Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends
Windows - 2006
Description of Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends
2006, the year Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends was released on Windows. Made by Big Huge Games, Inc. and published by Microsoft Corporation, 1C Company, this strategy game is available for free on this page.
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends has a lot of mods, you can find some on ModDB or Rise of Legends Heaven
External links
How to play Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends Windows
The game has been tested on Windows 7 64-bit and Windows 10, works fine. The game supports widescreen and ultra-high resolutions up to 4k. You may experience some small troubles when you play the game on modern systems, check our Guide and Notes for details
We recommend to install DVD re-release that was published in US & North America in 2010. That version includes all patches and doesn't require the disc for launch (DRM-Free)
Install & play guide (for 2010 DVD re-release):
- Mount the disc image. You will need the utility for mounting disc image files, like WinCDEmu, UltraISO, Alcohol 52%/Alcohol 120% or Daemon Tools Lite
- Install the game (if autorun doesn't work - simply launch the installation from Setup.exe inside the disc)
- Also it is recommended to install DirectX 9 from the disc (if you're using Windows 10 - enable DirectPlay, read this or this guide how to do it)
- Open the directory with the game and find Legends.exe. Right click on Legends.exe - Properties - Compatibility - Set "Run this app in compatibility mode with Windows XP" and "Run as administrator"
- Launch the game, enter serial key and play. If the game doesn't work in compatibility mode with Windows XP - try to launch it in compatibility mode with other version of Windows (98,2000 or Vista)
Install & play guide (for European CD version):
- Mount the disc image. You will need the utility for mounting disc image files, like WinCDEmu, UltraISO, Alcohol 52%/Alcohol 120% or Daemon Tools Lite
- Launch the installation (if autorun doesn't work - simply launch the installation from Setup.exe inside the disc)
- When the installation process will ask for CD2 - mount the disc image of CD2. CD2 must be mounted in same virtual drive as CD1, so first un-mount disc image of CD1 and then mount the disc image of CD2. In example, if CD1 was in virtual drive G:, CD2 must be mounted in virtual drive G: as well. Do the same when the installer will ask for next discs
- Also it is recommended to install DirectX 9 from the disc (if you're using Windows 10 - enable DirectPlay, read this or this guide how to do it)
- Once you installed the game - install the patch v2.5
- The installer for patch v2.5 comes as an archive. You must extract all files from the archive, copy it into game directory, and then run patch_manual.bat as administrator
- After that install NoCD (simply copy Legends.exe from the archive and put it into directory with installed game, agree to replace original file)
- Open the directory with the game and find Legends.exe. Right click on Legends.exe - Properties - Compatibility - Set "Run this app in compatibility mode with Windows XP" and "Run as administrator"
- Launch the game and play. If the game doesn't work in compatibility mode with Windows XP - try to launch it in compatibility mode with other version of Windows (98,2000 or Vista)
Here's also similar guide by PlayOldPCGames website
Notes:
- If the installation doesn't start - try to launch Setup.exe in compatibility mode with old version of Windows (98, 2000 or XP)
- The game got multiple updates after its release, but unfortunately that updates were distributed only through the GameSpy service which was shut down in 2014. Luckily, fans found the way to make an installer for the latest patch v2.5
- Patch v2.5 for English version comes as an archive. You must extract all files from the archive, copy it into game directory, and then run patch_manual.bat as administrator. Patch v2.5 for German version comes as installer; probably, it should be compatible with other versions too
- Patch v2.5 supposed to remove DRM protection, but if it didn't happen - use NoCD
- If you have troubles with installation of patch - check this thread. Here's also video tutorial how to install that patch
- The game works on DirectX 9, so if you're using Windows 8, 8.1, 10 or 11 - you need to enable DirectPlay: Go to Control Panel, and select 'Programs'. Select 'Turn Windows features on and off', click on 'Legacy Components' and check the box 'DirectPlay'. Select OK, once the installation is done, restart your computer
- It is recommended to install all versions of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for the correct work of the game
- Also it is recommended to install RAD Video Tools and K-Lite Codec Pack for the correct work of the game
- The game is using PhysX, so it is recommended to install PhysX Legacy Drivers for the correct work of the game
- If you get the error "MSXML4.0 is not installed correctly" - go to the game directory and run msxmlenu.msi as administrator, to install MSXML 4.0. If you already have installed MSXML - delete it and install again, from that msxmlenu.msi
- If you get an error about graphics card unable to be initialized, go to
Documents/My Games/Rise of Legendsand delete everything inside - If you have any graphical glitches or bugs - run the game with dgVoodoo. Just copy dll-files from the MS/x86 folder, dgVoodooCpl.exe and dgVoodoo.conf to the game folder, then run the game from Legends.exe. If you want to change dgVoodoo settings - open dgVoodooCpl.exe
- If you have troubles with Russian version of the game - check this thread
- For users of Windows 64-bit systems: if the game doesn't work after you launched it - open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del by default) and check for processes Legends.exe and rundll32.exe. Close Legends.exe but don't touch rundll32.exe (it's a Windows app for running old apps from 32-bit operational systems, most old games running through rundll32.exe). Now try to launch the game again, it must work. Don't forget to close rundll32.exe process in Task Manager after finishing playing
- Check PCGamingWiki and Rise of Legends Heaven if you have troubles with the game
Captures and Snapshots
Comments and reviews
fungus 2025-04-09 -1 point
managed to install it but the gane constantly gave this battery alert, i know my laptop battery is broken but is there a toggle to turn it off? can`t find it in the option
ameliataylor 2025-03-27 0 point
Microsoft cancelled its deal with Big Huge Games to produce successive Rise of Nations titles, including plans to develop Rise of Nations 2. In addition, 38 Studios developed an unreleased Rise of Nations game, titled Rise of Nations: Tactics, following their acquisition of Big Huge Games in 2009. Later that year, a Gold edition of Rise of Nations was released, which included both the original and the expansion. Microsoft acquired the intellectual property for the Rise of Nations franchise in 2013.
https://wines123.blogspot.com/2025/01/rose-wine.html
MikaMikasan 2024-12-13 1 point
The US DVD version works like charm, only have to enter serial every time I open the game.
JM 2024-08-24 3 points
Just installed this on Windows 10 after numerous failed attempts using files sourced elsewhere. This was the first one that worked. I also like that all the files are on one ISO disc image. Thank you good sir or madame! You are a... legend!
Couize 2024-07-12 0 point
You can download the French path here !
https://traductionjeux.com/Rise%20of%20Nations-Rise%20of%20Legends.html
Slugs 2023-10-04 8 points
Installed fine on Linux but cannot enter CD Key. The first box is limited to 4 characters but the other boxes accept all 5 characters.
Marietto 2023-09-05 1 point
Hello,
I installed the game and it works fine, I have only one problem: the enemies do not move and are doing nothing. Even if I set the difficulty to Hardest, the AI is not doing anything. Any advices to fix it?
JJ 2023-07-13 2 points
Hey Hey people 2010 version works great no issues just mount drive and install. Serial key included in the download as a jpeg image enter when launching the game as in the instructions.
admin 2023-07-12 3 points
@CIREEEEEE Product codes (aka Serial keys) are available in Downloads, filename is Serial keys :-|
Plus Serial keys are inside the archive with the game
@BIGVJKV All links should be working, checked right now, everything works. Try to right-click on the link and select "Save as...", it should work
BigVjkV 2023-07-12 6 points
what the fuck
decided to revisit this page after Sseth made a vid about it and madd amounts of people flocked to this place. Based
Someone link me a goddamn torrent please cuz the links dont work for me for some odd reason
cireeeeee 2023-07-12 1 point
Hey Hey People. Where Am I supposed to get a product code from? I wouldn't have expected an abandon ware site to care about such legalities
admin 2023-06-19 11 points
We have updated the game, added more languages plus 2010 DVD re-release that includes DRM-Free version with all patches
Doomstick 2023-03-15 -1 point
A great RTS. I still have the disked version and runs great on windows 10. I still play to the day. The above person said no conquest mode but there is kinda. It remided me of Dawn of war the dark crusade's Campaign map.
andreas aspenberg 2022-05-18 2 points
it is not working. all it does is blink the system. the windows blink a few times and then it returns to normal operations.
Mala 2022-03-09 3 points
I loved this game as a kid. To install it, mount the disc 1 .bin file. I used virtual clone drive to do so. You'll be able to see the contents. Find the setup.exe file and run it. Follow the instructions. You'll mount the discs in orders from 1-4 as the installer works. Then it gets a little funky after the install is over if you're on windows 10. I had to click the exe for the game several times before the game would play. I had to open task manager and end the process after the first few times didn't work. The fourth time the game opened. Enjoy!
Kekero 2022-02-03 0 point
Played this when I was 8, managed to finish the Vinci campaign really fun game as I remember. let's see if this is as good as I remember it being. The interface seemed good enough for 8-year-old me.
gg 2021-12-23 1 point
Yes, its a great game, solid RTS, great designs, nice graphics, and an even rarer Steampunk game. Sadly I remember it missing a good skirmish conquest mode that made Rise of Nations infinitely more repayable. Sure you can play the story mode or map skirmish, but why they couldn't add a global conquest skirmish mode I'll never understand. Some great games from the time had that problem.
Obeliske 2021-09-10 2 points
I remember buying this one in a Zellers. Honestly it's a solid game became a little steamrolly on the players side in later missions but gameplay was solid and controls were simple. I really loved the setting and was pretty sad there was never a part two to this. I think I can actually blame this for my lifelong love of Steampunk and Alt history TBH.
Frantic Adder 2021-07-11 1 point
It can be janky at times, but if you were a fan of Rise of Nations and have a major steampunk itch like me, you'll enjoy this a lot. It finally got me to download Virtual CloneDrive.
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Share your gamer memories, help others to run the game or comment anything you'd like. If you have trouble to run Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends (Windows), read the abandonware guide first!
Download Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends
We may have multiple downloads for few games when different versions are available. Also, we try to upload manuals and extra documentation when possible. If you have additional files to contribute or have the game in another language, please contact us!
Windows Version
Disc 1
662 MB
DownloadEnglish version (EU release)Disc 2
686 MB
DownloadEnglish version (EU release)Disc 3
608 MB
DownloadEnglish version (EU release)Disc 4
690 MB
DownloadEnglish version (US release)2010 DVD re-release, includes all patches, DRM-Free
2.9 GB
DownloadGerman versionDisc 1
646 MB
DownloadGerman versionDisc 2
686 MB
DownloadGerman versionDisc 3
608 MB
DownloadGerman versionDisc 4
688 MB
DownloadPolish version 
2.4 GB
DownloadRussian versionDisc 1
892 MB
DownloadRussian versionDisc 2
597 MB
DownloadRussian versionDisc 3
532 MB
DownloadRussian versionDisc 4
630 MB
DownloadTaiwanese release, Traditional ChineseDisc 1
632 MB
DownloadTaiwanese release, Traditional ChineseDisc 2
690 MB
DownloadTaiwanese release, Traditional ChineseDisc 3
610 MB
DownloadTaiwanese release, Traditional ChineseDisc 4
691 MB
Manual 14 MB
Game Extras
Various files to help you run Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, apply patches, fixes, maps or miscellaneous utilities.
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