Info about Age of Mythology: Retold - Expansion Pass:

Official game description:
The next Age of Mythology begins here.
Secure your place among the gods with the Age of Mythology: Retold – Expansion Pass—an all-in-one collection of mythic content culminating in the arrival of the Aztec pantheon in Obsidian Mirror, the most ambitious expansion yet for Age of Mythology: Retold.
Buy once and enjoy the next four releases automatically on their respective release dates - no separate purchases, no waiting. As a Pass holder, you’ll receive exclusive rewards, premium value, and mythic variety across four epic additions.
**Why the Expansion Pass:**
\- Exclusive Pack: Bonus Blood & Bones Pack available only with the Pass.
\- Great Value: Save 10% versus individual releases.
\- Pre-Order Bonus: Pre-order during the pre-sale for an extra 15% off.
\- Ultimate Convenience: One purchase. Automatic unlocks. Mythic content, delivered.
Included Mythic Releases:
1\. Demeter God Pack – Become a Force of Nature
Command the power of the harvest goddess herself. Unleash new god powers and myth units that reshape the battlefield and bend the will of nature to your strategy.
2\. Ultimate Fan Pack – A Golden Mark of Support
Show your devotion to Age of Mythology: Retold with this supporter-themed collection.
Adorn your temples and town centers with shimmering gold, display unique pantheon icons, and stand out as one of the faithful.
3\. Blood & Bones Pack – Beauty in Battle
Witness warfare like never before. This visual overhaul introduces dynamic blood systems, prismatic essence for myth units, and evolving transitions that make each skirmish feel visceral and alive – exclusive to Expansion Pass owners
4\. Obsidian Mirror – Rise of the Aztec Gods
The centerpiece of the Expansion Pass. One of the most requested pantheons in franchise history finally ascends.
Enter the world of the Aztec gods in a sweeping 12-mission campaign that spans continents and celestial realms.
Wield divine monsters, call upon gods like Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl, and lead your civilization through an era of obsidian fire and sacrifice.
This is more than an add-on - it’s a full-scale expansion introducing an entirely new culture, pantheon, and divine playstyle.
The Expansion Pass is the ultimate way to experience every new chapter of Age of Mythology: Retold - from fresh divine powers to one of the most anticipated pantheons ever forged.

Release date: Feb 10, 2026

Categories: Real-time Strategy, Base Building, Age of Mythology Setting, Campaign Mode, Deckbuilding, Monster Raising, Multiple Civilizations and Pantheons

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 20; verdict: Fair / Traditional DLC Concerns; summary: The filtered reviews are dominated by dissatisfaction with paid DLC and expansion pass value: too little content, high DLC prices, and content that some feel should have been free or included in the base game. There is no direct evidence of real-money gacha, loot boxes, in-game currency, pay-to-win mechanics, or a microtransaction shop. Under the audit rules, these traditional DLC and season pass complaints cap the score at 20.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews consistently use the base game as the positive value benchmark. They criticize the expansion pass and DLC content as overpriced or only worth buying on sale or at half price, while still treating the base game as a good deal and worth recommending. This suggests the community accepts the base game near its standard full price, roughly $30, as fair, with a reasonable fair range of about $20-$30. No review directly complains that the base game itself is overpriced, reinforcing that the fair base-game price sits near its normal full price rather than at a deep discount.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: No review provides explicit playtime hours for the Age of Mythology: Retold - Expansion Pass itself. The only numeric playtime mentions refer to Age of Mythology: Retold overall (1600 hours) or an ambiguous 'this game' (200 hours), not specifically to the Expansion Pass, so they are rejected. Campaign descriptions mention 12 missions or a single launch mission but do not give hour estimates. Therefore, gameCompletion, storyCompletion, sessionLength, and endgame cannot be determined from the available evidence and are all null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Mixed reports: some players find the Demeter God Pack fun with friends or in late game, but the stronger DLC-specific evidence says the playstyle never clicks due to boring god powers, bugs, weak techs, and balance issues.
  - Stance: Never clicks
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Balance issues with over/underpowered units; Boring and uninspiring god powers; Lack of economic techs for late game; Insignificant techs from unique minor gods; Buggy and boring design; Demeter God Pack playstyle did not click
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Late game with Persephone; Avoiding naval maps where Persephone cannot raise ships; Archer-focused technologies and rapid growth; Relevant minor god choices; Personal preference for the Demeter playstyle
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-Driven AoM Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Continue the Age of Mythology story and support the franchise they have long followed.
    - Playstyle: Campaign-focused and collection-oriented, revisiting classic gods and new campaign content.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: veteran players; die hard fanbase
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Casual PVE and Myth Unit Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Casual fun with new gods, myth units, and PVE content.
    - Playstyle: Campaign and skirmish against bots, experimenting with new pantheons and units.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: PVE players
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Competitive Multiplayer Balance-Seeker (no buy)
    - Motivation: Competitive multiplayer viability, balance, and fresh maps or strategies.
    - Playstyle: Ranked PVP, unit matchup analysis, and optimizing build orders.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Value-Conscious Sale-Waiter (sale)
    - Motivation: Get worthwhile content for the money without overpaying for thin DLC.
    - Playstyle: Flexible; plays the base game and evaluates DLC purchases based on content value.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Aztec civilization and campaign shine (weight 0.42): The Aztec civilization and its campaign are considered creative and fun to play. The myth units and overall Aztec theme are highlights of the expansion.
- Demeter adds new gameplay mechanics (weight 0.24): Demeter introduces new mechanics and a fresh playstyle focused on economy and resource gathering. Her myth unit specialization adds strategic depth.
- Expansion Pass is well-received (weight 0.22): Players find the expansion pass to be good, beautiful, and full of enjoyable content. It adds a lot of stuff that enhances the overall experience.
- Aztec pantheon is extensive (weight 0.11): The Aztec pantheon includes a full campaign with 12 missions, three major gods, and nine minor gods, along with new myth units. It fulfills fan expectations.
- Obsidian Mirror is standout (weight 0.11): The Obsidian Mirror is considered the heart of the expansion pass and the only part truly worth it. It is a major highlight.
- Developers responsive to feedback (weight 0.1): The developers are praised for listening to community feedback and fixing Demeter's issues. This responsiveness is appreciated by players.
- Blood & Bones pack is good (weight 0.1): The Blood & Bones pack is a good expansion with improved graphics and many settings options. It is well-received by players.
- Hera's myth unit buffs are strong (weight 0.1): Hera can buff Cyclopes and other myth units significantly, and still summons myrmidons. This makes her a powerful choice for myth unit strategies.

Common complaints:
- Demeter is weak and unbalanced (weight 0.59): Demeter lacks consistent human troop buffs, has weak myth units, and is not useful after the early raid defense stage. Many consider her the worst god ever created and significantly worse than other Greek gods.
- Ultimate Fan Pack lacks value (weight 0.33): The Ultimate Fan Pack offers zero gameplay content and is purely cosmetic, with many calling it worthless and ugly. It is essentially just a badge for acquiring all items at once.
- Poor value for money (weight 0.33): The DLC is not worth the price tag, offering little content relative to its cost. The complete game purchase is cheaper than this DLC, making it a poor deal.
- DLC feels rushed and unbalanced (weight 0.29): The overall DLC feels rushed and poorly balanced. The Demeter god pack released with bugs and is unbalanced.
- Blood and Bones pack paywalled (weight 0.19): Blood features are only available through the full Expansion Pass, not as a separate DLC. Even those who bought the most expensive version must make an additional purchase to access the Blood and Bones pack.
- DLC lacks substantial content (weight 0.16): Not all included DLCs contain actual content, and the DLC is lacklustre overall. Many feel it is not worth it.
- Demeter lacks cohesion (weight 0.11): Demeter doesn't feel smooth or cohesive compared to other major gods. Her minor god selection leaves a bit to be desired.
- Demeter pack lacks depth (weight 0.11): The Demeter god pack is just one major new god and one mythological battle. It offers a handful of new powers, units, and upgrades but feels insufficient.

Gameplay feedback:
- Demeter adds new Greek god (weight 0.84): Demeter is a new Greek major god with unique powers, units, and upgrades. She introduces a distinct playstyle and expands the Greek pantheon.
- New myth units introduced (weight 0.41): Myth units include harpies, lykanos, dryads, medusas, and sirens. These units have unique twists and special abilities as part of the god's kit.
- Demeter God Pack content (weight 0.35): The Demeter God Pack adds new gameplay for existing civilizations, featuring Demeter, three minor gods, four god powers, and four myth units. It offers a new playstyle for the Greek civilization.
- Blood and Bones pack effects (weight 0.34): The Blood and Bones pack adds blood effects, blood pools, and skeleton models that fit the game's animations. It includes dynamic blood and gore effects.
- Demeter minor gods and powers (weight 0.31): Demeter has access to minor gods, including Hera instead of Hephaistos in age 4, and Persephone as a minor god choice. She also has god powers and myth units.
- Aztec expansion adds pantheon (weight 0.29): The Aztec expansion introduces the Aztec pantheon and campaign. It includes sacrifice and fear mechanics, as well as favour, myth units, god powers, and a villain.
- Demeter economic and defensive focus (weight 0.23): Demeter is an economic, agriculture-focused Greek major god centered on economy as a weapon and defense. She is the fourth Greek major god, with a nature and defense theme.
- Aztec civilization unique mechanics (weight 0.18): The Aztec civilization uses Tonalli as a favor source, harvested from fallen enemies. Aztec human units use stealth and trapping mechanics to disrupt the enemy.
- New campaign added (weight 0.18): A 12-level epic campaign is included, adding a new campaign mode to the game. The expansion also adds a new god and a new pantheon.
- Greek gods and myth units (weight 0.11): The game includes Greek gods with unique units and myth units, heroes, and god powers. It is an RTS featuring these elements.
- Demeter pack adds Hestia (weight 0.11): The Demeter pack includes the new god Hestia and the Hamadryad, a tree-disguised myth unit. It adds a new Greek deity to the Greek pantheon.
- Aztec faction anticipated (weight 0.1): An Aztec faction is anticipated as an upcoming faction in the game.
- Ultimate Fan Pack cosmetic items (weight 0.1): The Ultimate Fan Pack provides gold statues for temples and town centers, as well as gold retextures for town hall and temple statues and profile pictures.

Performance notes:
- DLC causes severe performance issues (weight 0.16): Players report significant lagging, low FPS, and game hangs lasting minutes after downloading the DLC for the expansion pass. These performance problems appear consistently across multiple reports.
- Bots matches broken after update (weight 0.06): Matches with 10 bots that previously ran flawlessly are now described as a mess. This suggests a regression affecting bot-based gameplay.
- Lycans buggy and clunky (weight 0.06): Lycans are reported to be super buggy and clunky with their transformations. This points to issues with the transformation mechanics.

Recommendations:
- Expansion Pass Value Debated (weight 0.45): Many reviewers debate whether the Expansion Pass is worth its price compared to buying individual DLCs. Some find it a good deal if you want all content, while others see it as pointless if you only want specific parts.
- Wait for Sale (weight 0.32): A common recommendation is to wait for a sale or discount before purchasing the Expansion Pass. This advice appears frequently across reviews, suggesting that the full price may not be justified for many players.
- Not Worth Full Price (weight 0.26): Several reviewers state that the Expansion Pass is not worth buying at full price or at this stage. Some explicitly advise against purchasing it now or skip it entirely.
- Aztecs and Demeter Value (weight 0.26): The Aztec civilization and Demeter god pack are highlighted as key reasons to buy the Expansion Pass. Some consider the pass the best value way to get the Aztecs.
- Buy DLCs Separately (weight 0.22): Many suggest buying only the desired DLCs separately instead of the full Expansion Pass. This is often recommended for those who only want the Aztecs or only Obsidian Mirror.
- Positive General Recommendation (weight 0.22): A number of reviewers simply recommend the Expansion Pass or DLCs positively, sometimes with strong enthusiasm. They find it fun and worth the money.
- Obsidian Mirror Priority (weight 0.15): For those only interested in Obsidian Mirror, buying that DLC alone is recommended over the full pass. It is seen as the main draw for some players.
- Concerns About Quality (weight 0.15): Several reviewers express concerns about the quality of the content, such as unpolished skeletons or lack of detail. They recommend holding off until these issues are addressed.
- Support Developers (weight 0.14): Some players encourage buying the DLC to support the developers and ensure future content. They believe that supporting the game is important even if it's not cheap.
- Good Deal on Third-Party Sites (weight 0.14): Some reviewers bought the Expansion Pass at a discount on third-party sites like Green Man Gaming. They suggest checking those stores for better prices.
- Wait for Community Feedback (weight 0.13): Some players plan to wait for community feedback before buying future expansions. This cautious approach is recommended to avoid disappointment.
- Recommended for Veterans (weight 0.11): Veteran players who were hesitant are encouraged to buy the Expansion Pass without hesitation. This group finds the content particularly appealing.
- Try Base Game First (weight 0.1): Advice to try the base game before deciding on the Expansion Pass is given by multiple reviewers. This helps players determine if they enjoy the core gameplay.
- Blood Pack Not Worth It (weight 0.06): A few reviewers regret buying the Expansion Pass just for the blood pack DLC. They find it not worth the additional cost.
- Mixed Reviews Misleading (weight 0.06): One reviewer notes that mixed or negative reviews may be misleading because content is released gradually and patches are regular. They encourage looking beyond initial reviews.
- Campaign and Bot Players (weight 0.06): Players who enjoy campaign or playing against bots may find the Expansion Pass fun and worth buying. This is a niche but positive recommendation.
- Refund Consideration (weight 0.05): One reviewer suggests that it might be worth getting a refund for the Expansion Pass. This indicates strong dissatisfaction with the purchase.
- Future Content Speculation (weight 0.05): Some players speculate about future season passes and the potential for the game to become definitive. They base this on the quality of current DLCs like Obsidian Mirror and Demeter.
- Pre-order Recommendation (weight 0.05): One reviewer recommends the pack if you bought it as a pre-order. This suggests that pre-order buyers may find value in it.
- Murderous Rabbits Myth Units (weight 0.05): A specific highlight is the murderous rabbits myth units, which one reviewer highly recommends. This quirky addition is a unique selling point.

Other player notes:
- Expansion Pass DLC Contents (weight 0.42): The Expansion Pass includes four DLCs: the Aztec pantheon and campaign, New Gods Pack: Demeter, Ultimate Fan Pack, and Blood & Bones Pack. This bundle is the primary way to obtain all these contents together.
- Gradual Content Release Schedule (weight 0.29): Content from the Expansion Pass is released over time, with only Demeter available so far. The remaining DLCs, including the Aztecs, are planned for future release.
- Blood Effects Sold via Pass (weight 0.25): Blood and gore effects are sold as part of paid content, specifically through the Expansion Pass or season pass. This has been a point of contention among players.
- Pricing Concerns and Value (weight 0.23): The expansion pass is considered expensive by some, but others find it worth the price for the content offered. The price is seen as a premium for a loyal fanbase.
- Aztecs as Upcoming Civilization (weight 0.22): The Aztecs are a new civilization that will be added to the game as part of the Expansion Pass. Players are eagerly anticipating this addition.
- Pricing Compared to Separate Purchase (weight 0.22): The Expansion Pass costs the same as buying Demeter and Obsidian Mirror separately, but includes additional content like the Ultimate Fan Pack and Blood & Bones Pack. Some reviewers note that the complete game is cheaper than the DLC.
- Ultimate Fan Pack Cosmetics (weight 0.21): The Ultimate Fan Pack is a cosmetic pack that includes golden decorations, such as golden statues and a support badge. It also provides old graphic pictures and options to transform god statues into solid gold.
- Support for Game Development (weight 0.2): Some reviewers purchase the DLC to support the game's development and ensure its longevity. They are willing to keep paying for more story and new gods.
- Comparison to Original Game Blood (weight 0.19): Reviewers compare the new death and gore effects to the original game's blood effects, noting differences in presentation. The original game included blood effects in the base game.
- Obsidian Mirror and Future Content (weight 0.19): Future content includes the Obsidian Mirror expansion, which can be purchased separately. The Expansion Pass includes this content, and it is seen as a standard for future DLC.
- Waiting for Rest of Content (weight 0.19): Reviewers are waiting to see the rest of the expansion content and will update their reviews accordingly. They hope the Aztecs meet a higher standard.
- Demeter DLC and Hera Content (weight 0.18): Reviews mention the Demeter DLC, which includes the goddess Demeter and possibly Hera. Demeter had a rocky launch but was improved with patches.
- Blood and Bones Pack Details (weight 0.18): The Blood & Bones pack adds blood and skeleton effects for units, including human skeletons and prismatic blood for myth units. It also includes graphics and settings options.
- Developer Responsiveness to Feedback (weight 0.17): Developers listen to comments and complaints about the expansion and are quick to respond to issues. They have made changes to Demeter and continue to improve the game.
- Comparison to Other Age Titles (weight 0.17): Reviewers compare the DLC to other Age of Empires titles, such as Age of Empires 4's announced DLC. Some note that this game's DLC is more cost-effective than other expansions.
- Community Backlash Over DLC (weight 0.15): There is community backlash regarding the first three DLCs, likely due to pricing or content issues. The mixed reviews are partly attributed to disappointment with the blood pack.
- Expansion Pass Adds New Civilization (weight 0.14): The Expansion Pass adds a new civilization (Aztecs) and a god pack (Demeter). This is a key selling point for the expansion.
- Aztec Pantheon Campaign Details (weight 0.13): The Aztec pantheon includes 12 campaigns and is integrated into Age of Mythology. The Aztec DLC is considered a large content update.
- Remaster and Graphical Updates (weight 0.12): The game received a remaster or restyling, with updated graphics and portraits. The Ultimate Fan Pack provides old graphic pictures.
- Season Pass and Annual Content (weight 0.12): The game has a season pass and annual pass concept, with DLCs unlocked gradually. The Expansion Pass is the only way to obtain certain blood features.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.18): The expansion pass failed to deliver expected value, with many feeling it costs as much as the base game while offering minimal content like only one god pack and one campaign level. Demeter was criticized as bugged, weak, and uninspired, lacking her own campaign, and the cosmetic packs were overpriced and low quality. Overall, the DLC felt rushed, unbalanced, and not worth the price.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Players are frustrated by persistent technical issues such as AI misbehavior, cursor bugs, lag, and translation errors, which hinder enjoyment. The Aztec and Demeter packs are seen as unbalanced and clunky, with weak myth units and broken animations. Many resent paying extra for content like blood effects that were free in previous editions, and they feel the developers are ignoring ranked balance.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.13): The Aztec civilization and campaign are highly praised for being creative and fun, making the expansion pass worthwhile for many. Demeter, despite initial issues, has been improved through developer responsiveness, and the Blood and Bones pack adds enjoyable customization. Overall, the content is considered a successful remaster with good value.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): The addition of the Aztec pantheon with unique mechanics like sacrifice and fear brings new life to the game, and the new Greek goddess Demeter offers fresh strategies. Players are thrilled about the new units, campaign, and the potential for future content in the expansion pass.
- Anticipation (weight 0.04): Players are eagerly looking forward to upcoming Aztec content, including the campaign and new pantheon, as well as future DLC like the Obsidian Mirror. There is hope for additional major gods and continued expansion of the game's mythology.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): The developers are commended for listening to community feedback, responding quickly to issues, and showing care in the DLC. The focused design of Demeter and innovative mechanics like the hearth are particularly valued.
- Hope (weight 0.03): Players are hopeful for future expansions, including a possible fourth Egyptian major god, and believe the developers will continue to polish the game over time. Faith in the developers is based on their handling of Age of Mythology so far.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.03): The limited content, such as only one usable god and map, and weak myth units make the expansion feel lacking. Visual and audio elements like healing farms and death effects are underwhelming, and the mythical battle mission is short and unimpressive.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Players enjoy the variety of mission objectives, the customization in the Blood and Bones DLC, and the fun of playing as Greeks with Demeter or using Aztec content. Specific mechanics like Pan's werewolves add to the enjoyment.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger stems from feeling cheated by extra charges for the blood pack through a season pass, and from missing content like the Aztec civilization. The expansion pass is seen as a low-effort cash grab, especially for long-time fans.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): The Ultimate Fan Pack is criticized for having no gameplay value and poor visuals, while blood features are locked behind an expensive pass. Buggy lycans and AI issues with Demeter further annoy players.
- Caution (weight 0.02): Players express caution about facing difficult characters like Malinalxochitl, the lack of actual content in some DLCs, and Demeter being rough around the edges. They advise waiting for improvements before investing.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is driven by the inclusion of Greeks and Aztecs, with a desire for more pantheons and content like Demeter, golden statues, and the blood pack. Demeter is seen as enriching the Greek faction more than Freyr did.
- Optimism (weight 0.02): Players are optimistic about the upcoming Aztec pack based on promising reveals and the quality of previous Chinese and Japanese content. They look forward to how the new pantheon will be implemented.
- Fondness (weight 0.01): Fondness is expressed for the Aztec campaign's story, which is a favorite among new campaigns, and for the Aztec civilization overall. The base game is also deeply loved by these players.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.01): The golden cosmetic pack feels pointless, and the mythical battle could be better. The overall cost value is considered a little bad, with content not being very deep.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed by the creative implementation of the Aztec pantheon and the well-executed design of Demeter. These additions stand out as high-quality content.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise arises from unexpected content like Monty Python-themed additions in Age of Mythology, and from the DLC costing as much as the base game itself.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love is expressed for nostalgic elements like shiny gold statues in the Ultimate Fan Pack and for Age of Mythology being a cherished childhood game. These features evoke strong positive feelings.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness is felt due to the lack of unique skeletons for myth units, and because blood and bones content is locked behind a paid pack rather than being free for all. The Aztec pantheon also did not meet expectations for some.}