Medieval II: Total War™ Kingdoms

About

"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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Medieval II: Total War™ Kingdoms screenshot

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 852 reviews

gameplay26 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features four unique campaigns, each offering a different historical setting and gameplay experience, making it highly replayable.
The modding community is vibrant, with excellent mods like Third Age Total War and Stainless Steel that significantly enhance gameplay and add new content.
The real-time battles are massive and immersive, with a variety of units and strategies that keep the gameplay engaging.

The game suffers from bugs and technical issues, including crashes and problems with launching, which frustrate players.
The AI can be poorly designed, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially in pathfinding and combat decisions.
Some players find the diplomacy system to be lackluster and the micromanagement overwhelming as empires grow larger.

gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The gameplay of the game is highly praised, with many users rating it between 8 to 9 out of 10, highlighting its engaging mechanics and the enjoyment of growing an empire. While it offers hundreds of hours of gameplay across various factions and expansions, some players note the presence of bugs, slow pacing, and dated graphics as drawbacks. Overall, it remains a favorite in the Total War series for its addictive strategy elements and modding community support.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Of course the campaign map gameplay is turn-based, but it's not nearly as great as the battles.”
graphics
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
33%
14%
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 some players may find the visuals lacking, many appreciate how the graphics 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 who value gameplay over visual fidelity.
- “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.”
- “Great graphics, terrific gameplay, optimization, and battle music.”
- “Would not recommend if you are a graphics snob.”
- “The graphics are a bit outdated, but that does not really matter.”
- “Just go in remembering that this is an old game and won't have the graphics of Shogun 2 or Shogun 2's gameplay.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many users praising its epic and immersive quality, particularly in the context of various campaigns that feature unique soundtracks tailored to their themes. The compositions are described as beautiful, heroic, and heart-pounding, reminiscent of the acclaimed work from previous titles like Rome: Total War. Overall, the soundtrack significantly enhances the gameplay experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “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, the Crusades being religious and faithful, and Teutonic just being pure evil.”
- “The units are all very balanced and detailed, the soundtrack is amazing, also noting that each one of these campaigns has its own soundtrack.”
- “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.”
- “The soundtrack in this game is put into each campaign, 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).”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
Medieval II: Total War, particularly with its Kingdoms expansion, is praised for its exceptional replayability, offering hundreds of hours of diverse gameplay through a wide array of factions and customizable mods. While some players note that the game can feel repetitive after multiple playthroughs, the variety of scenarios, campaigns, and AI options ensure that each experience remains engaging and unique. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most replayable titles in the Total War series.
- “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, and the ultimate game of the Total War series. Nothing before or since has surpassed it or even come close.”
- “Therein lies a great deal of replayability as you can always tweak your playing experience via the nigh-endless options of customizable mods that allow you to determine AI aggressiveness, among other things.”
- “Although it has gotten a bit dated and 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 very high anyway.”
- “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.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be quite enjoyable, particularly during battles where they can watch and control the action, leading to hilarious moments. While some appreciate the comedic elements in specific campaigns, like Britannia, there is a desire for more diverse and engaging scenarios, such as a Reconquista campaign. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
- “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).”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
13%
The game's story is generally well-received, with multiple users rating it an 8 out of 10, describing it as a solid campaign that allows for open-ended storytelling. Players who enjoy crafting their own narratives will particularly appreciate the freedom the campaign offers. However, some themes of struggle against oppression are noted, adding depth to the experience.
- “That's the story of how I fought the good fight and in the end was suppressed by the man.”
- “Story: 8 - pretty alright 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, it's for you.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Despite its age and dated graphics, the game effectively immerses players in the rich atmosphere of the Middle Ages, showcasing the lifestyle, turmoil, and religious conflicts of the era. The multiplayer campaign enhances this experience, allowing for engaging and atmospheric 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.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game's stability is somewhat inconsistent, with occasional bugs present. However, it is generally considered more stable than previous titles like Rome 2, particularly in terms of maintaining compatibility with mods despite some patch-related issues.
- “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.”
- “The game has stability issues that can disrupt the overall experience.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report issues with the monetization aspect, specifically mentioning that clicking the 'play now' button after a short advertisement leads to no response, indicating potential technical problems or frustrations with the ad experience.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent graphics and gameplay, with users highlighting effective optimization that enhances the overall experience.
- “Great graphics, terrific gameplay, optimization, and battle music.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the emotional weight of battles, noting that even well-prepared units face desperate situations where victories are often accompanied by significant, heart-wrenching losses. This creates a poignant atmosphere that deepens the overall gaming experience.
- “Your units are better equipped and trained, but most battles will be desperate, and even victories come with heart-wrenching costs.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game can become tedious in the later stages due to the extensive organization required, though 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.”