Medieval II: Total War™ Kingdoms

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 425 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Medieval II: Total War™ Kingdoms Game Cover
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"Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms" is the expansion pack for Medieval II: Total War, offering four new campaigns in the British Isles, Teutonic Northern Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. It includes 13 new factions, over 110 units, and 50 building types, adding up to 80 hours of new gameplay. The game also features new multiplayer maps and hotseat multiplayer. Explore new territories, command new troops, and conquer new enemies in this content-rich expansion.

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Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 425 reviews
gameplay13 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • The Kingdoms expansion adds four unique campaigns, each with distinct factions and gameplay mechanics, enhancing replayability.
  • The modding community significantly extends the game's lifespan, with popular mods like Third Age: Total War and Stainless Steel offering new experiences.
  • The game features excellent real-time battles with a variety of units, providing a satisfying strategic experience.
  • The game suffers from bugs and AI issues, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • Some players have reported problems with installation and launching the game, particularly on Steam.
  • The graphics and mechanics feel dated compared to newer Total War titles, which may not appeal to all players.
  • gameplay31 mentions

    The gameplay of this Total War title is highly praised, with many users noting its engaging mechanics and the depth of strategy involved in empire-building, earning scores around 8-9/10. While some players mention the presence of bugs and dated graphics, the game offers hundreds of hours of content, particularly through its expansions and modding community. Overall, it combines turn-based and real-time elements effectively, making it a standout entry in the series despite some minor gameplay limitations.

    • “One of the best expansions of any Total War series with entirely new regions, factions, and gameplay.”
    • “This game includes hundreds of hours of interesting gameplay, with so many different factions to choose from.”
    • “Old yes, boring no, Medieval II: Total War is an addicting strategy game that combines turn-based and real-time gameplay to make one of the greatest games on the planet.”
    • “The game already has mechanics for spreading plague and the like, but for the Black Death, the game just decides on a particular turn that literally every settlement and every character anyone has should spontaneously get it.”
    • “But it has strange camera issues and the gameplay is very slow, so don't go in expecting explosions and awesome battles right off the bat.”
    • “From a gameplay perspective, it doesn't bring anything new to the table but doesn't suck either.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered good for its release period, though they are now seen as dated compared to newer titles in the series. While graphics enthusiasts may find them lacking, many players appreciate how the visuals effectively capture the game's historical atmosphere and gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics do not detract from the enjoyment of the game, especially for those familiar with its mechanics and community content.

    • “Yes, it is old, even on max graphics a graphics snob might brush this game off right away, but this game captures the atmosphere, lifestyle, turbulence, and religious strife of the Middle Ages wonderfully.”
    • “Graphics: 8.5 - great for the game style.”
    • “It's been out for a long time now, so most systems will be able to run it with ease, and for me, the graphics still look good next to the newer releases in the series.”
    • “Would not recommend if you are a graphics snob.”
    • “The graphics are a bit outdated, but that does not really matter.”
    • “Despite the dated graphics and lack of gameplay improvements that can be found in the later Total War games, this remains my favorite game in the series.”
  • music15 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with users praising its emotional depth and thematic variety across different campaigns. Each campaign features a unique soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, from the mysterious tones of the Americas to the heroic and folkloric melodies of Britannia. Overall, the soundtrack is described as fantastic, heart-pounding, and a significant improvement over previous titles, contributing greatly to the game's immersive atmosphere.

    • “Another feature that I love is that these campaigns have their own soundtracks which are both beautiful and heroic.”
    • “The soundtrack in this game is put into each campaign, with the Americas being mysterious and explorable, Britannia having English choirs and folklike tunes, Crusades being religious and faithful, and Teutonic just being pure evil.”
    • “Fantastic soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack in this game is put into each campaign, with the Americas being mysterious and explorable, Britannia having English choirs and folklike tunes, the Crusades being religious and faithful, and Teutonic just being pure evil.”
    • “The music is heart-pounding and gritty (same guy who did the music for Rome: Total War, just as good. We don't like to mention the new composer for the heathen game Rome 2).”
    • “It seems to be the campaign which had the most work put into it, which is shown through its over a half-hour long soundtrack.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The replayability of Medieval II: Total War, particularly with the Kingdoms expansion, is highly praised, offering a vast array of factions, customizable mods, and diverse campaign scenarios that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. While some players note a potential for repetitiveness after extensive play, the game's depth and variety provide hundreds of hours of replay value, making it a standout title in the Total War series. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most replayable games available, with nearly infinite possibilities for different play experiences.

    • “Replayability is huge, and the extra campaigns and factions round out a fascinating and absorbing look at this turbulent time in world history.”
    • “The game has almost infinite replayability; every game can be different and challenging. I've got about 700 hours on this game, and it's still my favorite, the ultimate game of the Total War series. Nothing before or since has surpassed it or even come close.”
    • “Although it has gotten a bit dated, after taking over the world a couple of times with very hard options, the game might feel a bit repetitive. However, the replay value is still very high.”
    • “Replayability is huge, and the extra campaigns and factions provide a fascinating and absorbing look at this turbulent time in world history.”
    • “A plethora of factions to choose from, a vastly improved campaign map, and a variety of AI archetypes extend the replay value of this game for years.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding the battle mechanics and interactions amusing, particularly in the Steam version. While some players enjoyed the comedic elements of specific campaigns, like Britannia, there is a desire for more diverse and engaging scenarios to enhance the humor further. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted experience, especially during gameplay.

    • “When you can watch the battle and control it, it is just hilarious.”
    • “Really funny”
    • “Well, the Britannia was pretty funny, but come on, it's just an island. I would prefer more of a Reconquista campaign (Spanish, Portuguese, and French crusade against the Moors).”
  • story4 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, with users noting it as a solid campaign that allows for open-ended exploration and personal storytelling. While some find it engaging, others feel it ultimately reflects a struggle against oppressive forces. Overall, it offers a mix of structured narrative and player-driven experiences.

    • “That's the story of how I fought the good fight and, in the end, was suppressed by the man.”
    • “Story: 8 - a pretty solid story campaign.”
    • “The campaign is very open-ended, so if you're the type who likes to make your own story as you go along, this game is for you.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game effectively captures the essence of the Middle Ages, immersing players in its lifestyle, turbulence, and religious strife, despite its dated graphics. The multiplayer campaign enhances the atmospheric experience, allowing for engaging battles with friends.

    • “Yes, it is old; even on max graphics, a graphics snob might brush this game off right away, but this game captures the atmosphere, lifestyle, turbulence, and religious strife of the Middle Ages wonderfully.”
    • “Imagine the multiplayer campaign and atmospheric battles with friends once again.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game's stability is somewhat inconsistent, with occasional bugs present, though it is generally considered more stable than previous titles like Rome 2. The implementation of patches has been noted to potentially disrupt mod compatibility, which is a concern for mod users.

    • “That way you don't break hundreds of mods with each of your buggy patches that add Steamworks and remove direct IP.”
    • “It's a bit buggy at times, but still better than Rome 2.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Users report issues with the monetization aspect, noting that while there is a short advertisement and a 'play now' button, clicking the button often results in no action, indicating potential technical problems or ineffective monetization strategies.

    • “Now there's a short advertisement for it and a button, 'play now', but when I click it, nothing happens.”
    • “The in-game purchases are way too expensive and feel like a cash grab.”
    • “I feel pressured to spend money just to keep up with other players.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game features impressive graphics and engaging gameplay, with optimization being highlighted as a strong point that enhances the overall experience.

    • “Great graphics, terrific gameplay, optimization, and battle music.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players highlight that while their units may be well-equipped and trained, the emotional weight of battles is significant, with victories often accompanied by profound losses and heartache.

    • “Your units are better equipped and trained, but most battles will be desperate, and even victories come with heart-wrenching costs.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game can become tedious in the later stages due to the extensive organization required; however, there are auto-management options available to alleviate some of the burden.

    • “This mode can get a bit tedious in the later game simply because of the amount of organizing necessary, but there are options to auto-manage these.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
    • “I found myself spending more time grinding for resources than actually enjoying the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

12hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
12-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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