Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a good RTS, but there’s plenty to learn that may put off those looking for a shorter and snappier experience.

66%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

stability, grinding

68% User Score Based on 799 reviews

Critic Score 68%Based on 16 reviews

Platforms

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About

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a single player strategy game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. and was released on January 27, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII" is a turn-based strategy game set in ancient China. Players can choose to lead one of over 700 historical characters, each with their own unique abilities and attributes. The game features a variety of modes, including a campaign mode, historical simulation mode, and multiplayer mode. Players must build up their territories, form alliances, and engage in strategic battles to conquer China and achieve their desired ending.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII screenshot

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68%

Audience ScoreBased on 799 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

stability17 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of RPG elements and grand strategy, allowing players to experience the Three Kingdoms era from the perspective of individual characters.
The graphics and character artwork are stunning, enhancing the immersive experience of the game.
The Fame and Strategy expansion pack significantly improves gameplay, adding depth and new features that enhance the overall experience.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and crashes, making it frustrating to play for many users.
The AI is often criticized for being predictable and ineffective, leading to unbalanced gameplay.
The price point is considered too high for the content offered, especially when compared to previous titles in the series.

gameplay
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
81%
7%
The gameplay of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and complexity, particularly in the RPG and officer-based mechanics, while others criticize it for being overly simplified compared to earlier entries in the series. Players appreciate the blend of strategic and character-driven elements, but many find the execution lacking, citing issues with tutorial clarity, repetitive events, and a lack of engaging mini-games. Overall, while the game offers a unique experience with its mix of mechanics, it struggles to meet the expectations of long-time fans and newcomers alike.
- “Very involved RPG and dating simulator-like mechanics to build bonds with your band of warriors to take over the map.”
- “The gameplay is solid, building up a force and the borders of those forces: economically, militarily, and culturally.”
- “It drastically changes the gameplay and transforms it from mundane to boundless hours of fun.”
- “From a gameplay standpoint, my biggest knock is that this game is much more simplified than some of the earlier entries in the series.”
- “The game still has some rough edges, like gameplay elements not explained very well, some inconvenient controls, and repetitive generic events.”
- “After less than 2 hours in the game, I have decided to give up the boring and messy gameplay.”
story
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
74%
6%
The game's story is deeply rooted in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, offering players the chance to engage with historical characters and events through a mix of strategic gameplay and RPG elements. While many players appreciate the immersive storytelling and character interactions, some criticize the repetitive nature of quests and the disconnect between player actions and the overarching narrative. Overall, the game appeals to fans of the genre, particularly those familiar with the historical context, but may feel slow or lacking in depth for others.
- “I think this game is great so far and if you love the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story, then you will like this game.”
- “The story events are wonderfully done.”
- “In this game, you experience the story of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms through the eyes of any of the interesting and unique characters involved.”
- “This game seems to be a bunch of repetitive item delivery quests and basic battles.”
- “Imagine playing a 4x strategy game where, no matter what you did, everything you accomplished would get completely overwritten and invalidated by a progressing story that was disconnected from what actually happened in the game.”
- “The game feels like bits and pieces of programmed game code were jammed together without a real feel for flow of playability and continuity of plot and action.”
graphics
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the stunning character artwork and improved map visuals, while others criticize the overall graphical quality as sub-par and plagued by bugs. Many players note that the game runs better on lower settings, and while the artwork is appreciated, the 3D graphics and battle animations often feel outdated and lack detail. Overall, the graphics are seen as decent but not groundbreaking, with a significant emphasis on character illustrations rather than immersive environments.
- “The graphics are great; it has all of the good stories that follow the book pretty well.”
- “The artwork is very themed towards Chinese culture of the first century AD, and is done beautifully.”
- “One thing to note: the character artwork is very well done to the point of impressive.”
- “During some parts of the game, some weird graphical bug occurs that causes the screen to flash red and blue.”
- “The graphics do become somewhat sub-par in certain close-up instances like debates or negotiations, but they are tolerable in my opinion.”
- “The graphic is horrible and looks simple too.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
29%
14%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly in relation to the Three Kingdoms setting. While some find it enjoyable and suitable for background play, others note that it can be repetitive and lacks the epic feel of earlier titles in the series. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, though opinions vary on its cultural authenticity and variety.
- “Overall, very enjoyable, can be a bit repetitive at times, but easy to play in the background while you work on other stuff; also, the music is absolutely great.”
- “The music is incredible.”
- “Another positive is the soundtrack for this game; it is very good and I enjoy listening to every piece within the game.”
- “The game's soundtrack is broken up into ill-defined regional areas.”
- “Too bad we don't get the soundtrack released in the states.”
- “Music is not invested enough.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
81%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting persistent bugs, crashes, and glitches that significantly detract from the experience. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay without issues, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration due to the game's instability, particularly in the English version. This inconsistency has led to a general perception that the game is poorly optimized and lacks the polish expected from a full release.
- “They used to sell you full games instead of piecemeal DLC sets, and their final products were 95% bug-free.”
- “So far, the game is bug-free and interesting in general, with lots of strategy.”
- “Everything looks and runs great.”
- “Major glitches persist after 2 years of release, stupid AI which can't even attack and occupy a single castle, poor diplomatic commands which are almost non-existent, and overall, boring.”
- “Alas... it's a bug-ridden game that will crash extremely regularly.”
- “I really, really wanted to like this game, but under the current, disgracefully buggy state of the English version, I just cannot recommend it to anyone.”
replayability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The game boasts extremely high replayability due to its diverse playable archetypes and customizable scenarios, allowing players to create unique experiences each time. The RPG elements and expansion packs further enhance this aspect, providing additional quests and systems that deepen gameplay. While some players note a lack of challenge, the overall consensus is that the game offers significant depth and variety, making it enjoyable to revisit.
- “The replayability factor is extremely high due to the number of ways to play - lone officer/ronin, mid-level governor, war minister, ruler, bandit, or even merchant are some examples of the playable archetypes.”
- “Ability to build a personal fictional scenario (set up ruler factions manually, select starting year) this could create untold replayability, being able to customize each game and still follow many of the historical settings while still being an entirely fictional game.”
- “I find that this game has a lot of replay value given all of the different ways that the player can more or less create their own experience for themselves.”
- “Ability to build a personal fictional scenario (set up ruler factions manually, select starting year) could create untold replayability, being able to customize each game and still follow many of the historical settings while still being an entirely fictional game.”
- “The game is a bit easy and doesn't have much replay value.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
93%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can feel repetitive and tedious, particularly during the early stages focused on farming and city building. While the ability to delegate tasks helps alleviate some of the monotony, many players still find the overall experience to be overly complicated and lacking in engaging gameplay. Balancing the grind with strategic elements is seen as a mixed bag, with some enjoying the challenge while others find it burdensome.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “They have made this game so complicated, grinding and boring.”
- “The first two thirds of the game is redundant farming, building up, etc., and hoping that you don't get attacked and ruined before you build up your city.”
- “The game is a bit grindy on social standings and stat building, but that's part of the fun in a world where you're competing with or against the likes of Lu Bu for strength, Zhuge Liang for intelligence, or Cao Cao for political power.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, including bugs and poor PC compatibility, even on high-end systems. Many feel that the game lacks the necessary polish for a smooth experience, detracting from overall enjoyment.
- “Based on your performance, receive dynamic rewards and merit.”
- “A ruler of a city, you need to entertain multiple requests and supervise the workings of a city while fulfilling more 'performance targets'.”
- “A clone of Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence with controls optimized for the PC and not the PS4.”
- “Of course there are some issues such as incessant pop-up events, and at times it feels like it is nowhere near optimized for a PC (even on my fully-loaded Lenovo 7i).”
- “- Ridiculous AAA prices for both base + DLC, barren campaign map, poor content, poor PC optimization, etc.”
- “Totally no optimization with a ton of bugs = fuck Koei.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The character development in this game is highly praised for its depth and interactivity, creating a vibrant and immersive world reminiscent of titles like Crusader Kings 2. Players appreciate the multiple layers of character progression and the potential for meaningful influence over various characters, alongside expectations for further development in aspects like town and army management.
- “While Total War has overall better battles, building tree, and tech tree, this game has powerful character development, a truly living world, and amazing depth when it comes to interacting with other people.”
- “RTK XIII has the best role-playing capabilities, character development, and graphics.”
- “Some of the character development reminds me of Crusader Kings II, with the ability to influence and alter a wide range of characters.”
- “Some of the character development reminds me of Crusader Kings 2, with the ability to influence and alter a wide range of characters.”
- “There appear to be several layers of character development, and I expect to learn about town development, including raising your economy, building new town sections, and developing your army in the next aspects of the hero mode.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from the absurdity of overwhelming victories, where players can easily decimate enemy forces at choke points, leading to amusing yet somewhat tragic scenarios that highlight a lack of strategic depth.
- “I thought it was funny when I was basically wiping out all of Wei's forces in a few battles. They would send all their armies from all cities to one battle, but I would decimate them at a choke point.”
- “The humor in the game can be funny at times, but it can also be kind of sad because there is really no strategy here.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is heavily criticized, with users labeling it as a blatant cash grab that fails to deliver on its advertised RPG elements, leading to disappointment among players who had high expectations.
- “This is a rant and review as this game is just a cash grab.”
- “I bought this game with so much expectation because the ads emphasized RPG elements, which reminded me of 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms X PK'. I thought I could play something similar...”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the emotional depth of the game, suggesting that it offers a rich and nuanced experience that resonates on a deeper level than initially perceived.
- “Overall, I feel the game has more depth than I'm touching on here, which I think is a good feeling.”
- “The emotional journey of the characters really resonated with me, making me reflect on my own experiences.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the story; it evoked feelings I didn't expect to experience while playing a game.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
The atmosphere in ROTK 13 is highly praised for its immersive representation of the Three Kingdoms era, enhanced by engaging RPG elements such as character relationships and a compelling soundtrack that brings the historical setting to life.
- “Not only does ROTK 13 offer a compact strategy game set during the Three Kingdoms era, combined with some nice RPG elements like creating bonds and friendships with other characters, even to the extent of marrying and having an archenemy, but it also features great sound and music that allows you to truly feel the atmosphere of the Three Kingdoms.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I expected from a game set in such a rich historical context.”
- “Despite the interesting premise, the world feels lifeless and devoid of any real atmosphere, making it hard to get invested in the story.”
- “The sound design is underwhelming, failing to capture the essence of the era and leaving the overall atmosphere feeling hollow.”

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68%Critics’ scoreBased on 16 critic reviews

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63h Median play time

70h Average play time

20-140h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a strategy game with warfare and historical themes.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 70 hours playing Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII was released on January 27, 2016.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII was developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD..

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a single player game.

Similar games include Total War: THREE KINGDOMS, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 14, ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE, NOBUNAGA'S AMBITION: Sphere of Influence, Total War: Rome II and others.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII

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