valadorn's Red Legion. In the first part of the campaign, Galamar has to gather allies in order to strike back at his brother. These allies include the Lizard King, the Wizards of the GreyTower, the Wyverns captured by Valadorn's forces, etc. Once Galamar defeats Valadorn for the last time, he realizes that his brother was under demonic control. The game ends with a cliffhanger.
Part 2
The sequel begins almost immediately after the first game ends, as Galamar and Valadorn must now fight off a demonic invasion headed by the demon Saeth. The brothers split up in their attempt to defend their land. They find out that the demons focus their attacks on several temples and are stealing mystical crystals. They finally arrive to face Saeth himself, only to find that he has used the crystals to activate an ancient weapon of great power - Heaven's Fury. Now the brothers must use whatever forces they have with them to defeat Saeth's army and the great demon himself before he is able to destroy the kingdom with the weapon.
Spin-Off
An Android and iOS spin-off version of the game titled Ancient Empires: Reloaded is currently available on Google PlayStore and Apple AppStore. The game is fan-made and features new units, customized maps and new storyline.
