AOW is a good turn-based strategy game. Combining elements of Heroes of Might and Magic, Lords of Magic, and Master of Magic has made for a successful game design.
With the power to hire heroes, build armies and discover numerous artifacts there is a lot of strategy required to win in this game. The difficulty is adjustable so it is a good game for both newcomers to the genre and veterans.
The graphics are good, but a little dated at this point. The music and sound effects are quite effective.
The campaign mode has quite a good story, and numerous random maps increase the replayability.