Age of Empires III is a real-time strategy game that was released in 2005. It is the third game in the Age of Empires series and is set during the colonization of the Americas. The game allows players to control one of eight European civilizations, each with unique units, technologies, and abilities. Players must gather resources, build colonies, and train armies to compete against other civilizations. The game was well-received and has been followed by two expansions, as well as a sequel, Age of Empires IV.