The Most Fun Total War Game, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the game you think is the most fun!

Updated on Apr 16, 2024 06:45

In the world of gaming, strategy games hold a unique allure, offering layers of tactical depth and historical scenarios that engage players for countless hours. Among these, the Total War series has carved out a particularly prestigious niche. Each entry offers a different historical era and innovative gameplay mechanics, making it a topic of frequent debate which one stands tall as the most entertaining. This dynamic leaderboard serves as a canvas for fans to paint their opinions, influencing and reshaping the ranking with each vote. By participating, users contribute to a crowd-sourced determination of which Total War game provides the most compelling play experience. This not only guides newcomers but also provides seasoned gamers a reason to revisit classics or explore overlooked titles.

What Is the Most Fun Total War Game?

1

26
votes
Total War: Warhammer II

Creative Assembly

This game combines the strategy of the Total War series with the fantasy world of Warhammer, making for a unique and exciting gameplay experience. The diverse factions and units, as well as the magical abilities, add a new layer of depth to the game.
Total War: Warhammer II is an epic strategy game that blends the rich lore and fantastical world of Warhammer Fantasy Battles with the intense and immersive gameplay of the Total War series. Set in the vibrant and diverse lands of the Warhammer universe, players embark on a conquest to control and dominate various factions, each with their unique units, heroes, and playstyle.

Genre: Turn-based strategy, Real-time tactics

Developer: Creative Assembly

Publisher: Sega

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

Release Date: September 28, 2017
Total War: Warhammer II in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular strategy game
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular RTS
2

34
votes
Total War: Shogun 2

The Creative Assembly

Set in feudal Japan, this game offers a rich and immersive experience with detailed graphics and historical accuracy. The samurai culture and warfare make for a captivating gameplay experience.
Total War: Shogun 2 is a turn-based strategy game that takes place in feudal Japan during the Sengoku period. As the player, you assume the role of a Daimyo, a powerful feudal lord, and engage in diplomacy, build an economy, and wage war to establish dominance over the land.

Release Date: March 15, 2011

Platform: Microsoft Windows

Single-Player: Yes

Multiplayer: Yes

Genre: Turn-based strategy, real-time tactics
3

26
votes
Total War: Rome II

Creative Assembly

As one of the most popular games in the series, Rome II offers a vast and detailed world of ancient Rome with a plethora of factions and battles to engage in.
Total War: Rome II is a historical strategy game set in ancient Rome, offering players the chance to command massive armies and engage in epic battles. It combines turn-based campaign gameplay with real-time tactics during battles, providing a rich and immersive experience. Players can take control of various factions and navigate political intrigue, manage resources, expand their empire, and ultimately aim for dominance.

Release Date: September 3, 2013

Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

Genre: Turn-based strategy, real-time tactics

Single Player: Yes

Multiplayer: Yes
4

21
votes
Total War: Three Kingdoms

Creative Assembly

Based on the Chinese novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," this game offers a unique and captivating gameplay experience with a focus on diplomacy and politics. The characters and factions are diverse and interesting, making for a dynamic game.
Total War: Three Kingdoms is a turn-based strategy game developed by Creative Assembly. It is set in ancient China during the Three Kingdoms period, where players can choose to play as one of the warlords and conquer their way to unite China. The game offers a blend of real-time battles and strategic diplomacy, providing an immersive experience of the historical conflict.

Platform: Microsoft Windows

Genre: Turn-based strategy, Real-time tactics

Release Date: May 23, 2019

Single Player: Yes

Multiplayer: Yes
5

15
votes
Total War: Attila

The Creative Assembly

Set in the waning days of the Western Roman Empire, Attila offers a challenging gameplay experience with the looming threat of the Hunnic invasion. The world is dark and gritty, and the factions are diverse and interesting.
Total War: Attila is a strategy video game developed by The Creative Assembly and published by Sega. Set during the decline of the Western Roman Empire, players can choose to play as the Huns or one of the many factions vying for control over Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The game features both turn-based strategy and real-time tactics gameplay, allowing players to manage their empire and engage in epic battles.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux

Release Date: 17 February 2015

Genre: Turn-based strategy, Real-time tactics

Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

Setting: Historical (Late antiquity)
6

18
votes
Total War: Medieval II

The Creative Assembly

This game is a classic in the series, set in the medieval era with a focus on knights, castles, and battles. The graphics and gameplay offer a nostalgic experience for fans of the series.
Total War: Medieval II is a turn-based strategy and real-time tactics game that takes players back to the medieval era. It offers an immersive and expansive experience, allowing players to command armies, build cities, manage resources, forge alliances, and engage in epic battles.

Release Date: 10 November 2006

Platform: Microsoft Windows

Setting: Medieval period

Game Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

Campaign Map Size: Large, spanning Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East
7

8
votes
Total War: Empire

Creative Assembly

This game takes place during the Age of Enlightenment and offers a unique gameplay experience with the introduction of firearms and naval battles. The world is vast and diverse, with a focus on global conquest.
Total War: Empire is a grand strategy and real-time tactical game developed by Creative Assembly. It is set in the 18th-century age of global expansion, colonization, and warfare, allowing players to control one of the major powers of the time and lead it to dominance. The game combines turn-based strategy on a campaign map with intense battles waged in real-time on a 3D battlefield.

Release Date: August 13, 2009

Platform: Microsoft Windows

Genre: Grand Strategy, Real-time Tactics

Setting: 18th-century Global Expansion

Playable Factions: 13 major powers
8

8
votes
Total War: Napoleon

The Creative Assembly

This game is a spin-off of Empire, focusing on the campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte. The graphics and gameplay are polished and refined, and the battles are intense and strategic.
Total War: Napoleon is a turn-based strategy and real-time tactics game that takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. Players command armies, manage resources, and engage in battles to conquer territories and become the ruler of Europe.

Platform: Microsoft Windows

Release Date: February 23, 2010

Genre: Strategy, Historical

Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

Setting: Napoleonic Wars, 18th-19th Century Europe
9

5
votes
Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia

Creative Assembly

This game takes place in the aftermath of the Viking invasion of England and offers a unique gameplay experience with a focus on survival and conquest. The factions are diverse and interesting, and the world is dark and gritty.
Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia is a historical strategy game set in the British Isles during the Viking Age. It focuses on the formation of the Kingdom of England and the struggle for dominance among the various factions.

Release Date: May 3, 2018

Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

Genre: Turn-based strategy, real-time tactics

Setting: 9th century British Isles

Playable Factions: 10
10

3
votes
Total War: Warhammer

Creative Assembly

The first game in the Warhammer series, this game offers a unique and captivating gameplay experience with a focus on magic and fantasy. The factions and units are diverse and interesting, and the graphics and gameplay are polished and refined.
Total War: Warhammer is a turn-based strategy and real-time tactics game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. It combines the iconic gameplay of the Total War series with the rich and fantastical universe of Warhammer Fantasy Battles. Set in a fictional high fantasy world, the game features a diverse range of playable factions, each with their unique armies, legendary heroes, and monstrous units. Players can engage in epic battles on both land and sea, striving to conquer and control vast territories.

Platform: Microsoft Windows

Release Date: May 23, 2016

Genre: Turn-based strategy, real-time tactics

Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

Playable Factions: 16

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Ranking factors for fun game

Gameplay Mechanics

Consider the depth and complexity of game mechanics, including battle strategies, diplomacy, economy management, and technology research. A fun Total War game should provide a balance between depth and accessibility, allowing players to quickly pick up the game while still providing room for skill advancement and mastery.
Faction Diversity

A varied selection of factions with unique playstyles, strengths, and weaknesses provides replayability and caters to different player preferences. Fun Total War games should have distinct factions, each with their own unique units, abilities, and strategies.
Historical Accuracy and Setting

A well-chosen historical setting can be immersive and engaging, while accurate portrayal of historical events, costumes, and locations adds to the enjoyability of the game.
Graphics and Visuals

High-quality graphics, realistic animations, and top-notch visuals can enhance the overall gaming experience and increase fun.
Campaign Depth and Story

A well-crafted campaign with interesting storylines, objectives, and challenges can keep players engaged and motivated to continue playing.
AI Difficulty and AI Behavior

Challenging AI opponents that can adapt to the player's strategies add enjoyment to the game, while realistic and engaging AI behavior makes the game world feel more immersive.
Multiplayer Experience

Solid and engaging multiplayer modes, along with a stable and smooth online experience, can significantly improve the fun factor of a Total War game.
Modding Support

A strong modding community that supports the game by developing unique content, modifications, and bug fixes can increase a game's longevity and retain player interest.
Post-Launch Support

Continued developer support through patches, updates, and expansions can maintain a fun and engaging gameplay experience long after the initial release of the game.
Balance

Good game balance across factions, units, and game mechanics ensures that players have a fun and fair experience, spending less time overcoming imbalances and more time enjoying strategic gameplay.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most fun Total War game. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or game is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1615 views
162 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each game once every 24 hours. The rank of each game is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most fun total war game

If you're a fan of strategy games, chances are you've come across the Total War franchise at some point. The series, developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega, has been around since 2000 and has amassed a dedicated following over the years. With a focus on historical warfare and an emphasis on large-scale battles, the Total War games have always been a popular choice for gamers looking to command armies and conquer empires. But which Total War game is the most fun? That's a question that's sure to spark some debate among fans of the franchise. From the early days of Shogun: Total War to the more recent releases like Total War: Three Kingdoms, there are plenty of titles to choose from. So, let's dive in and take a closer look at some of the most beloved games in the series.