China’s history has always been marked by great turmoil, golden ages, and decline. Long before Western Europe slowly entered the Middle Ages (Medieval II - Total War), China was far ahead, and some of the largest and bloodiest battles and wars took place in the Middle Kingdom.
The Total War series has always focused on fascinating historical eras where parts of the world went up in the flames of total war: from the rise and fall of the Roman Empire to Napoleon’s 19th-century conquests. Now it’s Asia’s turn, and the turbulent Three Kingdoms period in China’s history can be experienced on PC for the first time.
Join one of China’s most dramatic historical eras
In Total War games, you assume the role of one of the key figures relevant to the era the game covers. In Napoleon: Total War, for example, you could play as Napoleon or the Austrian emperor.
Three Kingdoms is built the same way and offers 12 compelling characters, each with their own unique playstyle and advantages as you set out to conquer Ancient China.
The game begins in the wake of the power grab by the bloodthirsty warlord Dong Zhuo, who has taken the young child emperor of the Han dynasty (Emperor Xian) under his wing to become emperor of the mighty realm himself. The most loyal to the Han formed a coalition to stop Dong Zhuo, but to no avail. After the coalition failed, it collapsed, and China’s warlords went their separate ways, each aiming to become emperor.
Your goal is to declare yourself emperor and crush all opposition. In the endgame, there will be three contenders for the throne (hence Three Kingdoms), and the warlord left standing forms a new Chinese dynasty.
To reach this point, you must gather your armies, bring them to the enemy’s gates, and fight with force when needed. At the same time, you must be a deft diplomat to secure trade deals and alliances, strengthen your economy to supply your large armies, and ensure your subjects have enough food and don’t rise up while you fight at the front.
Choose from twelve unique characters, each shaping China’s future differently
Total War: Three Kingdoms currently features 12 different characters you can play. This system resembles the champion/hero system in Total War: Warhammer. A couple of them arrive via The Yellow Turban Rebellion DLC, which was free with pre-orders. Otherwise, it can be purchased from Steam and Total War’s own website.
Each character has a unique form of “currency” earned through battle and conquest. This currency can be used for special actions along the way that turn the game in your favor.
If you’re new to the Total War series, we recommend starting as Cao Cao. Cao Cao was the last Chancellor under the Han Dynasty and raised the sword in rebellion when Dong Zhuo staged his coup. He is known as a cunning and unpredictable negotiator and strategist who excels at deceiving enemies and playing them against each other through proxy wars.
Liu Bei is ideal if you’re relatively familiar with the series. As Liu Bei, you are a man of the people, loved by your subjects, which means your militia units have no upkeep cost. You also have a direct ancestral link to the Han Dynasty, allowing you to claim the dynasty’s remaining territories without issue. But beware! For Liu Bei, image is everything. Losing a crucial battle can lead to the collapse of his realm.
Yuan Shao was the previous emperor’s right-hand man and stood by his side through thick and thin. A hard-handed commander with incredible victories to his name, he now faces the task of reunifying China once again. Yuan Shao focuses on building alliances and creating vassals out of smaller states to fight for him.
Sun Jian is also worth mentioning. Known as The Tiger of Jiandong, and not without reason, he is a peerless opponent on the battlefield, almost certain to win when he duels an enemy general. His goal is to unify southern China to push north and reunite the entire country.
When you’ve won a campaign and become emperor, you unlock the bloodthirsty warlord Dong Zhuo. As Dong Zhuo, expect a tough campaign. With Han territories spread far and wide and many enemies, there’s no time to hesitate.
Show your strategic skills in real-time battles
The essential feature of Total War: Three Kingdoms is the series’ real-time battles. Here you command armies numbering in the thousands. You control everything from infantry, cavalry, and archers to the infamous trebuchets that can wipe out many men with a single shot.
To achieve victory, you need to build an army that can withstand every threat. Use cavalry to flank and eliminate archers, then crash into the enemy frontline from behind. Archers are crucial for weakening enemy forces before they reach your lines, and infantry must hold as long as possible.
The game is also turn-based (one turn equals one season), and each faction can move armies, attack, and expand their territory in sequence.
The perfect way to train your brain and showcase your strategy
Total War: Three Kingdoms is for players who love to flex their strategic skills and execute complex tactical moves. From developing your cities with infrastructure and conducting diplomacy with many unique characters to the cunning that can bring even the strongest foe to their knees, it’s all possible here. It’s stimulating and exciting, because even the most carefully planned action can have unforeseen outcomes that permanently change your campaign.
A unique period in Chinese history
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is one of the most exciting chapters not only in Chinese history but also in world history. With so many unique warlords vying for the throne in what was then the world’s most powerful nation, every playthrough unfolds differently.
The Three Kingdoms era plays out very differently from the European history we know so well. Wars are fought differently, negotiations work differently, and the entire social structure is new and exciting, breathing fresh life into the Total War series.
Gorgeous and well-optimized graphics
Total War: Three Kingdoms looks better than any other Total War game to date. The graphics have received a strong boost, bringing the game to life in a way we haven’t seen before. Watching great hordes of your soldiers march with the sun reflecting off their helmets is a beautiful sight.
The game is also well optimized for most relatively modern PCs. It runs better than any other Total War game to date, so if your hardware is a bit outdated, you don’t need to worry.
However, the UI has also become more complex than before. It can feel overwhelming the first few times you work with it. This is most evident in the game’s research tree, where you advance your nation technologically, and in the pause menu, which looks messy and disorganized.
On the campaign map, everything is as expected from other Total War games, while the diplomacy window has received an overhaul that fixed earlier issues and created new ones in the form of even more clutter.
Conclusion
Total War: Three Kingdoms has broken all records for Total War games to date, and with good reason. The game operates at such a high level that many were surprised. It’s endlessly replayable thanks to the many diverse and interesting characters, each with unique strategies—and chances are future DLC will add even more. Total War: Three Kingdoms is highly recommended as one of 2019’s best games.
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