15 Great Strategy Games For Total War Fans

Metacritic score: 78

Mount & Bladeis a medieval strategy game with action role-playing elements. It includes the standalone expansion.WarbandThis is the most popular. The series features two epic DLCs.Warband: Napoleonic Wars People often cite this as the best, though Viking Conquestis arguably just as great. That said, while Warbandporting Warband to the PS4 and Xbox One happened in 2016. The two expansions did not appear.

Why It's Worth Playing:Gameplay differs from the Total Warfranchise because it is a sandbox role-playing game. The setting is the medieval land of Calradia; base gameplay does not focus on historical accuracy. The Napoleonic Wars expansion is a multiplayer add-on that is historically accurate. Battles feature up to 220 different historical units. This looks stunning on the battlefield.

Metacritic score: 87

Europa Universalis IVis a grand strategy game. It is the fourth in the Europa Universalisseries. The game centers on controlling a nation from the Late Middle Agesthrough to the Early Modern Period (1441 to 1821). The game focuses heavily on warfare. It also includes trade, city administration, diplomacy, and colonization.

Why It's Worth Playing: Europa Universalis IVhas some of the game's most innovative AI. This makes for an outstanding experience. Players must track world events. Honing strategy means more than just moving armies. Players face many responsibilities: expanding borders, defending borders, gathering resources, and managing an empire. Players never get bored.

Additionally, the game has many expansions. These add new people, leaders, weapons, tactics, and more.

Metacritic score: 81

The United States and its allies maintained a Cold War with the USSR for most of the 20th century. Proxy wars and small skirmishes occurred, but a major war never happened. This is good for human history but bad for strategy games.Wargame: European Escalationtakes an alternate history approach. It imagines what happened if NATO fought the Warsaw Pact nations. The game is set from 1975 to 1985. Players undertake many scenarios to win their side in the large campaign.

Why It's Worth Playing: Wargame: European EscalationWargame: European Escalation features highly detailed, historically accurate unit information. Play unlocks 361 units across the game. Real-time tactics structure demands on-the-fly decisions for players to keep their units fighting.Players command units to victory.The game's overall strategy system lets any player enjoy it.This is Total War.Players can jump into this easily and enjoy it.

Metacritic score: 94

This is Sid Meier's Civilization.These games have existed for decades. Each franchise entry adds or tweaks new, important features. This evolution guarantees every new game improves upon the last.This is Civilization VI.This game stands as arguably the best in the franchise. It adds civilizations unseen before, alters civics and tech trees, and includes many improvements that make playing it incredibly fun.

Why It's Worth Playing:The turn-based strategy format differs from Total War.You get more "grand strategy" from a Total War.You get more "grand strategy" from a Civ game.This is a Civ game.Each game puts a leader in your hands. This leader commands your entire civilization.You guide your civilization through different ages to one of five victory conditions. You command an army, navy, and air force. You also direct building projects, trade, politics, economics, and everything else needed to run a civilization. The game is complex, yet engaging and entertaining.Players choose one of five victory conditions across ages. You command armies, navies, and air forces. You also direct building projects, trade, politics, economics, and all other civilization management tasks. This game is ridiculously complex, yet it remains engrossing and entertaining.

Metacritic score: 69

As the 14 installment in the series, this is the Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV.Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIVThis is a great classic strategy game. It blends elements of Chinese literature. The game takes place during various dates around the Three Kingdoms period, specifically between the end of the first century AD and the start of the second. Players assume the roles of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

Why It's Worth Playing:Fans ofTotal WarFans of games likeThrones of Britanniahave much to like about the ROTK series because both share similar gameplay styles. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms series is not on the same level as Total War, but XIV offers a good choice for those wanting to explore the Three Kingdoms period.

Metacritic score: 69

Cossacks II: Battle For EuropeThis is an expansion pack forCossacks II: Napoleonic WarsIt is also a standalone game, so you do not need the base to play. It brings many changes to the Battle for Europe mode, expanding the map with more provinces. Three new nations join the gameplay, bringing a few real historical battles with them.

Why It's Worth Playing:BothandCossacks II: Battle For EuropeCossacks II: Battle For EuropeThis game offers training, tactics, and tech more in-depth than most genre games. Gameplay uses real-time strategy, but it has a grand strategy scale above that. The game shows 64,000 soldiers on the battlefield at once. This makes it much more complex than even the Total War games, which only allow control of 10,000 units at a time.Total Wargames, which can only allow for control of 10,000 units at a time.Napoleonic WarsBase game, plus the expansion or standalone option.Cossacks II: Battle For EuropeMore options make this an engrossing and highly detailed entry in the genre.

Metacritic score: 77

Knights Of HonorThis is a real-time strategy game set in Medieval Europe. It covers time starting in the early centuries of the second millennium and continues through three separate historical periods. There are over 100 kingdoms; the player chooses which one to use to conquer the world.

Why It's Worth Playing:Gameplay shares similarities with AOE and other RTS games. Much of the map stretches across Europe, from Ireland to the Caucasus and from Scandinavia to the northern coast of Africa. The map splits into provinces that the player manages for different goals as play continues. You must recruit specific units to train, equip, and fight across Medieval Europe. Dominating and becoming the Emperor of Europe requires tons of resources, building, research, and blood.

Metacritic score: 79

King Arthur - The Role-Playing WargameIs an RTSGame of grand strategy, which follows the King's conquest of Britannia. To do this, he must face rebellions while managing the sword Excalibur. The game follows a main campaign where individual battles demand a switch from a grand strategy overlay to real-time strategy. Players can also improve surviving units after a battle, adding RPG elements to gameplay.

Why It's Worth Playing:Many game aspects match the grand strategy format of the Total War franchise.Total Warfranchise, but with extra elements. The game includes fictional and fantasy elements, such as magic. The game lacks the historical accuracy of others on this list, yet it does not pretend to have it. Gameplay demands heavy player involvement in everything happening in King Arthur's campaign.King Arthur's campaign, and how well a battle is organized using different units can mean doom or victory with a sword swing.

Metacritic score: N/A

Age of Chivalry: Hegemonyisn't a standalone game; it is aModDesigned forAge of Empires II. While AOE is a great RTS strategy game with historical parts, it dropped from the list for Age of Chivalry: Hegemony.Age of Chivalry: Hegemony.

Why It's Worth Playing:The game modifies all countries from AOE, replacing them with Western and Central European nations between 1100 and 1500. Gameplay changes let players command large units more, matching actual combat from that time. This larger scale combat better shows a grand strategy game like Total War.Total War.

Graphics and unit capabilities are limited, but the game is very fun. The nine-scenario historical campaign covers everything from conquering West Friesland to the start of the Hundred Years' War.Hundred Years War.

: 82: 82

Crusader Kings II This grand strategy game sets in the Middle Ages. It is the first sequel in a trilogy. It features more advancements than the original game. Gameplay spans 1066 and 1452. DLC and expansions push the start year back to 769. Players can play as Charlemagne, but many other historical figures are available.

Crusader Kings II Crusader Kings IIThe game is very realistic. Gameplay stops when a character dies without an heir. This occurs when all landed titles of count rank or higher are taken away. Hitting 1453 switches gameplay to observer mode. Players can choose a minor duke or count. They can also play historical figures like William the Conqueror, Charlemagne, Genghis Khan, Harold Godwinson, Robert Guiscard, Robert the Bruce, Harald Hardrada, El Cid, Constantine X Doukas, Harun al-Rashid, Alexios I Komnenos, Richard the Lionheart, Ivar the Boneless, Alfred the Great, Baldwin I of Jerusalem, Boleslaw the Bold, and Saladin.

Metacritic score

: N/AConqueror's Blade

is a lavish medieval warfare MMO blending multiple genres. The game has been in beta for some time but did not release officially as of August 2020. Shown gameplay indicates the game will follow Total War.This is a lavish medieval warfare MMO. It mixes more than one genre. The game has been in beta for some time. It has not officially released as of August 2020. What has been shown suggests the game will launch soon.Total WarConqueror's Blade combines Total War, For Honor, and Planetside.

Why It's Worth Playing:Conqueror's Blade combinesTotal War, For Honor,andPlanetsideThis game features massive battles and siege warfare unlike almost any other game on this list. The player commands a warlord or a single soldier, getting into the action. Players command entire armies or squads depending on their level. The player decides how to fight across the land.

Metacritic score: 64

Grand Ages: MedievalThis real-time strategy game advances through time using construction, technology, conquest, and more. Gameplay covers a region from Scandinavia and North Africa to Portugal, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. The game focuses heavily on historical accuracy, an engaging campaign, and moving between development stages.

Why It's Worth Playing: Grand Ages: MedievalThis complex strategy game focuses on things like economic management to make the game realistic. Like theTotal War Players command huge battles with thousands of units on screen. This creates more realistic gameplay. The level of detail adds complexity that casual players might skip. This game suits people who love strategy and running a nation through growth and conquest.

Metacritic score: N/A (but the User Score is 8.3)

The Scourge of WarThe Scourge of War franchise usually focuses on American Civil War battles. However, the game engine offers many other experiences.Scourge Of War: WaterlooThis game takes classic grand strategy platforms and explores one of history's most famous battles. It features the most detail and complexity for the final battle of the War of the Seventh Coalition.

Why It's Worth Playing:Players command large troop formations to position them to crush the enemy. Thousands of objects appear on screen at once, so there is aTotal Warfeel to Scourge of War: WaterlooThis gameplay lets players command from far away or zoom into units for a hard-fought victory. It is the best game in the genre for the Napoleonic Wars, and the attention to detail makes it as historically accurate as possible.

Metacritic score: N/A

Hegemony III: Clash of the AncientsThis real-time strategy game is set during the early Roman Republic. Players can follow Rome's historical rise or change history to build a Greek, Gallic, or Etruscan empire. This game follows two previousHegemonytitles, butClash of the AncientsThis game is the best in the franchise.

Why It's Worth Playing: Hegemony III: Clash of the AncientsPlayers control one of 25 factions. Players capture territory and resources to build an army. High strategy campaign levels place the conflict on the Italian peninsula. Players zoom from the 2D strategic map to the 3D tactical map on the fly. This game is an early effort.Total War is listed among the 15 Great Strategy Games For Total War Fans.This game may have developed from another title. It is limited compared to others, but it remains a phenomenal game in the genre.

The Metacritic score for Totally Accurate Battle Simulator is available.The User Score for Totally Accurate Battle Simulator sits at 8.3.

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator is listed among the 15 Great Strategy Games For Total War Fans.TABS, or Totally Accurate Battle Simulator, is a ragdoll physics battle simulation. It uses satire and management. Players build armies using any unit type from history, fantasy, sci-fi, or whatever they choose. It satirizes battle simulation games, yet it is expertly made and very fun.

Play Totally Accurate Battle Simulator for reasons not specified.TABS stands out from this list because it is a satire. The physics engine powers an exceptional grand-scale battle simulation. Players pit units against each other, using in-game money to limit size and structure. You can simulate real historical battles or see cowboys fight Vikings. The player decides; it is a lot of fun for genre fans or newcomers.