Age of Empires III suffers from the comparison with its predecessor, and its community profile says so plainly.

Almost every criterion lands near the bottom, between 1% and 11%. Gameplay at 3%, immediate fun at 5%, addictiveness at 2%, visual direction at 1%, world-building at 1%. The one score that genuinely stands out is desert island appeal at 76%, which is notable and suggests some players still find lasting value in it despite everything. The social experience lands at 21%, modest but above the rest of the profile.

For a historical RTS, these scores are very low. Age of Empires II, covering a similar period and identical genre, scores significantly higher across most emotional criteria with the community.

If you're a fan of the series and want to explore this entry out of curiosity or nostalgia, you might find something worthwhile. If you're looking for the best entry point into Age of Empires, this clearly isn't it.