Napoleon: Total War

About

"Napoleon: Total War" is a historical real-time strategy game set during the Napoleonic Wars. Experience two decades of intense battles, from Italy to Waterloo, in a single-player or multiplayer campaign. Your strategic choices and leadership skills will determine the outcome of war and the course of history.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 13,294 reviews

graphics376 positive mentions

stability160 negative mentions

graphics
716 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The graphics of "Napoleon: Total War" are generally praised for holding up well despite the game's age, with many reviewers noting that they surpass those of its predecessor, "Empire: Total War." While some players acknowledge that the visuals may not meet modern standards, they appreciate the game's artistic style, detailed unit designs, and immersive battle scenes. Overall, the graphics are considered a significant improvement over earlier titles in the series, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience.
- “Probably the best and the last great Total War game, with such a pleasant looking graphic engine and very immersive battles.”
- “The graphics are astonishing.”
- “The graphics still hold up after a decade due to the excellent particle and depth of field effects, while the time period is a breath of fresh air for a series bogged down by melee clump battles.”
- “The graphics have dated poorly, with a heavy reliance on 2D sprites that pop in noticeably, while the 3D animations are stilted and weird, especially during melee and when 40 cavalry reload their guns in perfect synchrony.”
- “The text is unreadable, the tutorial is annoying, the graphics are horrendous, the gameplay is slow and the music is depressing.”
- “It's frustrating that a common bug around graphics settings requires a manual fix for a game this mature.”
gameplay
629 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
4%
The gameplay of "Napoleon: Total War" is widely praised for its refined mechanics and engaging tactical battles, offering a more polished experience compared to its predecessor, "Empire: Total War." Players appreciate the historical accuracy, immersive campaigns, and the balance between real-time strategy and turn-based gameplay, although some express a desire for deeper campaign mechanics and more diverse factions. While the game has its share of bugs and AI issues, the overall consensus is that it provides a satisfying and enjoyable strategy experience, especially with the support of mods.
- “The gameplay is immersive and exciting and really great to spark one's curiosity about military, political and philosophical matters of the Napoleonic era.”
- “The intuitive controls and responsive gameplay ensure that every skirmish is a thrilling test of skill and strategy.”
- “With its engaging campaigns, captivating gameplay, and wealth of content, Total War: Napoleon is a true masterpiece that deserves a place in every strategy enthusiast's collection.”
- “Campaign mechanics and the likes have aged badly…”
- “The gameplay is quite basic to get ahold of, especially if you've played other games of the Total War series.”
- “The game is essentially the same graphics-wise and at a glance, seems quite similar gameplay-wise too.”
stability
167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
1%
96%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users noting that it is generally less buggy than its predecessor, Empire: Total War. However, players still report frequent glitches, particularly with audio and AI behavior, as well as occasional crashes and freezes during gameplay. While some find the game enjoyable despite these issues, others describe it as borderline unplayable due to persistent bugs.
- “Works well with my old PC, game plays fast with no glitches, and I lose myself for hours on end in gameplay. Love it.”
- “It is born from 'Empire: Total War' and feels like a more polished and bug-free version of it.”
- “The game itself is crisp and clean, relatively bug-free, and local multiplayer games have been a blast.”
- “Quite buggy and not much support, immediately from the start of the game, making it somewhat unplayable.”
- “The game is super buggy, and clearly released then abandoned.”
- “Game freezes at random times, no solutions offered on Steam.”
story
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
68%
5%
The story in "Napoleon: Total War" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its narrative structure that follows Napoleon's historical campaigns, providing a cohesive and immersive experience. While some critiques mention a lack of historical accuracy and limited player agency, the storytelling is praised for its engaging cutscenes and voice acting, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the campaign effectively captures the essence of Napoleon's rise and fall, appealing to both history enthusiasts and strategy game fans.
- “Perhaps one of the most significant ways 'Napoleon: Total War' has changed my life is by giving me a deeper appreciation for the power of storytelling.”
- “The different campaign options, the historical accuracy, and the storytelling are top-notch.”
- “The story of Napoleon bringing Europe to its knees has always captivated me.”
- “The story is treated with massive respect.”
- “There is a sort of storyline following Napoleon's campaigns, but it lacks the freedom to fight the way you want to.”
- “Let's face it; story campaigns are boring!”
music
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
4%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its orchestral compositions that enhance the atmosphere and historical immersion, while others find it overly gloomy or lacking in variety. Some players appreciate the attention to detail, such as the inclusion of marching music and sound effects that complement the gameplay, while a few criticize the soundtrack for being dull or repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as beautiful and fitting for the game's setting, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “The game's soundtrack is also noteworthy, featuring sweeping orchestral pieces that perfectly capture the grandeur and drama of the time period.”
- “The music is great and the small details that you see here and there such as the drummers, whistlers, bugle men, and flag bearers marching about makes this game feel alive.”
- “Incredible game; the music and voice acting is among the best I've ever experienced at setting the mood and tone - only Diablo 2 is better.”
- “The soundtrack is really dull and ruins the game.”
- “The early vanilla version of this game was pretty good, but limited in many ways: a very predictable AI opponent, limited number of playable factions, minimal battlefield music and sounds, relatively small field 'armies'; this is barely a brigade in the actual Napoleonic wars.”
- “First off, the fife and drum music in vanilla is horrifying. It's computer-generated, poorly done, and is generally nowhere close to music of the period.”
replayability
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag. While many players appreciate the depth and variety offered by mods, particularly Darthmod, and the ability to play as various nations, others criticize the limited number of factions and campaigns, which can hinder long-term engagement. Despite these limitations, the game remains enjoyable and replayable, especially for those who appreciate its historical context and strategic gameplay.
- “A decade after this game's release, it's highly replayable.”
- “The mixture of geopolitics, technology, tactics, strategy, and units (mostly for multiplayer and modded campaigns) is easily one of the most replayable Total War games to exist alongside Rome II, Shogun II, and Empire.”
- “An excellent strategic game, very deep, with lots of replayability.”
- “I don't hate it completely... you can get a fun campaign in, but because there are only 4 factions in the whole game, there isn't much replay value at all.”
- “The game and mechanics are well made, but the lack of factions to play in the campaign really limits replayability.”
- “Choosing between 4 countries to play as makes the game less replayable compared to other Total War games.”
optimization
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
53%
12%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users noting that it runs smoothly even on lower-end systems, showcasing impressive CPU optimization that eliminates lag and stuttering. However, some players report significant performance issues, particularly with high-performance systems and campaign map stuttering, indicating that while the game is better optimized than its predecessor, it still has room for improvement. The graphics are well-received, contributing to a polished experience, but certain technical bugs and AI handling detract from the overall performance for some users.
- “Additionally, the remarkable CPU optimization has completely eliminated any lag or stuttering, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the game without any technical hindrances.”
- “Amazing graphics even though it's 7 years old, very well optimized for just about any computer and has awesome replayability.”
- “The strategic and tactical gameplay is far more optimized and stable, the graphics are somewhat improved and the overall experience is better (especially with modifications).”
- “I am not recommending this game purely based on performance.”
- “Serious performance issues, as in other Total War titles, particularly stop me from continuing to play the game.”
- “Poor pathfinding, badly optimized maps, and half a dozen other fundamental bits feel completely adrift here.”
atmosphere
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
23%
8%
The atmosphere in "Napoleon: Total War" is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by stellar audio design and visuals that effectively capture the historical period of the Napoleonic Wars. Players appreciate the combination of realistic sound effects, such as musket fire and marching drums, alongside a compelling soundtrack that elevates the overall experience. While some critiques mention flaws in campaign design, the game's atmospheric elements remain a standout feature, making it a memorable entry in the Total War series.
- “The visuals and audio design create an immersive atmosphere, making you feel like you're right in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars.”
- “One of the most atmospheric Total War games I have played, with a stellar soundtrack, wonderful art style, and beautiful graphics. Napoleon: Total War is a must-play for any fan of the franchise.”
- “Hearing the beating of drums as troops advance and the crackle of musket fire is very atmospheric.”
- “The battles are fantastic, but the campaign atmosphere is so bad that I don't enjoy playing the game at all.”
- “Empire doesn't have the polish nor the atmosphere.”
- “It also lacked atmosphere; there wasn't that rush you got from playing Rome or Medieval where the music perfectly matched the noises and chaos of the battlefield.”
humor
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often described as light-hearted and absurd, with players enjoying the comedic elements of gameplay, such as exaggerated character traits and funny in-game scenarios. Many reviews highlight the fun of playing with friends, where the game's quirks and glitches lead to hilarious moments, making it a source of laughter despite some criticisms of the campaign's pacing and AI. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm, making the experience enjoyable, especially in multiplayer settings.
- “Funny and fun but other total war games are better.”
- “The filler arc with the hot air balloon was freaking hilarious, especially when it kept getting deployed in the middle of the battlefields.”
- “Fun playing campaign alone, amazing and hilarious with friends!”
grinding
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
68%
Overall, reviews indicate that grinding in the game is excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant effort for minimal rewards. Many players find the management and combat systems clunky and slow, leading to a monotonous experience that detracts from enjoyment. While some appreciate the casual gameplay, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding aspect is a major drawback, making the game feel like a chore rather than an engaging experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The entire campaign map was divided into three sub-maps, and there was an abundance of active factions that slowed each turn to a mind-numbingly tedious crawl.”
- “Somehow Napoleon manages to actually oversimplify important aspects of the game and unnecessarily complicate requiring some tedious and annoying micromanagement.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often feeling moved to tears by its storytelling and gameplay elements, particularly during intense moments like the Waterloo finale. The frustration of technical issues, such as sound glitches, has led to feelings of sadness and disappointment, highlighting the game's significant impact on their emotional experience. Overall, the game evokes a mix of joy, heartbreak, and nostalgia, making it a memorable experience for many.
- “Please accept my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for creating such an extraordinary gaming experience.”
- “As for the Waterloo finale... man, that cannon ending is heartbreaking.”
- “- old but still visually stunning, I cried about twice playing this.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many users expressing frustration over the separate sale of DLC that feels unjustified, especially given the shared assets and bugs with previous titles. This approach has led to perceptions that the game prioritizes profit over genuine content expansion.
- “Selling DLC separately was just a cash grab all this time.”
- “This is a cash grab that has no excuse not to be an expansion to Empire: Total War, many of the assets of which still appear in-game and the bugs of which are for the most part shared.”
- “They attempt to supplement the game's shortcomings in variety with a lot of DLC that makes the game seem more like a cash grab than anything else.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the gameplay and realistic character designs received positive feedback, there was no specific mention of character development, suggesting that it may not have been a focal point for players.