What is the SCN file format?
Files with the .scn extension store game scenarios for Age of Mythology, a real-time strategy game developed by Ensemble Studios. .scn files are also used by the Age of Empires series - which shares engine heritage with AoM - yet the two formats are not cross-compatible. Each .scn file is a proprietary binary container holding:
- The map terrain grid and layout,
- Starting locations of units and buildings per player,
- Trigger and effect scripts (win conditions, scripted events),
- Scenario metadata and player settings.
Creating and editing .scn files
Scenario files ship with the vanilla game and are stored in the Scenario subfolder of the game's install directory. AoM scenarios can be built or modified using the built-in Scenario Editor. The Titans expansion introduced the .scx compressed scenario format for easier distribution; the uncompressed .scn remains the base format. Related map-scripting uses .rms random map script files. To play a downloaded scenario, place the .scn file in the Scenario folder and select it from the in-game Custom Scenario menu.
Age of Mythology game series
Age of Mythology was developed by Ensemble Studios and published in 2002 by Microsoft. The game is set in ancient times and players can choose from three original civilizations: Greeks, Egyptians, and Norse. The Titans expansion added the Atlanteans as a fourth faction. The game draws heavily from mythology and legend. In 2016, the Tale of the Dragon expansion introduced a fifth civilization, the Chinese. A full remaster, Age of Mythology: Retold, was released in 2024, and its Scenario Editor retains the .scn format.
Security & safety
RISK: MEDIUMOfficial scenario files are data, not programs, and are safe. The real risk is custom scenarios from untrusted sites: scenario triggers can run game-engine actions, and downloads are sometimes bundled with extra files. Get scenarios from reputable community sites (e.g. AoMHeaven/AoEHeaven, Steam Workshop) and beware any 'scenario' delivered as an .exe - that's not a scenario file.
Format details
in a nutshell- 3D scene file (various 3D apps) - Some 3D/animation tools (e.g. NeoAxis, certain ray tracers) save scene descriptions as .scn.
- SecuROM / Sony DADC dongle file - A .scn appears with some SecuROM-protected games as part of copy-protection data, not user content.
- Generic scanner output / Kermit screen dump - Older software occasionally used .scn for scanned data or terminal screen dumps; obsolete.
Programs that open SCN files
Windows3 apps
Age of Mythology (Retold / Extended Edition)
Paid Copy the .scn into the game's Scenario folder, then launch the game -> Single Player -> Scenario to play; use the Editor (Tools) to open and edit it.
Age of Empires II (Definitive Edition)
Paid Place the scenario in the AoE II scenario folder; open via Editor or play from the Scenario menu. (AoE II often uses .scx for compressed scenarios.)
Age of Empires (Definitive Edition)
Paid Open the .scn in the in-game Scenario Editor, or place it in the scenario folder to play it. AoE scenarios are not compatible with AoM. Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Binary game scenario (proprietary container, not an open standard) |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Compression | Uncompressed; the companion .scx format applies zlib compression for smaller distribution packages |
| Container sections | Terrain grid, player configuration, unit and building placement, trigger/effect scripts, scenario metadata |
| Map size limit | Constrained by editor presets (tiny, small, medium, large, giant) |
| Game engine | Age of Mythology: Bang! engine; Age of Empires: Genie engine - formats are engine-specific and not interchangeable |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Typical file size | Tens of KB to a few MB depending on map complexity and trigger count |
| Internal format version | Engine-specific; binary header versioning differs between AoM and AoE titles |
| Superseded by | .scx (compressed scenario) for community and official scenario distribution in multiple titles |
| Activation method | Copy file to the game's Scenario folder; load via the Custom Scenario menu in-game |
| Cross-title compatibility | AoM .scn and AoE .scn files are not interchangeable despite sharing the same extension |
| Editor tool | Built-in Scenario Editor (shipped with the game; retained in Age of Mythology: Retold, 2024) |
| Related formats | .scx (compressed scenario), .rms (random map script), .cpx / .cpn (campaign data files) |
| Released | Age of Empires (1997); Age of Mythology (2002) |
| Latest version | AoM scenario format (.scn) as shipped with the AoM editor; .scx is the compressed variant |
SCN conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about SCN files.
