Grab one of these laptops and enjoy Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

The best laptops for Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition don't need to be particularly powerful, but they do need to be a lot more modern than the original game's system requirements from 20 years ago. If you've been waiting to get in on this game's fun, there's really no better time than now. It continues to grow month after month, with new players consistently joining the ranks. It's so popular it's even getting a "Lords of the West" expansion, expected late January 2021. Here are a bunch of great laptops that will let you enjoy Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition to its full potential.

True Gaming Laptop

HP OMEN 15

Staff Pick

Kicking things off is a laptop that brings dedicated GPU performance (up to an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super) and 10th Gen Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPU. The 15-inch 1080p (FHD) display comes with up to a 300Hz refresh rate, and there are plenty of ports for connecting gaming accessories. If you want to play other more demanding games besides Age 2, this is a great choice.

From $730 at HP

From $1,159 at Amazon

$1,150 at Best Buy

Best 15-Inch Ultrabook

Dell XPS 15 9500

Editor's choice

Dell's XPS 15 9500 is our top pick for a 15-inch Ultrabook thanks to an unbeatable design, strong internal hardware, and beautiful display options. The integrated graphics packed in with the 10th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU should be enough for Age 2, but you can always add a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti for much better performance. If you're splitting time between work and play, this makes a great option.

From $1,127 at Dell

$1,700 at Amazon

From $1,700 at Best Buy

Budget Gaming

ASUS TUF Gaming FX506

Don't want to spend more than $1,000? The ASUS TUF Gaming FX506 comes in well below, yet offers a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti dedicated GPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). This will handle more demanding games than Age 2, plus it has RGB keyboard lighting and a sturdy build.

$800 at Best Buy

$829 at Amazon

$718 at Walmart

Modular Surface

Surface Book 3 15

The best Surface for playing Age of Empires 2: DE is the 15-inch Surface Book 3. It brings a 15-inch touch display with 3240x2160 resolution, 10th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti dedicated GPU, and a modular design that lets you detach the tablet portion for use on its own. If you want to play a Microsoft game on a Microsoft product, this is the way to go.

From $2,300 at Microsoft

From 2,300 at Amazon

From $2,300 at Best Buy

Convertible Gaming

Lenovo Yoga 9i 15

Lenovo's refreshed Yoga 9i 15 brings a sharp convertible design complete with a soundbar hinge, stunning touch display with thin bezel, and overall thin chassis. The laptop comes with a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 or Core i9 CPU, as well as a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti GPU for extra gaming performance. If you're looking for a versatile laptop that works just as well in a professional setting, this will fit well.

From $1,450 at Lenovo

From $1,800 at Best Buy

$2,389 at Newegg

Ultimate Ultrabook

Razer Book 13

Razer's new Book 13 makes a run for the best overall Ultrabook on the market, bringing a pristine design, beautiful IGZO display, comfy keyboard and touchpad, and awesome audio from top-firing speakers. The 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or Core i7 will have no problems handling Age 2, especially with new Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. If you want to game in style and have a laptop for professional work, give this one a second look.

$1,600 at Amazon

From $1,200 at Razer

If we're making some suggestions

Any of the above laptops will be able to handle a quality Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition playthrough, but we recommend checking out the HP OMEN 15 if you want a quality gaming laptop that doesn't break the bank. Get up to an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super dedicated GPU and 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H CPU for unreal performance. It'll handle modern games at high framerates, which makes sense when paired up with a 300Hz 1080p display. Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, RGB lighting, and lots of ports are some features that help sell the already relatively affordable price.

For those who want to game on a laptop that can double in a professional setting, the Dell XPS 15 9500 is hard to beat. It has a 15-inch display that's better for gaming than 13 inches, and it has a 10th Gen Intel Core i5, Core i7, or Core i9 CPU. The CPU is accompanied by an NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti dedicated GPU, and it'll all look great on the 16:10 display with almost no bezel at all. Check out our Dell XPS 15 9500 review for more information.

If you'd rather game on a full desktop, we also have a guide to the best pre-built PCs for playing Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition. And for more great hardware you can take with you, our best Windows laptop guide has plenty more options. Not sure if the game is for you? Our Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition review has all the info you need.