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Total War
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Play OverviewPlay Overview

Total War (2000) is a series of strategic turn-based war games. Each game has a different historical or fantasy setting where multiple armies battle and compete for territory. You can win by military force, religion, diplomacy, espionage and economics.

You choose an army to command which determines your faction, starting point and objectives. You take turns to move your armies, conduct diplomacy, build the infrastructure and generally run your faction. When you enter direct combat with enemy forces, the game is played in real-time where you must make quick and time-critical decisions about how to best use your forces.

Over the years there have been a wide variety of Total War games, each picking up a historical era with considerable accuracy. Some of the games in the series, like Warhammer, adopt a fantasy setting:
  • Shogun: Total War (2000) on PC
  • Medieval: Total War (2002) on PC
  • Rome: Total War (2004) on Mac, PC, iOS
  • Medieval II: Total War (2006) on PC, Mac
  • Empire: Total War (2009) on Mac, PC.
  • Napoleon: Total War (2010) on Mac and PC
  • Total War: Shogun 2 (2011) on Mac, PC.
  • Total War: Rome II (2013) on PC and Mac.
  • Total War: Attila (2015) on PC, Mac,
  • Total War: Warhammer (2016) PC, Mac
  • Total War: Warhammer II (2017) on PC, Mac
  • Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia (2018) on PC, Mac
  • Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019) PC, Mac
  • Total War Saga: Troy (2020) on PC and Mac
  • Total War: Warhammer III (TBA) on PC and Mac

The Warhammer versions of the game are a good crossover with the Games Workshop tabletop game. Both for players of those games looking for a screen-based version, but also as a way to introduce video game players to a world supported by the physical tabletop games.

The Total War games have been rumoured for PlayStation and Xbox consoles for some time but no concrete plans have been announced. There is an iOS and Android version of Rome Total War that works well with a redesigned interface for mobile.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Total War 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 3 weeks ago.
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Play StylePlay Style

This is a Battle, Simulation and Strategy game with Action and Fighting elements. You can play this by yourself or as a 2-player online game.

 
You can play this game in the following styles:

DurationDuration

Play Time: This game will take between 35 hours and 45 hours to complete. This duration varies on your ability and which campaign you choose.

BenefitsBenefits

This game is good if you want to:

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

The series received PEGI 16 and PEGI 18 ratings. Editions such as Total War: Warhammer II are PEGI 16 for depictions of realistic-looking violence to humans and sustained depictions of death to humans. Not suitable for persons under 16 years of age.

This game contains frequent depictions of realistic-looking violence towards human-like and fantasy characters. Characters in the game use a multitude of weapons including swords, magic spells and projectiles. The reactions to the violence are a mix of realistic and non-realistic, no injuries are visible on their bodies, however, they scream in pain and fall to the floor after being defeated. This game also contains sustained depictions of death to human-like characters. After being defeated the bodies litter the floor of the battlefield.

It’s worth noting that the Blood for the Blood Gods version of Total War Warhammer II raises the rating to PEGI 18. The Android and iOS versions of the game on smartphones and tablets are a good place for younger players to start, rated PEGI 12.
 
Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.

Rated for younger players in the US. The ESRB rated Total War Warhammer II as TEEN with Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, and Violence. Battles are highlighted by cries of pain, impact sounds, and depictions of bodies scattered on the battlefield. Cutscenes depict characters stalked and stabbed by assassins, with splashes of pink blood on the screen. Some creatures are depicted with bloody wounds during gameplay. The dialogue occasionally references suggestive material (e.g., “Ah, but the truth is like an expensive wh*re, Jerek. She comes in many dresses and will bend over for any with the money to pamper her”; “A man born of dock wh*res, yet calls himself a 'prince'”). Dialogue also references wine, ale, grog, and binge drinking (e.g., “The favourite dwarf pastime is drinking. 'Gorog' is Khazalid for binge-drinking...”); one cutscene also depicts poisoned wine splashing from a goblet. The words “arse” and “*!@?*” appear in dialogue.

Account Rating

You don’t need a platform subscription to play this game online.

CostsCosts

Total War usually costs £0 to £49.99. 

Total War Battles: Shogun

App Store iOS £4.99 – –

Total War: ATTILA

Steam Store PC £29.99 – –

Total War: EMPIRE - Definitive Edition

Steam Store PC £19.99 – –
Steam Store Mac £19.99 – –

Total War: MEDIEVAL II - Definitive Edition

Steam Store PC £19.99 – –
Steam Store Mac £19.99 – –

Total War: Medieval II

App Store iOS £14.99 – –

Total War: NAPOLEON - Definitive Edition

Steam Store PC £19.99 – –
Steam Store Mac £19.99 – –

Total War: PHARAOH

Steam Store PC £49.99 – –

Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition

Steam Store PC £29.99 – –

Total War: ROME REMASTERED

Steam Store PC £24.99 – –
Steam Store Mac £24.99 – –

Total War: SHOGUN 2

Steam Store PC £24.99 – –
Steam Store Mac £24.99 – –

Total War: THREE KINGDOMS

Steam Store PC £44.99 – –
Steam Store Mac £44.99 – –

Total War: THRONES OF BRITANNIA - Rise and Fall of the Anglo-Saxons

Steam Store PC Free – –
Steam Store Mac Free – –

Total War: WARHAMMER

Steam Store PC £39.99 – –
Steam Store Mac £39.99 – –

Total War: WARHAMMER II

Steam Store PC £39.99 – –
Steam Store Mac £39.99 – –

Total War: WARHAMMER III

Steam Store PC £49.99 – –
Steam Store Mac £49.99 – –
This game is free to play, but there are other costs associated with this game:
  • In-Game Purchases: Additional in-game purchases are offered for items that enhance the experience.
 
Expansions are provided for each game that enhance visuals and provide new factions, campaigns and strategic mechanics to play. Some of these are free, while others are purchased. As mentioned above, these expansions can make the game more graphically violent, like with the Blood for the Blood God II expansion for Total War Warhammer II.

The Android and iOS version of Rome Total War is sold in separate editions, as well as a compilation pack that includes them all for a lower price. 
 
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
 

DetailsGame Details

Release Date: 13/06/2000, updated in 2019

Price: Free

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC and iOS

Content Rating: PEGI 16

Players: 1 (2 online)

Genres: Battle, Simulation, Strategy (Action and Fighting)

Accessibility: 0 features documented (Tweet Developer )

Components: 3D Third-Person

Developer: CA Games (@CAGames)


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