In June 2000, a small studio in England decided to take a risk. In previous years, the company, Creative Assembly, developed sports games published by Electronic Arts, including EA Sports Rugby, AFL 98 and AFL 99, and even FIFA International Soccer. But in that fateful year, the studio embarked on a journey that would change the landscape of strategy games forever.

From scrums to swordfights, from uniforms to armor, and from pitches to actual battlefields, Creative Assembly kickstarted the Total War franchise with Shogun: Total War. Set during the Sengoku Jidai period, Shogun: Total War layered its unique historical setting across two disparate layers: a grand strategy sandbox campaign on a massive world map and more focused real-time battles where your armies faced off against numerous foes. This combination became somewhat of a “magic formula” according to Game Director Pawel Wojs in a recent interview with Inverse.com.

The balancing act between these two halves has since become a pillar of game development, and Creative Assembly continued releasing numerous Total War titles in the ensuing years. Now, as Total War celebrates its 25th anniversary, we take a look at just how far the series has come. From the fields of Italy and Anatolia to the dunes of Carthage and Egypt, all the way to the riverlands of China and the hidden nooks of the Under-Empire, you too can relive the great battles of the ages with these Total War titles available on the Epic Games Store.

 

Total War: Rome II

Originally released in 2013, Total War: Rome II was certainly bigger and bolder than its predecessor, which came out in 2004. The game features the noble families of the Julii, Junii, and Cornelii vying for control of the republic. Threats also loom on the horizon, as the Iceni, Carthaginians, Parthians, Seleucids, and Egyptians bide their time for an opportunity to expand. And yes, you might want to play as Pontus, too.

Total War: Rome II also expanded with campaign packs and DLC related to specific flashpoint conflicts of the time period. For instance, Caesar in Gaul focuses on Julius Caesar’s conquest of the Gallic tribes, while Hannibal at the Gates allows you to play as the Carthaginian general who brought Rome to its knees.

Other major DLCs offer perfect historical bookends. Rise of the Republic is set during Rome’s fledgling days when the people scorned the rule of kings. Empire Divided, meanwhile, focuses on the Crisis of the Third Century, as imperial control shattered and caused territories in Gaul and Palmyra to break away.

 

Total War: Attila

Speaking of fallen empires, Total War: Attila is essentially the series’s continuation of Rome’s saga. Originally released in 2015, Total War: Attila is widely considered one of the most difficult Total War games, primarily due to the game’s setting: 395 AD, a period when the Roman Empire was divided between west and east. Both dominions, greatly weakened by corruption, decadence, and civil unrest, were ripe for conquest, as Vandals, Visigoths, Saxons, and the Sassanid Empire sought to claim new lands.

Still, the star of the show is the titular character, Attila, who leads the innumerable Hunnic hordes. The Huns, along with the White Huns, are unique nomadic factions in that they’re unable to settle in territories. Razing mechanics—burning down settlements, akin to a scorched earth policy—became a viable strategic alternative in Total War: Attila. It's extremely tough to defend every territory as the Western Roman Empire, for instance, but you might have a chance if you abandon far-flung areas and consolidate your forces.

Total War: Attila also saw the release of two campaign pack DLCs. The Last Roman showcased the tactical brilliance of Belisarius, who attempted to reclaim the western domains. Age of Charlemagne, meanwhile, advanced the time period to the Middle Ages, as the King of the Franks aimed to vanquish his foes in Lombardy and Iberia.

 

Total War: Warhammer trilogy

Total War: Warhammer was certainly a huge surprise when it released in 2016. Just a year prior, Games Workshop obliterated the Warhammer Fantasy Battle setting, replacing it with Age of Sigmar. Needless to say, Creative Assembly’s foray into a fantastical universe was welcomed by longtime players as an extension of the hobby.

The trilogy eventually saw the launch of Total War: Warhammer II (2017) and Total War: Warhammer III (2022). These base games and dozens of DLCs added more factions and Legendary Lords—unique characters with powerful abilities that are fielded on their own, a departure from prior General units that came with bodyguards and retinues. We’ve even heard that these games have man-sized rats, but we doubt the veracity of such far-fetched rumors.

Total War: Warhammer III also landed what fans dubbed “Immortal Empires,” a gargantuan campaign map where every faction and Legendary Lord is present. And here’s the fun part: Immortal Empires is now available to those who own either of the first two games, even if they’ve yet to purchase Total War: Warhammer III.

Perhaps most astonishingly, the Total War: Warhammer trilogy proved that the series’s “magic formula” of grand strategy and real-time battles wasn’t limited to just historical periods. The concept also worked perfectly in games where wizards harness the Winds of Magic and spells fly in all directions.

 

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Total War: Three Kingdoms, launched in 2019, offered a perfect blend of historicity and fantasy. The game itself is based on the Sanguo Yanyi or Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a novel considered one of the pillars of Chinese literature.

Set during the collapse of the Han Dynasty, Total War: Three Kingdoms puts you in the shoes of rival warlords like the cunning Cao Cao and benevolent Liu Bei, as you recruit mighty officers, tackle quest chains, and attempt to reunify China. As you expand, you'll have to consider character relationships, appoint officers to court and ministerial positions, and maybe win a few duels along the way.

DLC further expanded on the setting and the critical time periods depicted, including the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the battles between Shu-Han’s Zhuge Liang and Nanman King Meng Huo. These DLCs still allow you to play as various leaders and warlords, giving you a glimpse into how their factions progressed from the beginning until their victory or demise.

Another feature of note is the distinction between two game modes: Romance and Records. The former has a mix of fantasy and fiction, with generals that can lay waste to entire armies. The latter is more grounded in realism, as generals don’t have abilities and are surrounded by bodyguards to aid their survival.

 

A Total War Saga: Troy

A Total War Saga: Troy, released in 2020, follows the trend of both history and legend coming to life. The Trojan War, one of the greatest conflicts in the Bronze Age (as depicted in Homer’s Iliad), sees the Greeks sailing aboard a thousand ships to face the defending forces in western Anatolia.

Battles in A Total War Saga: Troy predominantly involve masses of infantry that carry different types of weapons, while slingers and peltasts skirmish along the flanks. Chariots, while impressive, tend to be costly to field, whereas horseriders are limited to a select few leaders. 

Speaking of leaders, generals like Achilles, Odysseus, Hector, Paris, and others can engage in duels similar to Total War: Three Kingdoms. One mechanic of note is Aristeia, whereupon a hero gains buffs during combat, akin to having their “finest hour” in battle.

A Total War Saga: Troy also has a deeper emphasis on religion through the Divine Will mechanic, where you gain boons from gods like Athena, Apollo, or Zeus. Ignore these deities at your peril, as their wrathful gaze may lead to disastrous events.

Lastly, A Total War Saga: Troy’s Mythos DLC delves deeper into the legends of yore. In it, you chase down and capture colossal monsters, including the Griffin, Lernaean Hydra, and even Cerberus himself.

 

Total War: Pharaoh

Total War: Pharaoh, which launched in 2023, might be the most recent among Creative Assembly’s offerings, but it also depicts an even more distant time period—one where Pharaohs vied for the crown just as calamities led to the Bronze Age Collapse.

Total War: Pharaoh features dynamic mechanics related to legacies, where you choose additional progression tasks based on great rulers of the past. There are also Royal Court positions, a means of gaining the upper hand against your rivals through intrigue and other machinations. Naturally, not everyone will be happy with your ascension, so expect a civil war sooner or later.

Subsequent updates have reinforced Total War: Pharaoh’s gameplay systems significantly. Aside from Egyptian and Hittite leaders, you can now play as Mesopotamian rulers, as well as Agamemnon of the Mycenaeans and Priam of Troy. Of course, you could just strike fear into the hearts of kings as one of the invader lords of the Sea Peoples.

Whichever you choose, you're going to have a great time. It’s been 25 years since Shogun: Total War and the series is still going strong. The magic formula—and the magic itself—are still there.

Celebrate 25 years of the award winning strategy series with the Total War Anniversary Sale! The sale is live now through Dec. 12 11AM ET, 2025.