Rise of Nations: Extended Edition Gets a Lighting Upgrade With RoN Enhanced

There's certainly a nostalgic charm to the way older strategy games look, but that doesn't mean we wouldn't mind seeing a few of them dressed up a little. Rise of Nations is a good example. Watching civilizations grow from humble settlements into sprawling cities is still satisfying, and better lighting could make those familiar battlefields and bustling towns look considerably more inviting.

RoN Enhanced, created by 0corexpsx, has released another update to its visual overhaul of Rise of Nations: Extended Edition. This time, the focus is on lighting and atmosphere. The new effects give light a more natural appearance across buildings and landscapes, smooth out jagged edges, and add a subtle haze to distant terrain. It's the sort of work that could make a noticeable difference when your little settlement has grown into a city covering half the screen.

The update also brings reorganized settings, additional launcher languages, and optional changes intended to improve online play. Players using DXVK should be aware that the new lighting and image-smoothing features aren't compatible with it, so they'll need to choose which option to use.

For anyone returning to Rise of Nations, the attraction is straightforward: a fresher-looking world without replacing the empire-building and battles that made the original game worth playing. The strategy hasn't changed. The scenery just gets some overdue attention.