Empire: Total War

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 19,625 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • stability
Empire: Total War Game Cover
Empire: Total War is one of the best games of this year, and is far and away one of the best strategy games of the year; maybe even the best.
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"Empire: Total War" is a strategy game that allows players to lead their chosen nation in the late 18th century, navigating political, economic, and military challenges. The game features turn-based strategy and real-time tactical battles, with a focus on gunpowder warfare and colonial exploration. The Definitive Edition includes all previous DLC, providing a comprehensive empire-building experience.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 19,625 reviews
gameplay359 positive mentions
stability539 negative mentions
  • gameplay1,021 mentions

    The gameplay of "Empire: Total War" is characterized by a blend of grand strategy and real-time tactical battles, offering a vast campaign map that spans multiple continents. While the game introduces innovative mechanics such as naval combat and a tech tree, many players find the battle and campaign AI lacking, with some mechanics feeling outdated or clunky. Despite these issues, the game remains engaging and provides hours of replayability, especially when enhanced by mods like Darthmod, which improve overall gameplay experience.

    • “This game may have its flaws; however, the sheer awesomeness and the satisfying blend of tactical and strategic gameplay makes up for it.”
    • “The gameplay is a step up from Medieval II; you get to manage way more things in a more in-depth manner.”
    • “The gameplay is fun; I especially enjoy the management side of the game in this entry, and sending out trade fleets to distant trade theatres to help make money.”
    • “The mechanics are clunky, the organization of units is terrible. I try to group units together and they try to place each other miles apart because they get stuck on the original straight line setup of every battle instead of accepting the formation you put your units into, which leads to units often getting isolated and destroyed instead of attacking or defending as a group.”
    • “The game is marred by the worst AI in a Total War game, both in battle due to the new way the game tries to handle firearms and in the campaign, terrible campaign map design and clunky UI, and unresponsive unit mechanics in battle.”
    • “The gameplay is not perfect as many people have mentioned; it has its flaws and the AI may play oddly sometimes, but I still had a lot of fun with this.”
  • graphics871 mentions

    The graphics of "Empire: Total War" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the game's stunning visuals and attention to detail, particularly in naval battles, which are considered impressive for its 2009 release. However, numerous players have noted that the graphics feel outdated compared to newer titles in the Total War series, with some experiencing performance issues and graphical glitches. Overall, while the game offers a visually appealing experience, it is often suggested that it could benefit from a graphical update to meet modern standards.

    • “It offered stunning graphics and improved combat mechanics, and it introduced the Warscape engine.”
    • “The campaign map is clear, the interface intuitive, and the visuals breathtaking.”
    • “The graphics are outstanding and the gameplay top notch.”
    • “The graphics are pretty bad, but then again, it's 2009, but the main part that pisses me off is diplomacy.”
    • “The graphics leave much to be desired even for the date it was released in.”
    • “The graphics are not the best but I do not have high expectations for a 13-year-old game.”
  • stability552 mentions

    The stability of "Empire: Total War" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as a "buggy mess" that has persisted since its initial release. While some users report minimal issues after updates and mods, a substantial number continue to experience frequent crashes, glitches, and AI problems that detract from the overall gameplay experience. Despite these challenges, many players still find enjoyment in the game, often attributing its charm to its ambitious scope and historical setting.

    • “Still an all-time classic, and runs great on a 2012 MacBook Pro.”
    • “Constantly fun, I've had very little issues with the game; it runs great and very smooth. The graphics aren't bad at all considering the age.”
    • “By a mile my favorite Total War game, virtually no glitches or any issues of that kind after years of being played by people.”
    • “This game is a buggy ass mess.”
    • “The initial game was launched a buggy, sloppy mess and even when things 'worked as intended,' they didn't, 'work,' for what a total war game is supposed to be.”
    • “Over a decade later and it's still as broken as it was day one... terrible ai (worse than the usual total war game) both on the campaign map and in battles, bugs, glitches, performance issues... anything that could have gone wrong basically did.”
  • replayability209 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many players highlighting the diverse factions and unique gameplay experiences each offers. While some express a desire for more playable nations and improved diplomacy, the combination of historical depth, strategic variety, and extensive mod support contributes to an almost limitless replay value. Overall, it stands out as one of the most replayable titles in the Total War series, ensuring players can enjoy countless hours of varied gameplay.

    • “Endlessly replayable, what more could you want?”
    • “No two playthroughs are the same; it always changes, which makes for unlimited replayability.”
    • “The replayability, strategic depth, historical breadth, and believable realism will keep you coming back over and over for years to come.”
    • “I wish there were more playable factions that were different from the majority, similar to playing as the North American native nations.”
    • “The similarity of factions hurts the replay value.”
    • “These games are extremely fun from the get-go and then get a little stale as replayability loses appeal.”
  • story164 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the detailed American Revolutionary War campaign, while others criticize the overall lack of depth and narrative in the broader gameplay. Some users find the campaign enjoyable but short, feeling that it lacks the engaging storytelling elements present in previous titles, and often describe the missions as repetitive or disconnected from a cohesive narrative. Overall, while the historical context is appreciated, many players feel that the game could benefit from a more robust and immersive story experience.

    • “The main story mode is really detailed, but where the game shines is the grand campaign.”
    • “The short story campaign is the American Revolutionary War, starting with the British fighting the French, and ending with the free US states finishing off the remaining indigenous peoples and taking their place as a world power.”
    • “This tells the fascinating story of how England's new world colonies grew, rose to prominence during the Seven Years' War, then finally all thirteen colonies declared independence, thus waging war upon their former motherland.”
    • “The campaigns lack a cohesive story, feeling more like a sequence of battles with no narrative behind them, which doesn't work well in this context.”
    • “The main storyline is short and doesn't add much depth to the overall experience, making it feel like an afterthought.”
    • “Despite the historical backdrop, the game does little to encourage engagement with the story, leaving players to rely on their imagination to fill in the gaps.”
  • music126 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric orchestral score while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking the historical depth expected from the era. Many users express disappointment that the soundtrack does not feature more period-appropriate compositions, leading to a desire for remastered versions or mods that enhance the musical experience. Overall, while some find the music enjoyable and fitting, others feel it detracts from the game's immersive qualities.

    • “The music in this game is really good; I always find myself enjoying the loading screens because of the soundtracks. In my opinion, it's one of the most beautiful OSTs in the franchise.”
    • “The soundtrack is seriously underrated for this game, and the general atmosphere really conveys the 18th-century statesmen feel.”
    • “Music is great, especially on the battlefield, accompanying epic and dramatic scenes with a grim and all too real lighting, scattered bodies, and smoking ruins, making even a marching battalion look truly epic.”
    • “A demented, hammered John Williams could've made better music than this.”
    • “The music in Empire Total War is pretty bland; the gameplay is boring.”
    • “The lack of period music is just baffling to me, and the voice acting is stale and leaves much to be desired.”
  • optimization113 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frequent frame rate drops, crashes, and lag during large battles and on the campaign map. While some users have noted improvements post-launch, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, particularly on modern systems, leading to a frustrating experience for many. Despite its engaging gameplay and graphics, the persistent technical flaws detract from its potential as a standout title in the franchise.

    • “This game will be great if it can be updated and the performance issues fixed.”
    • “Game runs smoothly and seems to be bug-free.”
    • “It is optimized well and runs well on most computers I have tried.”
    • “However, the game faced significant technical issues upon release, with optimization problems and bugs that dampened its initial reception.”
    • “Performance decreases as this process goes on so it becomes a race against the game's dwindling frames-per-second to take the fort before the game becomes an unplayable slideshow.”
    • “Over a decade later and it's still as broken as it was day one... terrible AI (worse than the usual Total War game) both on the campaign map and in battles, bugs, glitches, performance issues... anything that could have gone wrong basically did.”
  • grinding72 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, with players expressing frustration over micromanagement, slow battles, and the repetitive nature of campaign mechanics. Many reviews highlight that the extensive management of territories and units can detract from the overall enjoyment, making the experience feel like a grind rather than engaging gameplay. While some players find enjoyment in the depth of the campaign, the consensus leans towards a need for more streamlined mechanics to reduce the tedium associated with grinding.

    • “In vanilla, the ship battles are more Sid Meier's Pirates than realism, but at least they are not tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's sad as this game introduced many fun features that were stripped in later titles, and I really tried to like this game, but I just quickly got the feeling that I was just grinding the campaign map instead of fighting any meaningful battles.”
    • “The game's interface is not particularly attractive, and there is an intolerable wait between turns while we are made to sit through a tedious, unnecessarily long-winded graphic representation of what the rest of the world is doing for its turns.”
    • “The campaign map can get a little tedious, but overall it is a fun game.”
  • humor65 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous AI blunders, such as enemy units spawning in nonsensical positions and making absurd tactical decisions, which often lead to comical victories for players. Players also find amusement in the game's unbalanced mechanics and glitches, with many noting that the absurdity of certain scenarios—like ridiculous diplomatic proposals and the antics of units during battles—adds a layer of entertainment despite the game's flaws. Overall, the humor is characterized by a mix of intentional and unintentional comedic moments that keep players engaged, even amidst the game's shortcomings.

    • “The AI hilariously runs in circles and refuses to attack you in battles.”
    • “Get any other Total War game, just not this one unless you want to spend more time laughing and watching enemy units do the stupidest things imaginable against your army as you effectively give up on tactics and just bumrush them because it's more convenient and takes less time - not like you'll lose any units anyway.”
    • “The game never lacks entertainment; the AI puts up a good fight and the diplomacy AI is hilarious in their proposals (probably not intended to be funny at all, but when I'm at war and my enemy asks for $5000 and for me to give them my main production/income regions; I find that hilarious) just before you wipe them out.”
    • “The game has every detail covered, from forts and castles to naval battles, but I just didn't find it funny. Everyone else seemed to enjoy the humor, but it fell flat for me.”
    • “While the game offers a lot of strategic elements, the humor just didn't resonate with me. It seems like a lot of players found it amusing, but I was left unimpressed.”
    • “I appreciate the effort put into the game's mechanics, but the humor aspect was a miss for me. It seems like I'm the only one who didn't find it funny.”
  • atmosphere33 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive representation of the 18th century, enhanced by strong visuals, a compelling soundtrack, and detailed sound design. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke the historical context and emotional depth during both strategic map play and intense battles, making it a captivating experience. Despite some technical issues, the overall ambiance and thematic elements contribute significantly to its replayability and enjoyment.

    • “The game's visuals and sound design contribute to its immersive atmosphere, bringing the 18th-century world to life.”
    • “The soundtrack is seriously underrated for this game, and the general atmosphere really conveys the 18th-century statesmen feel.”
    • “This game really captures the atmosphere of the 1700s during the time when many European nations strived to colonize and expand their empires.”
    • “You also need to consider the fact that there are many players on here that have adopted the use of specific units that are simply overpowered, which therefore ruins the historical atmosphere of this game.”
    • “Yes, some buildings will look different depending on what part of the world you're in on the campaign, but you will quickly realize how bland the atmosphere of the maps is when you fight battles.”
    • “As much as I like its setting and atmosphere, I must admit it's poorly made.”
  • emotional24 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding deep connections through personal narratives and the weight of historical events, while others feel a lack of character development, particularly among generals. Moments of loss, such as the death of a beloved general, evoke strong feelings, yet the absence of family trees and emotional context in battles can detract from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, many players appreciate the game's ability to create a sense of accomplishment and immersion, especially when enhanced by mods.

    • “The new road to independence campaign delivers a guided experience with emotional beats.”
    • “That moment when your general who has conquered most of Europe and finally dies is heartbreaking, and you may shed a few tears.”
    • “Empire: Total War is the most emotional, connective, personal, grudging, and eventually, important Total War game to date.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with players expressing frustration over in-game purchases and the perception of DLC as a cash grab. While some appreciate the game's historical context and gameplay, many feel that the pricing model undermines the value of the initial purchase, leading to disappointment in the lack of access to content without additional spending. Overall, there is a strong sentiment against the monetization practices of the developers, particularly regarding their handling of DLC and support for older titles.

    • “It's a good game for its time, but one of the downsides is the in-game purchases. When you buy a game at this price upon release, you expect access to everything. If you want to add more units, consider releasing an expansion.”
    • “It's a good game for its time, but one of the downsides is the in-game purchases. When you buy a game for the cost of this when it first comes out, you expect access to everything. If you want to add more units, release an expansion.”
    • “Unfortunately, CA and Sega are both cash grabbing, DLC-whoring scumbags who have decided that their fans are expendable, and that they are obliged to completely cut off support for anything before Rome 2.”
    • “Other than the Warpath campaign, there is no excuse for this obvious cash grab.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that character development is minimal or non-existent, with players prioritizing action and visuals over narrative depth. The focus on gameplay elements like battles and graphics suggests that the story and character arcs are not central to the experience.

    • “Sprawling battles, stunning graphics, and nothing lame like 'plot' or 'character development' getting in the way.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

88% average critic score

Buy Empire: Total War

Play time

325hMedian play time
420hAverage play time
65hMain story
99hCompletionist
80-694hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 113 analyzed playthroughs

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