The game maintains the core gamplay from the three previous games; the player must build a working economy to produce military units, and then go to war against enemies. Iron and coal are needed to produce weapons that are used to "recruit" soldiers from the pool of workers. This, in turn, requires mines and food production. All buildings require wood and stone to build, and all settlers need living space, which means a chain of infrastructure is required before armies may be produced.

The game contains three playable races; the Mayans, the Vikings, the Romans. Each race has three missions available. There is also a much longer campaign; "The Dark Tribe Campaign", where the player switches between the three main races from mission to mission and faces the threat of the mysterious Dark Tribe, who turn the land into a wasteland. Over the course of twelve missions, the player fights against pirates, renegades, and the Dark Tribe itself. In the end the Mayans, Vikings and Romans unite to defeat the Dark Tribe.