After buying all the expansions for Age of Wonders 4, I finally had the chance to spend some time with the latest one: Secrets of the Archmage.

My first impression is positive overall, but with a few frustrations that stopped me from fully loving it.

What I liked

The story scenarios are probably my favorite part of the expansion.

They do a really good job introducing the new mechanics naturally instead of throwing everything at the player at once. The pacing feels good and each scenario gives you a reason to experiment.

The new tomes are also surprisingly fun. What I appreciated most is that some of them can be picked very early in the game, so you immediately start playing with new tools instead of waiting until late game.

For a while, the expansion manages to recreate that feeling that Age of Wonders 4 still has endless possibilities and can stay fresh even after many campaigns.

Another welcome change is the updated Imperium talent tree. Being able to spend Imperium differently compared to previous runs makes progression feel more flexible and gives more room for experimentation.

What disappointed me

Unfortunately, once the novelty starts to fade, some of the old problems come back.

Combat still becomes repetitive after a while and, personally, after seeing the new units in action a few times, I found myself going back to auto combat more often than I expected.

The other issue for me is balance.

Some tomes still feel too dominant compared to others — especially the ones that unlock Zephyr Archers and war machines.

Of course, you can choose different routes and playstyles if you want variety, but those tomes provide such a strong army power spike that I never really felt encouraged to explore alternative paths seriously.

Is it worth it?

Overall, my first impression of Secrets of the Archmage is positive.

There are good ideas, fun additions, and enough content to make another campaign feel exciting.

That said, considering the €49 expansion pass price, I honestly expected a bit more.

If you already love Age of Wonders 4 and plan to keep playing long term, there is value here.

But if you're buying mainly for this expansion alone, I would probably wait for a discount.

My first impression: 7/10