Quality of Life Hotkeys That Are Missing in Age of Empires 4
As a die-hard RTS player, I feel compelled to address some glaring omissions in Age of Empires 4. My experience spans across nearly every major RTS title: Age of Empires 1, 2, 3, 4, Online, the DS version, Age of Mythology, Starcraft 1 and 2 (all expansions), Command & Conquer, Total Annihilation—you name it, I’ve played it. Why am I emphasizing this? To make it clear: I know how crucial intuitive controls and hotkeys are to the RTS experience, both for reducing wrist strain and for enabling efficient management of units and economy.
The Problem:
Age of Empires 4 lacks critical hotkeys that exist in other Age titles and are standard for RTS games. Their absence isn’t just inconvenient—it actively hinders the gameplay experience, leading to more unintended inputs and frustration for both pro and casual players. The omission of these hotkeys is especially detrimental to civs that rely heavily on specific units, like the HRE, Japanese, and Ayyubids using monks in battle.
Here are the missing hotkeys that absolutely must be added:
- Select all monks/religious units
- Select all idle traders
- Select all idle monks
- Select all traders
- Select all villagers currently gathering food
- Select all villagers currently gathering wood
- Select all villagers currently gathering gold
- Select all villagers currently gathering stone
- Select all idle fishing ships (currently grouped as idle economic units, which is insufficient)
The absence of these hotkeys impacts gameplay flow, increases micromanagement frustration, and makes the game feel less polished. These are fundamental quality-of-life improvements that should already exist, given their presence in older Age titles. Their inclusion would enhance the experience for everyone, from casual players learning the ropes to competitive players looking to optimize their strategies.
Why It Matters:
These hotkeys aren’t just conveniences; they’re essential tools that reduce cognitive and physical strain, allowing players to focus on strategy instead of wrestling with inefficient controls. Ignoring these features feels like developer oversight—or worse, apathy toward player feedback.
Call to Action:
This is low-hanging fruit for improving Age of Empires 4. It’s a simple yet impactful update that could significantly enhance the player experience. I urge the developers to prioritize these changes in the next patch. Otherwise, it sends a disappointing message about the game’s future direction and commitment to quality.
If I’ve missed any other critical hotkeys, feel free to add them in the comments below. Let’s make sure our voices are heard!