Medieval: Total War™ - Collection | Game Brain

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Medieval: Total War™ - Collection is a single player and multiplayer tactical turn-based strategy game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by CREATIVE ASSEMBLY and was released on June 25, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Medieval: Total War™ - Collection" is a strategy game that lets you build and expand your empire across four centuries, from 1087 to 1453. Choose from 14 playable factions and engage in battles on land and sea, diplomacy, and agent intrigue to secure your reign. The game includes the critically-acclaimed Medieval: Total War and its official expansion pack, Viking Invasion, offering a rich and immersive medieval warfare experience.

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70%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,529 reviews

graphics31 positive mentions

stability47 negative mentions

Classic turn-based strategy with engaging gameplay that combines empire management and real-time battles.
Offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the Total War series, with a unique chess-like campaign map and diverse factions.
Despite its age, the game still provides a deep and rewarding strategic experience, with memorable music and atmosphere.

Frequent crashes, especially during large battles or when multiple armies are involved, making the game frustrating and often unplayable.
Outdated graphics and clunky controls that may deter new players or those accustomed to modern game mechanics.
Compatibility issues with newer operating systems, particularly Windows 10, leading to instability and crashes.

graphics
159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its age of over 20 years, with many users noting that they feel clunky and lack the polish of modern titles. Despite this, some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic style, particularly in the campaign map, while acknowledging that the real-time battle visuals are particularly lacking. Overall, while the graphics may not meet contemporary standards, the engaging gameplay and strategic depth continue to resonate with fans.
- “Visually, while the graphics are dated compared to modern standards, the game’s art direction and animations still hold a nostalgic charm.”
- “The graphics are spot on, the menus crisp, and the animation is as claymation as the day it came out.”
- “For the time, the graphics were amazing (and are still charming today), while the gameplay was addicting.”
- “The graphics, interface, and controls feel very clunky by today’s standards, even for long-time fans of the series.”
- “The game is 13 years old and the graphics are no longer up to today's standards.”
- “The battles are simply unplayable by today's standards, not just by graphics but also sound, UI, and controls do not hold up.”
gameplay
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
68%
2%
The gameplay of this title, despite its dated graphics, remains highly regarded for its depth and strategic complexity, offering a blend of real-time and turn-based mechanics that many players find compelling even after two decades. While some mechanics may feel outdated and the user interface can be clunky, the core gameplay experience is praised for its engaging tactical battles and rewarding campaign elements, making it a nostalgic favorite among fans of the series. New gameplay mechanics introduced in expansions, such as supply lines and complex diplomacy, further enhance the strategic depth, solidifying its status as a classic in the genre.
- “The expansion also includes new gameplay mechanics such as supply lines and more complex diplomacy, which add realism and tactical nuance to the larger campaign.”
- “The gameplay is deep, thoughtful, enjoyable, and memorable.”
- “While yes, the graphics are dated and old, the game mechanics are just as in-depth as any modern-day Total War, if not even more in-depth.”
- “The graphics look poor compared to when I used to play it, and the gameplay in and out of battle are not what they used to be.”
- “It does have interesting strategic mechanics, but then it also has terrible 3D battles with clunky controls and infuriating random events in the campaign, the worst of which is that destroyed factions just respawn out of nowhere with a huge army and leader in the same province.”
- “The UI is clunky and the gameplay in battle is also.”
music
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
39%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the medieval setting and gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as one of the best in the genre, with a mix of epic themes and ambient folk music that complements the strategic elements of the game. Overall, the sound design, including battle sounds and ambient tracks, contributes significantly to the game's charm and historical authenticity.
- “The sound design and musical score further enhance the medieval ambiance.”
- “The music is one of the best in any game I have ever played.”
- “The ambient soundtrack is stellar and is as good as any in the Total War franchise.”
- “This game is pure darkness; the campaign, gameplay, and soundtrack are nothing but crude and dark.”
- “Something very interesting I noticed while playing is that one particular piece of music, entitled 'European Summer', is completely identical to 'The Fields of Ard Skellig' from The Witcher 3.”
- “The music and sound effects are pretty simple but nonetheless do an incredible job of establishing the setting and really add to the game's personality and charm.”
stability
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
96%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent freezes and crashes, particularly during key gameplay moments such as battles or when progressing through turns. While some players still find enjoyment in the game, the overwhelming sentiment is that it is plagued by bugs that significantly hinder the experience, making it frustrating and often unplayable. Many recommend waiting for patches or avoiding the game altogether until stability issues are addressed.
- “This game can be played completely chill as a board game-like turn-based strategy. With four eras and mod support, it offers huge replayability. The Steam version runs great on Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines, regardless of specifications.”
- “It's not buggy.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major issues.”
- “The game started off great but after a while it was crashing constantly. Now I'm in year 907 and can't get past it no matter what I do; move armies around, cancel attacks, move agents to different provinces... nothing works, the game just freezes.”
- “Unfortunately, the game often freezes and then crashes without saving or backup.”
- “Every time I try to fight a big battle, it freezes and kicks me out.”
atmosphere
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
24%
14%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and authentic medieval feel, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and detailed campaign maps. Players appreciate the combination of historical authenticity, engaging sound design, and a brooding ambiance that draws them into the experience, making it stand out even against newer titles in the genre. Overall, the atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the game's strategic depth and enjoyment.
- “One of the game’s standout features is its historical atmosphere and authenticity.”
- “The world campaign is a vellum map spread over an oak table, with lulling atmospheric folk music playing in the background, making you feel like you're planning your strategy in the tower of your castle with gameboard pieces that represent forces and agents.”
- “Wonderful atmosphere and immersion thanks to memorable music, crunchy sound design, beautiful campaign maps, and a plethora of creative design decisions.”
- “The atmosphere is totally different!”
- “The gray medieval atmosphere brought on by the music and sounds can't be easily recreated and fits in very well.”
- “This is on top of the atmosphere that gives the game an ominous medieval feel that fits perfectly, and that perhaps only Total War: Attila comes close to out of all the games in the franchise.”
replayability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, featuring multiple campaigns and diverse factions that encourage players to explore different strategies and experiences. With a relatively simple management system and an active modding community, players can enjoy near-infinite replay value, making it a timeless choice for fans of the genre. Overall, the combination of varied gameplay elements and the importance of different nations enhances the game's replayability significantly.
- “Endless replayability.”
- “The modding community for this game is still somewhat active and several large-scale overhauls exist, greatly improving replayability.”
- “My biggest issue with replayability is that I get into the Skyrim paradox.”
- “There is a difference between every nation that adds replay value to play with every faction in the game.”
- “However, these issues are relatively minor compared to the game’s overall depth and replayability.”
optimization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting performance issues, crashes, and janky gameplay, particularly on modern systems. While some players have found it runs smoothly on specific setups, others express disappointment over the lack of proper optimization for current hardware, suggesting a need for improvements akin to GOG-style updates. Overall, the game's nostalgic value is overshadowed by its inconsistent performance across different platforms.
- “Despite what other reviewers reported, the game runs smoothly on Windows 10 for me.”
- “A classic game like this really cries out for a proper GOG-style optimization for modern systems.”
- “Nonetheless, this game has a couple of cool things going for it, including the ability to have truly massive battles (because of the limited performance hits) and some interesting mechanics that have been lost on later titles.”
- “Launch, set video/audio/performance settings while wondering why there are so few of them.”
- “Nothing negative to say about Medieval I, with the exception that, since it has been 'upgraded' to fit into modern iOS, its performance has plummeted.”
- “On my Windows 10 AMD FX-8350 | GTX 970 | 16 GB RAM system, performance was unacceptable.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game's story aspect is polarizing; while some players appreciate the rich world-building and the opportunity to create personal narratives through gameplay, others note the absence of a structured story or quests, leading to a reliance on player imagination. The medieval setting fosters a sense of intrigue and epic storytelling, with each campaign offering a unique narrative shaped by player choices and historical context. Overall, the storytelling experience varies significantly depending on individual engagement with the game's mechanics.
- “Hearkens back to an era where game developers, largely as a result of limited technology, had to devote more time to storytelling and world-building, which this game does a great job at accomplishing.”
- “Winning a campaign is not just about the victory itself, but about telling a story filled with the brutality, avarice, and intrigue of the medieval world.”
- “The game engenders that feeling of intrigue and epic storytelling more than any other title.”
- “Story: n/a (there's no quests or story thread in this game, except for the ones you make up in your own head).”
- “Winning a campaign is not just about the victory itself, but about telling a story fecund with the brutality, avarice and intrigue of the medieval world.”
- “End of story.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and overwhelming, particularly due to the extensive micromanagement required for maintaining armies, managing cities, and balancing economies. The slow pace of the European campaign, especially on higher difficulties, exacerbates this feeling, leading to frustration with repetitive tasks and the burden of managing numerous elements as the game progresses. Overall, while some appreciate the depth and historical accuracy, many feel that the grinding detracts from the enjoyment of the gameplay experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Managing armies and agents on the campaign map can feel tedious, especially compared to more streamlined successors in the series.”
- “Towards the end, it can become very tedious adjusting all the taxes and selecting units to build.”
- “However, even on normal game mode, it becomes tedious when hours and hours of gameplay are quickly undone with 'random' rebellions, attacks, and the return of defeated factions.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from its outdated graphics and quirky mechanics, which evoke nostalgia for the '90s while providing a fun, immersive experience. Players find amusement in the absurdity of certain game scenarios, such as using a rejected marriage proposal as a justification for war, and appreciate the comedic contrast between the game's simple battles and modern titles. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm to the gameplay, despite some technical issues.
- “The campaign works like an upgraded form of the board game Risk; though battles look funny when compared to later Total Wars, they are quite fun and a little immersive in their own right.”
- “Funny '90s graphics and all; I am in it for the kill.”
- “I personally find it humorous to use a rejected marriage proposal as grounds to go to war with a much more powerful faction.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is hindered by its 2D design, which some players find unappealing, particularly given the game's low-budget origins.
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character progression made the experience feel linear and unengaging.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, with feelings of nostalgia and heartbreak stemming from past experiences and the inability to engage with it as they once did. The crashes evoke strong emotions, highlighting the game's significant impact on their childhood.
- “The crashes make me want to cry.”
- “I played this all the time when I was a kid, and to be able to own it but not play it is heartbreaking.”

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6h Median play time

11h Average play time

2-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Medieval: Total War™ - Collection is a tactical turn-based strategy game with fantasy and historical themes.

Medieval: Total War™ - Collection is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 11 hours playing Medieval: Total War™ - Collection.

Medieval: Total War™ - Collection was released on June 25, 2015.

Medieval: Total War™ - Collection was developed by CREATIVE ASSEMBLY.

Medieval: Total War™ - Collection has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its stability.

Medieval: Total War™ - Collection is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Rome: Total War, Knights of Honor, SHOGUN: Total War - Collection, Sid Meier's Civilization® III Complete, Medieval II: Total War and others.

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