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Total War Games
Developed by Creative Assembly, Total War games are a series of strategy and management games that combine careful planning with massive, epic battles. They blend a turn-based campaign, where you manage your empire, with real-time tactical battles, where you control your armies directly on the battlefield. The first game, Shogun: Total War, was released in 2000 and set the basic formula for the series. Since then, the games have added improved graphics, enhanced AI, deeper systems, and numerous new features. The series has also grown beyond simple historical wars, moving into fantasy worlds like Warhammer, while still keeping the same core idea of building an empire and leading armies to victory.
Total War Games
Unlike many other strategy games that only focus on one style of play, Total War games combine turn-based empire management with real-time battles. This gives you the best of both worlds and keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting. You can command huge armies with thousands of soldiers, using realistic formations and tactics to win. The battles look very cinematic, with detailed units, environments, and animations.
Total War games are also about more than just fighting. On the campaign map, you manage your cities, control your economy, build armies, and make important choices about diplomacy and alliances. You can decide whether to trade, form friendships, or go to war with others. Every choice affects your empire’s future. Because of this mix of planning, politics, and action, each campaign can feel different, and players can create their own stories of rise, struggle, and victory. This makes Total War games feel unique and worth every penny:
Buy the Best Total War Games
Mentioned below are the best Total War games that one should try, especially if you are a fan of strategy and management games:
Total War: Pharaoh
Total War: Pharaoh takes players to ancient Egypt during the fall of the Bronze Age. You can choose your leader, build your empire, and survive disasters and invasions. The game focuses on realistic history and detailed battles, letting players feel the power and challenge of ruling in a time of chaos.
Total War: Pharaoh Release Date: October 11, 2023
Total War: Warhammer III
Total War: Warhammer III ends the legendary fantasy trilogy with massive battles, dark gods, and epic stories. Players can choose different factions and fight across the Realms of Chaos. The game mixes fantasy and deep strategy to deliver one of the biggest and most intense Total War experiences.
Total War: Warhammer III Release Date: February 17, 2022
Total War: Warhammer II
Total War: Warhammer II expands the fantasy world with new lands and powerful factions. Players can control elves, lizardmen, dark elves, or Skaven in a fight for the Great Vortex. It combines empire building and real-time battles for endless strategy and adventure.
Total War: Warhammer II Release Date: September 28, 2017
Total War Games Features
Total War games blend turn-based empire management (grand strategy) with massive, real-time tactical battles, featuring deep diplomacy, economy, and city-building on a campaign map, which sets them apart from other games in the category. These games also mix big-picture planning with detailed control of battles, making the game more engaging. Let’s take a look at the features closely:
- Dual gameplay style: Total War games are split into two main parts: a turn-based campaign map and real-time battles. On the campaign map, you plan your empire, and in battles, you directly command your armies.
- Real-time tactical battles: When two armies meet on the map, the game switches to a real-time fight. From there, you can control units like infantry, cavalry, archers, artillery, and sometimes ships as well, to try to win the battle.
- Turn-based campaign map: Outside of battles, the game plays in turns on a big world map. Each turn, you can move armies, manage cities, handle money, research tech, and plan your next moves.
- Diplomacy and politics: In Total War games, you not only fight, but you can also talk to other factions. You can make alliances, trade deals, and military pacts, but there can also be betrayal and spying.
- Multiple unique factions: Each Total War game has many playable factions, and each one feels different. For example, Rome focuses on strong infantry, while Shogun 2 clans use samurai, ninjas, and later gunpowder units.
- Empire and economy management: You must manage money, food, and growth to keep your empire alive. Bad choices in taxes or expansion can cause civil unrest, rebellions, and a weak army.
- Massive cinematic battles: Battles often have thousands of soldiers fighting at once. Terrain, weather, and sometimes destructible objects can change how the fight plays out and who has the advantage.
- Morale and psychology: Soldiers are not robots; they can become scared and run away. If they take heavy losses, are flanked, lose their general, or feel surrounded, their morale drops, and they can rout.
- Characters, lords, and heroes: Some games have strong leaders with skills, items, and special abilities. They can level up, gain traits, and sometimes even duel enemy leaders, which can change the outcome of battles and the campaign.
- Fantasy systems: Historical games use realistic units and weapons, but Warhammer games add magic and monsters. You can summon spells, control dragons or flying units, and use powers that do not exist in real history, making those games feel very different.
All Total War Games List
Here is a list of all the main entries in the Total War series in order of release:
|
Full name |
Full release date |
Developer |
Publisher |
Release Platforms (at launch) |
|
Shogun: Total War |
13 June 2000 |
Creative Assembly |
Electronic Arts |
Windows |
|
Medieval: Total War |
20 August 2002 |
Creative Assembly |
Activision |
Windows |
|
Rome: Total War |
22 September 2004 |
Creative Assembly |
Activision |
Windows |
|
Medieval II: Total War |
11 November 2006 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows |
|
Empire: Total War |
3 March 2009 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows |
|
Napoleon: Total War |
23 February 2010 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows |
|
Total War: Shogun 2 |
15 March 2011 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows |
|
Total War: Rome II |
3 September 2013 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows |
|
Total War: Attila |
17 February 2015 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows, macOS, Linux |
|
Total War: Warhammer |
24 May 2016 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows |
|
Total War: Warhammer II |
28 September 2017 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows |
|
Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia |
3 May 2018 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows, macOS, Linux |
|
Total War: Three Kingdoms |
23 May 2019 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows, macOS, Linux |
|
A Total War Saga: Troy |
13 August 2020 |
Creative Assembly Sofia |
Sega |
Windows |
|
Total War: Warhammer III |
17 February 2022 |
Creative Assembly |
Sega |
Windows, macOS, Linux |
|
Total War: Pharaoh |
11 October 2023 |
Creative Assembly Sofia |
Sega |
Windows |
Total War Gameplay Tips and Tricks
Here are some simple tips and tricks that will help you play Total War games more efficiently, doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or improving your strategy. These points focus on smarter expansion, army control, and battlefield tactics so you can win more campaigns with fewer mistakes and make better use of your units and resources. Let’s dive in:
- Secure borders and economy first: Always defend your frontiers and build income in safe provinces before starting big wars or rapid expansion. This will act as a strong foundation and a backup.
- Expand only when it’s worth it: Capture regions that give good money, are important spots, or are easy to defend. Don’t stretch your armies too thin.
- Use diplomacy to stay safe: Make trade deals and non-aggression pacts early. Be careful with military deals that can push you into bad wars.
- Use lords and heroes wisely: Give lords skills that make their armies stronger. Send heroes to explore, weaken enemies, and watch their movements.
- Move and use stances carefully: Use ambush stance on paths enemies use a lot, with a bait army nearby. Don’t use the march stance near enemies unless you’re sure it’s safe.
- Make strong battle lines: Put infantry in front, ranged units behind them, and cavalry on the sides. Keep a few units in the back to guard your archers.
- Take advantage of the map: Put ranged units on hills, block enemies in narrow paths, and hide troops in forests to surprise the enemy.
- Hit with missiles first: Let archers and artillery attack before melee starts. Protect them with infantry so they don’t get stuck in close combat.
- Break their morale, not just their health: Kill or scare the enemy general, attack from the sides and back, and focus on units that are already scared or tired.
- Watch stamina and roles: Let tired units rest and swap them out when you can. Use cavalry for flanking, anti-large units for big targets and cavalry, and ranged units to deal damage from a distance.
Total War Games Ranked
Here are all the main Total War games ranked from best to worst, highlighting fan favorites at the top and more divisive entries toward the bottom, based on critical appreciation and long-term popularity.
- Total War: Shogun 2
- Total War: Three Kingdoms
- Total War: Warhammer II
- Empire: Total War
- Napoleon: Total War
- Total War: Warhammer
- Total War: Rome II
- Total War: Attila
- Medieval II: Total War
- Rome: Total War
- Total War: Shogun
- Total War: Thrones of Britannia
- Total War: Warhammer III
More Games Like Total War
If you enjoy big strategy games like Total War, with huge battles, empire building, and deep tactics, then you’ll probably like these games as well.
- Crusader Kings III (2020)
- Europa Universalis IV (2013)
- Hearts of Iron IV (2016)
- Stellaris (2016)
- Victoria 3 (2022)
- Imperator: Rome (2019)
- Total War: Pharaoh (2023)
- Total War: Warhammer III (2022)
- Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019)
- Knights of Honor II: Sovereign (2022)
- Manor Lords (2024)
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord (2022)
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening (2023)
- Ultimate General: Civil War (2017)
- Grand Tactician: The Civil War (1861–1865) (2021)
- Field of Glory II (2017)
- Field of Glory: Empires (2019)
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (2019)
- Age of Empires IV (2021)
- Age of Mythology: Retold (2024)
- Company of Heroes 3 (2023)
- Men of War II (2024)
- Stronghold: Definitive Edition (2023)
- Stronghold: Warlords (2021)
- Hearts of Iron III (2009)
- Sengoku (2011)
- March of the Eagles (2013)
- Civilization VI (2016)
- Ara: History Untold (2024)
- Anno 1800 (2019)
- Frostpunk 2 (2024)
- Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin (2023)
- Broken Arrow (2024)
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Total War games offer a perfect mix of planning, action, and strategy that will keep you hooked for hours. Enjoy building empires, leading massive battles, or exploring fantasy worlds like Warhammer; there’s a game in the series for everyone. Each title gives a new experience with deep gameplay and stunning visuals. So, if you love strategy games that challenge your mind and reward smart choices, the Total War series is the perfect place to start your next adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What do Total War games offer?
Answer 1: Total War games mix two styles in one game. On the campaign map, you play a turn‑based strategy: manage your empire, move armies, handle money, build cities, do diplomacy, and research. In battles, you control huge real‑time fights with thousands of soldiers, where unit types and formations matter a lot.
Question 2: How many Total War games are there?
Answer 2: There are over 16 mainline PC Total War strategy games, starting with Shogun: Total War (2000) and continuing up to recent titles like Total War: Pharaoh. And if we also count sagas and spin‑offs (like Troy, Thrones of Britannia, mobile games, and console spin‑offs), then the Total War universe has 20+ games.
Question 3: What is the best Total War game?
Answer 3: Very commonly praised best picks are: Total War: Shogun 2 – loved for design, great battles, and strong theme. Total War: Three Kingdoms is famous for its campaign and diplomacy. Total War: Warhammer trilogy (especially Warhammer II/III) – top choice if you like fantasy with crazy units and factions.
Question 4: Where can I buy Total War games at the lowest price?
Answer 4: Driffle is the best place for you to buy Total War games, gift cards, subscriptions, and more.
Question 5: Who is the developer and publisher of Total War games?
Answer 5: Almost all Total War games are developed by Creative Assembly, and most modern Total War titles are published by Sega. Earlier games were published by Activision before Sega took over the series.