Terrific Total War titles to try
Large-scale battles, reaching a humble diplomatic agreement then shafting another faction with a surprise siege, and hundreds of troops clashing with swords, spears and axes on the front line - it's all fun and games in Total War.
It's fair to say that Creative Assembly and SEGA have produced some of the best strategy PC games over the past 18 years, ranging from medieval and historic battles to mystical, fantasy worlds.
Below are some of the many incredible strategy games and collections included in the Total War Weekend Sale, which runs until October 6th at 11.59pm PST.
Total War: THREE KINGDOMS
Redefining the series in an age of heroes and legends, Total War: THREE KINGDOMS takes place in 190CE China, featuring beautiful but fractured lands that are calling out for a new emperor, and a new way of life. Forge the next great dynasty, and build a legacy that will last through the ages.
Players can build powerful friendships, form brotherly alliances, and earn the respect of your many foes. Build strong relationships as a united nation - or commit acts of treachery, inflict heart-wrenching betrayals, and become a master of grand political intrigue.
Choose from 12 legendary Warlords and prepare to conquer the realm. Recruit heroic characters to aide your cause and dominate your enemies on military, technological, political, and economic fronts.
Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition
It's time to write your own history and venture across a massive sandbox turn-based campaign mode with Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition. As well as including one of the latest free expansions, the Imperator Augustus Campaign Pack, and two paid-for DLCs - Baktria Faction DLC and Seleucid Empire Faction Pack DLC - this definitive edition of the 2013-released strategy game sees gamers build vast Roman armies and take to the battlefield in real-time combat mode, in order to themselves as a legendary leader in 272 BC.
But wait, you saw some pretty negative reviews on Steam for this game, right?
Well, technically the game has (in recent months) received a huge amount of downvotes - but there's a reason behind it. Our friends over at PC Gamer have an in-depth piece on the 'female general fiasco' - but, in a nutshell, a minority of gamers were upset that Creative Assembly had allegedly made alterations to the game to spawn more female generals.
Creative Assembly released a statement to inform everyone that the "spawn rates for female generals have not been changed" five years after the game's original release... so, yeah we don't understand it either. All you need to know is that Total War: ROME II builds on its predecessors enjoyable turn-based strategy and real-time combat with stunning visuals thanks to the Warscape game engine.
Total War: ATTILA
Famine, disease, and war... the world is moving into a time of apocalyptic turmoil at the very dawn of the Dark Ages in Total War: ATTILA. A new power is rising in the great steppes of the East, and with a million horsemen at his back, the ultimate warrior king approaches - and he has his sights set on Rome!
Gamers take on the role of the Western Roman Empire with vast territories under your control - but weakened by political in-fighting and threatened on all sides by enemies, your dominance will quickly become a struggle to survive. Will you sweep oppression from the world and carve out a barbarian or Eastern kingdom of your own, or will you brace against the coming storm as the last remnants of the Roman Empire, in the ultimate survival-strategy challenge?
If gamers opt for the Total War: ATTILA Campaign Pack, you'll receive the base game and two DLCs - The Last Roman Campaign Pack and Age of Charlemagne Campaign Pack.
Total War: SHOGUN 2 Collection
Lead vast armies of samurai and fleets of giant warships into breathtaking real-time battles in the Total War: SHOGUN 2 Collection. With this Steam key, players will have access to the core game (Total War: SHOGUN 2) and seven additional DLC content.
In the darkest age of 16th century Feudal Japan, endless war leaves a country divided into many warring clans. Ten legendary warlords strive for supremacy as conspiracies and conflicts wither the empire. Only one will rise above all to win the heart of a nation as the new shogun...The others will die by his sword.
Take on the role of one Daimyo, the clan leader, and use military engagements, economics and diplomacy to achieve the ultimate goal: re-unite Japan under his supreme command and become the new Shogun – the undisputed ruler of a pacified nation.
uild your kingdom on the inviting and turn-based campaign map, while wielding economic, political, and military power to amass wealth, armies, and influence. Use fire and siege tactics, spies and assassins to adapt to the ever-changing conditions on the battlefield and throughout your kingdom. Battle online and experience the main campaign in two-player mode, then join epic online battles with up to 8 players and lead your online army to glory in special campaigns.