The Best Total War Game – Ultimate Total War Series Ranking
Finding the best Total War game is no mere feat, as the Total War series stands out even amongst the top franchises in the strategy genre—rivaled only by other iconic titles like Civilization, Age of Empires, and StarCraft.
One of the biggest selling points of the Total War series is its catalog’s sheer diversity, which is made up of games set in different time periods and offers distinctly unique campaigns, units, maps, and gameplay mechanics.
As a long-time fan of the franchise, I can assure you that every single Total War game is well worth your money if you’re into extensive kingdom-building, large-scale tactical battles, and having tons of unique units and factions (often with their own background lore and core gameplay quirks) to play around with.
To help seasoned Total War fans and newcomers pick their poison, I have listed every single Total War game with ranking based on various metrics, all to find not just the best Total War game overall, but also the best match depending on your individual preferences.
Top Picks: Best Total War Games
The Total War series has redefined strategy gaming, offering the perfect blend of tactical battles and grand strategy. With so many iconic titles, each with its own unique setting and challenges, choosing the best Total War game can prove to be very challenging. To make it a tiny bit easier, here are our top choices:
- Total War: Shogun 2 – samurai swords clash in feudal Japan.
- Napoleon: Total War – lead the Grande Armée to glory across Europe.
- Total War: Warhammer III – chaos threatens the world, and only heroes can stop it.
- Total War: Rome II – build an empire from humble beginnings and conquer the world.
- Medieval II: Total War – knights, castles, and crusades in the Middle Ages.
- Total War: Warhammer II – mythical races battle for dominance in a fantasy world.
- Total War: Attila – survive the collapse of the Roman Empire and build a new civilization.
- Total War: Three Kingdoms – unite China and become a legendary warlord.
- Rome: Total War – from the Punic Wars to the rise of the Roman Empire.
- Total War: Warhammer – Orcs, Dwarfs, and Elves clash in a world of magic and war.
But that’s not everything Total War has to offer, aside from seemingly countless hours of gameplay. Keep reading to find our full list of the best Total War games in this franchise!
Overview of the Total War Series
The Total War game series is one of the most decorated and expansive franchises in the strategy genre, boasting 16 main titles and several lucrative game awards over 24 years. Hence, it’s no exaggeration to say that the Total War IP as a whole has become a smashing success for Creative Assembly – the development studio responsible for the production of these games.
Since its inception, the Total War series has evolved not just in gameplay mechanics but also in historical variety, featuring games set in different periods that seek to be as historically accurate as possible, except for the Warhammer series, of course.
The first Total War game, Shogun: Total War, was released on June 13, 2000. From there, the series saw 15 more releases and blossomed into a successful franchise that’ll be remembered throughout gaming history.
And while they can’t exactly be considered traditional RTS games, as a massive fan of strategy games in general, I’ll say that every single Total War release is just as fun, immersive, and stimulating as any other relevant title out there!
Key Criteria for Ranking The Total War Games
My criteria for ranking each Total War game is as follows:
- Storyline and Character Development: Is the story campaign good? Are there enough unique characters/units to unlock? Are the story cutscenes/scenarios compelling?
- Gameplay Mechanics and Innovation: Does it play well? Are the core mechanics fun or tedious? Are the CPU-controlled enemies/allies too dumb or challenging? Is the game too derivative of the series?
- Graphics and World Design: Is the game timeless? Is the game visually appealing? Are the maps and environment immersive?
- Historical Accuracy and Setting: Are story campaign events historically accurate? Is the attire, equipment, and architecture appropriate for the period it was set in?
- Fan Reception and Critical Acclaim: How popular is the game? What do reviews from other players say about the game? Is there still an active player base for the game?
Taking these factors into account, in addition to my personal experience with these games, it should be enough to produce an objective ranking of the Total War game series.
16 Best Total War Games Ranked
Listed below is every single mainline Total War title, all ranked based on their Game Scores that were then calculated using the previously mentioned criteria.
Curious to see how your favorite Total War game fared against the competition? Scroll down to find out!
1. Total War: Shogun 2
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 10/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Linux | Shogun: Total War |
This is arguably the most complete game of the Total War series. Set in 15th-16th century feudal Japan, Total War: Shogun 2 allows you to experience the Warring States era, where you must conquer all the other samurai clans and unify them under only one banner.
I can confidently say that this is one of the best Total War games that you must play at least once, especially if you’re a fan of samurai-themed games.
Not only does it have good graphics that still hold up despite being one of Creative Assembly’s earlier games, but it also has the best expansion (Fall of the Samurai) ever released for a Total War game.
Grab a copy of Total War: Shogun 2 (Gold Edition incl. Fall of the Samurai) >
2. Napoleon: Total War
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 10/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Classic macOS | None |
This game is set in the Napoleonic Wars era, hence the name. Here, you can play through various campaigns based on real-life battles that were fought during Napoleon Bonaparte’s time as a feared conqueror.
Its campaign is widely considered one of the most expansive out of all the Total War titles, covering several cities in the Americas, Europe, and Africa all at once. Not only that, it’s also seen as the most historically accurate Total War game.
To add to all that, the naval battles in Napoleon: Total War are simply the best in the franchise. ‘Nuff said!
Get the best deal on Napoleon: Total War (Gold Edition) and Total War Napoleon – Definitive Edition >
3. Total War: Warhammer III
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 9/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Linux, GeForce Now | Total War: WarhammerTotal War: Warhammer II |
This title stands among the best games released for the fantasy genre in recent years. It’s one of Creative Assembly’s top-performing games to date, so it being so high up on the list is practically a given.
Unlike most Total War games that are set in various historical periods, the entire Total War: Warhammer series is set in the fictional world of Warhammer Fantasy (not to be confused with Warhammer 40K), featuring tons of new units, a dynamic multiplayer system, and breathtaking graphics.
If you’re a fantasy enthusiast who also loves Warhammer’s lore (like yours truly), get this game ASAP!
Get your copy of Total War: Warhammer III >
4. Total War: Rome II
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 9/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Linux | Rome: Total War |
This Total War game had a pretty rough start when it was first released, though once the updates started rolling in, it eventually grew into one of the most beloved titles in the franchise.
It’s a classic Total War game set in 272 BC, players can delve into the ancient wars waged by Rome against factions like Carthage, Pontus, Parthia, and barbarian tribes.
Very few strategy games from the same year can stand toe-to-toe with Total War: Rome II, with its extensive kingdom-building mechanics, complex siege tactics, and battle formations, as well as the sheer diversity of units you can command in battle.
Get a copy of Total War: Rome II (Emperor Edition 2013) >
5. Medieval II: Total War
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 8/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Medieval: Total War |
If this Total War game was released a bit later with better graphics and slight gameplay improvements, then this game would’ve had the potential to rank in the top three, perhaps even take first place.
Medieval II: Total War is a household name when it comes to war games focusing on the medieval era, especially during the Hundred Years War between 1080 and 1530.
Paired with Total War’s patented real-time strategy/turn-based hybrid combat system and decent graphics, this game is a sure hit for most strategy game enthusiasts willing to try it. Medieval II: Total War is also one of the most modded Total War games out there, so you can easily customize it for your enjoyment.
Get the best deal on Total War: MEDIEVAL II (Definitive Edition) >
6. Total War: Warhammer II
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 8/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Linux, GeForce Now | Total War: Warhammer Total War: Warhammer III |
This Total War game is a very solid predecessor to Total War: Warhammer III and an incredible fantasy strategy game in its own right. It currently has the most DLCs out of any game in the Total War series, boasting nine DLCs in total.
Just like all Total War: Warhammer games, Warhammer II is set in the continents of Ulthuan, Naggaroth, Lustria, and the Southlands, which are all fictional continents from the Warhammer universe.
This game fully encapsulates what Warhammer is all about, which is endless war and carnage waged between larger-than-life characters and the eldritch-like forces of chaos delivered to you with great graphics, intense large-scale battles, and immersive campaigns.
Grab a copy of Total War: WARHAMMER II >
7. Total War: Attila
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 8/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Linux | None |
This game is set in 395 AD, featuring campaigns that depict the gradual fall of the Western Roman Empire due to not only the hordes of barbarian tribes led by Attila the Hun, but also the spread of famine and disease brought about by long, grueling winters.
You do less conquering in Total War: Attila’s campaign as Romans, and more surviving against both your enemies and the elements. It offers one of the most challenging campaigns in all of Total War, as the gameplay and map environment fit the dreary themes of decay, bloodshed, and hopelessness appropriate for the era it was based on.
Get your copy of Total War: Attila (Tyrants and Kings Edition) >
8. Total War: Three Kingdoms
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 8/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Linux, GeForce Now | None |
This title is a half-historical and half-fantasy game set in the Three Kingdoms period of China during the collapse of the Han Empire. And yes, it’s a half-historical and half-fantasy game because of its two distinct modes – Records Mode and Romance Mode.
Records Mode renders named characters less effective on the battlefield, making fights more realistic. In Romance Mode, however, named characters can heavily influence campaigns, with one unit capable of taking out hordes of enemies by themselves.
Topped off with superb graphics and deep campaigns, Total War: Three Kingdoms is a fantastic game that’s also a personal favorite of mine. It has tons of available mods too (including Dynasty Warriors), so there’s lots of replay value.
Get the best deal on Total War: Three Kingdoms >
9. Rome: Total War
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 7/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Classic macOS, Android, iOS | Total War: Rome II |
This Total War game is a classic title that enjoys a large following even today, which isn’t really a surprise considering how monumental it was for the genre when it came out, being among the very first games to combine real-time strategy with turn-based gameplay elements.
Rome: Total War takes place in 270 BC, just a few years after the events of Total War: Rome II. You face just about the same challenges and enemies in Rome: Total War as you do in the sequel, but with a much simpler and straightforward gameplay.
It’s one of the best Total War titles for beginners to start with, especially now that a remastered version of the game has been released.
Get your copy of Total War: Rome (Remastered) >
10. Total War: Warhammer
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 7/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Linux, GeForce Now | Total War: Warhammer II, Total War: Warhammer III |
This game laid the foundation for the more recent Warhammer games we have now. It was well-received at the time of its release despite some fans questioning Creative Assembly’s momentary departure from the usual historical titles.
The truth is, this game wasn’t just a treat for long-time Total War fans, but it also attracted a lot of fantasy fans into giving the strategy genre a try, growing the franchise’s player base significantly.
Total War: Warhammer features a vast selection of units, dynamic visuals, and a fantasy-heavy narrative that makes it stand out from historical titles in terms of world-building and characters.
Grab a copy of Total War: Warhammer (Dark Gods Edition) >
11. Total War: Pharaoh
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 6/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS | None |
This is the most recent release in Total War’s extensive catalog of games. It follows the tale of ancient Mediterranean civilizations in 1205 BC and their gradual collapse largely due to frequent invasions from marauders known today as “Sea Peoples”.
Total War: Pharaoh has fantastic graphics and good strategic depth that we’ve all come to expect from every modern Total War game, but what holds it back is its lack of scope in terms of unit variety, maps, and CPU tactics, which really shouldn’t be a problem for modern releases such as this one.
To make things worse, this game had its fair share of performance issues upon launch, which is a shame because Pharaoh really had great potential if only it was executed properly.
Get your copy of Total War: Pharaoh (Standard Edition) >
12. A Total War Saga: Troy
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 6/10 | Microsoft Windows macOSLinux | None |
This game is set in 13th century BC Greece, allowing players to immerse themselves in the iconic Trojan War. It’s not a purely historical Total War game, however, as mythological elements are also touched upon in this game.
Creative Assembly tinkered with their formula quite a bit with this release by adding in all-powerful “god units” and blending real historical themes with fantastical ones, sacrificing historical accuracy in favor of more creative units, narrative, and campaigns.
Unfortunately for Total War Saga: Troy, it ended up failing to develop any meaningful identity in its attempt to be two things at once, earning its fair share of criticism over the years.
Get a copy of A Total War Saga: Troy >
13. Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 5/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Linux, Classic macOS | None |
Another one of Creative Assembly’s more underwhelming recent games is Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia. It’s a grand strategy game set in 878 AD during the Anglo-Saxon-Viking wars.
While it does have some sparks of greatness here and there (the siege battles in this game are pretty awesome), Total War: Thrones of Britannia suffers from the same problems Total War: Pharaoh has, meaning fewer unit variety, smaller campaign maps, dumb AI factions, and optimization issues.
It’s a decent title for sure, but clearly, it’s not the game for your typical Total War fan.
Get the best deal on Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia >
14. Medieval: Total War
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 5/10 | Microsoft Windows | Medieval II: Total War |
This Total War game is set between 1087 and 1453 AD, featuring an expansive campaign that sees the player conquering lands in North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Though it bears the same disadvantages as other older titles (e.g. outdated graphics, gameplay elements, and combat systems), it has brought massive success to the Creative Assembly studio and is still a notable milestone title that’s worth playing.
Grab your copy of Medieval: Total War Collection >
15. Shogun: Total War
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 5/10 | Microsoft Windows | Total War: Shogun 2 |
It’s the OG title of Total War, being the franchise’s first release and offering campaigns in 1468 AD during the warring states era of Japan. As the oldest title in the series, Shogun: Total War is naturally several steps behind in graphics and game mechanics compared to its successors.
Despite being quite dated, it’s still one of the best classic strategy games to ever be released and a title I recommend you try for or regardless of the nostalgia factor.
Get a copy of Medieval II & Shogun: Total War Collections and Viking: Battle for Asgard >
16. Empire: Total War
| Game Score | Platforms | Related Titles |
| 5/10 | Microsoft Windows macOS, Linux, Classic macOS, Android, iOS | None |
Let’s be clear – there’s no such thing as a terrible Total War game. Empire: Total War, despite being at the bottom of our list, is still a decent standalone title. It’s set in the 1700s, featuring campaigns from the early colonization period of various countries such as India, Europe, and the Middle East.
This is unquestionably the most polarizing title in the series. It suffered from a slew of performance issues, crashes, and bugs since the first day of its release and never truly recovered.
It’s a shame, as this game did pioneer the naval battle system for later Total War titles and could’ve been a solid entry if it weren’t for its disastrous launch.
Get the best deal on Empire & Medieval: Total War Collections >
Best Total War Games by Category
Best for Beginners – Rome: Total War
If you’re new to the franchise, then Rome: Total War is a good starting point, considering it features a more beginner-friendly version of Total War’s base-building and platoon-combat gameplay formula.
It even has a remastered version with enhanced graphics, so you don’t need to worry about slogging your way through an outdated, visually unappealing game just to get a good introduction to the franchise!
Best for Historical Accuracy – Napoleon: Total War
Napoleon: Total War is the most historically accurate game in the series, as the sheer number of details that have been presented correctly relative to the actual Napoleonic Wars period is simply outstanding.
If you’re a history buff who’s very particular about the accurate portrayal of things like past international conflicts, weapons, army formations, and architecture, then Napoleon: Total War is totally the game for you.
Best for Fantasy Fans – Total War: Warhammer III
Admittedly, it’s still a tough call between this game and Warhammer II, but now that most of the glaring kinks that came with its launch have finally been ironed out. More content has been released, I am inclined to say that Warhammer III’s improved graphics, large-scale combat, and quality of life features are just enough to give the game the edge over its predecessor.
Everything gameplay-related aside, Total War: Warhammer III captures that grimdark-esque essence of the Warhammer IP not just with its distinctive character and campaign map designs, but also the various deep campaigns and DLCs you can get your hands on.
Best Multiplayer Experience – Total War: Warhammer III
Once again, Total War: Warhammer III is the winner. This is because the multiplayer system in Warhammer III allows players to make moves at the same time during co-op and choose from a larger pool of unique factions.
This is a massive game-changer compared to co-op and versus systems of the Total War games that came before it.
It’s also no secret that Warhammer III does an excellent job in the multiplayer department due to its recent release, as the game enjoys constant updates, and of course, a very active player base that keeps the queue times low.
Best for Campaign Depth – Total War: Attila
If deep, impactful campaigns are what you’re looking for, then Total War: Attila should be at the very top of your “must-play” list.
Throughout your campaigns in this game, you will feel the stakes rising as the underlying narrative slowly gets darker and darker, mirrored by the decay of the map’s environment by long, brutal winters and your army’s ever-depleting resources and morale due to famine.
Total War: Attila is more of a survival game compared to others in the series, where your goal throughout most of the campaign will be to survive the oncoming apocalypse rather than conquest.
Most Visually Stunning – Total War: Warhammer III
Among the most recent releases in the Total War franchise, Total War: Warhammer III hands down has as the most impressive visuals.
It has better character models and animations, higher-resolution textures, and more detailed map environments compared to any other game in the series. The large-scale battles in Warhammer III are a treat to look at, given, of course, that you have the hardware to run the game properly.
Best for Modding Community – Total War: Three Kingdoms
Other Total War games like the Warhammer series and A Total War Saga: Troy have outstanding mod support, but the game with the best mods that enhance player experience is Total War: Three Kingdoms.
The base game is by no means a bore without mods, but adding mods like Total War – Dynasty Warriors 9, Dynasty Warriors Officers, and Character Biographies makes it almost a different, more fleshed-out game. It has one of the most extensive selections of mods from all games in the series, so it’s quite easy to craft the game to your liking!
Honorable Mentions – Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia & Total War: Attila
Total War: Attila is an underrated title that never got the player base it deserved, at least in my opinion. If we take away all the performance issues and unpopular game design choices, what we have is an incredible game that features one of the best siege battle systems in the entire franchise, as well as compelling campaigns that do justice to its real-life counterparts.
Likewise, Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia has been subjected to tough, but fair criticisms since its release. I still recommend you try it because of its unique, lower-scale take on the classic Total War formula, especially if you’re a fan of Viking-themed games.
Upcoming Total War Titles and Rumors
Excited for more Total War games? I think we all are. Let’s look at whether there has been any news or talk of upcoming titles from official and unofficial channels.
Confirmed Upcoming Total War Titles
So far, no announcements have been made about specific future releases, but we do have news that at least one historical title and one fantasy title for Total War are currently in the works with pending release dates all thanks to this post on Creative Assembly’s official X page.
Unconfirmed Upcoming Total War Titles & Rumors
This post in the Total War Center forum revealed the following information about potential Total War releases, as well as rumors about ongoing and canceled titles. Here’s the highlights:
- A historical World War I game with a new engine is reportedly in the works, but facing several development issues.
- There are rumors of an upcoming fantasy Warhammer 40K game and the development process seems to be going smoother than that of the World War I title.
- Another fantasy Total War title featuring the Star Wars IP seems to be on the horizon, although it’s still in the early stages of development.
- A follow-up Total War: Three Kingdoms series has been canceled.
Please take this information with a grain of salt, as Total War leaks of this nature have been proven false in the past.
FAQs
Do I need to play the Total War games in order?
No. Even titles under the same series (e.g. Total War: Warhammer I, II, and III) have separate stories and campaign scenarios that are mostly unrelated.
Which Total War game has the best strategy elements?
Total War: Three Kingdoms is the best game in terms of strategy largely due to its diplomacy system.
Are the Total War games historically accurate?
Some games are historically accurate (e.g. Napoleon: Total War), but most history-based Total War games take creative liberties.
Which Total War game sold the most?
Total War: Warhammer has sold the most out of any Total War game with 2.5 million copies sold on Steam alone.
How many Total War games are there?
The Total War franchise currently has 16 main titles and 6 spin-offs.
