Cheats have always been a fun part of the Age of Empires (AOE) series, and Age of Empires IV is no different.
Over time, these cheats have evolved from simple functions like turning off Fog of War to crazy additions like ED-209 droids from Robocop, shotgun-wielding tricycle babies, and even monster trucks.
These cheats not only add fun but also give players some quirky, overpowered units to experiment with. Cheats in AOE games became so popular that many players looked forward to new installments just to see what kind of hidden codes and tricks the developers included.
Age of Empires IV took a little while to introduce cheats, but it eventually joined the series’ legacy with a bunch of fun and useful codes.
These cheats may not be as wild as some in the older versions, but they bring back fond memories for long-time fans.
How Cheats Came to AOE IV
It took a few months, but Age of Empires IV eventually introduced cheat codes, and fans were excited. While the cheat system isn’t as wild as previous games, it offers a good mix of helpful and fun cheats that are easy to use.
For those who are wondering how to activate and use these codes, here’s everything you need to know.
How to Activate Cheats in Age of Empires 4?
Activating cheats in AOE IV is pretty simple. You don’t need to mess around with files or download any mods. Instead, cheats are built directly into the game.
They became available with an update about eight months after the game launched.
To start using cheats, you need to follow these steps:
- Launch a Campaign or Skirmish against the AI.
- Go into the Game Mode window and check the box labeled “Cheats.”
- Once the game starts, press Enter to open the chat box.
- Type the cheat code (make sure it’s in lowercase and properly formatted).
If the cheat doesn’t work, check your spelling and spacing. These codes can be used at any time during gameplay, and you can repeat them as often as you like.
Cheat Codes in Age of Empires IV
The cheat codes in AOE IV cover a wide range of effects. Some of the old classics are still available, like the Photon Trooper (a laser-shooting soldier) and God Mode.
Other codes give you instant resources, reveal the map, or even allow you to lose the game instantly.
Here are the codes broken down into categories:
Resource Cheats
| Cheat Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| inna jiffy | Instantly build or research anything. |
| full meal deal | Gives 100,000 food. |
| i have an app idea | Adds 100,000 gold resources. |
| take it for granite | Provides 100,000 stone. |
| knock on wood | Adds 100,000 wood. |
| smorgasboard | Gives you 100,000 of every resource. |
| age me up scotty | Advances your civilization to the next age. |
| king size beds | Activates max population cap. |
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Map Based Cheats
| Cheat Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| i give up | Makes you instantly lose. |
| make it quick | Kills selected units and buildings instantly. |
| anti-poke | Activates God mode for units and buildings. |
| it is known | Reveals the entire map. |
| minimally minimal | Hides the UI. |
| out with the new | Changes the modern attack alarm to the classic AOE2 alarm. |
Unit Spawn Cheats
| Cheat Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| you monster | Kills all animals instantly. |
| big bad wolf | Transforms all sheep into wolves. |
| at the core | Spawns one of each core unit. |
| one of us | Converts a highlighted enemy unit to your side. |
| this is fine | Sets selected buildings on fire. |
| zeleport | Teleports selected units to the current cursor location. |
| photon man | Spawns the iconic Photon Trooper. |
Campaign Cheats
| Cheat Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| another round | Slow-mo mode in the campaign |
| another cup | Turbo mode in the campaign |
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Final Thoughts
The inclusion of cheats in Age of Empires IV was a long-awaited feature for many fans. Even though these cheats disable achievements when used during campaigns or skirmishes, they add a lot of fun to the gameplay.
Whether you want to flood your resources or create chaos with instant builds, these cheats offer a great way to mess around with the game.
While cheats in AOE IV aren’t as wild as in some of the earlier versions, they still provide a good mix of nostalgia and practicality. So go ahead and experiment—just remember, these codes are case-sensitive, and entering the same code again can deactivate it. Enjoy the chaos!