Total War: MEDIEVAL II

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 14,753 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • replayability
Total War: MEDIEVAL II Game Cover
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Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition is a strategy game that allows you to command massive armies and expand your reign across the Medieval world. This definitive edition includes all DLC and feature updates since the game’s release, as well as four new campaigns centered on expanded maps of the British Isles, Teutonic Northern Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. With hundreds of hours of gameplay and content, you can direct battles with up to 10,000 troops and lead some of the greatest nations of the Western and Middle Eastern world during a turbulent era.

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Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 14,753 reviews
graphics262 positive mentions
stability93 negative mentions
  • graphics779 mentions

    The graphics of "Medieval II: Total War" are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2006 release, yet many players find them serviceable and even charming. While some reviews highlight the need for a graphical overhaul, others appreciate the game's art direction and the immersive experience it provides, especially when enhanced by mods. Overall, despite the age of the visuals, the gameplay remains compelling, making it a classic in the Total War series.

    • “The graphics, despite their age, are still excellent, with a degree of randomization that helps make the various soldiers in each unit look different from each other, rather than having them all be clones of each other.”
    • “The graphics hold up surprisingly well for a game that was almost released a decade ago, in large part because the spectacle is so based on the massive numbers in the armies instead of incredible detail on the individual units.”
    • “Medieval II definitely satisfies more than one of the gaming tastebuds, with great gameplay whilst also being a rather pretty game to look at, with its rather impressive graphics.”
    • “The graphics are dated for sure, but still serviceable and everything else is just incredible.”
    • “The only problem I have with it is the outdated graphics; other than that, this is probably one of the best Total War games.”
    • “The graphics, while serviceable at the time of its release, can now feel dated, detracting from the overall visual experience.”
  • gameplay778 mentions

    The gameplay of "Medieval II: Total War" is widely praised for its depth and strategic complexity, combining turn-based campaign management with real-time battles that feel immersive and engaging. While some mechanics show their age, such as clunky controls and AI pathfinding issues, the game remains a favorite among fans for its rich historical context, diverse factions, and extensive modding community that enhances replayability. Overall, it is considered one of the best entries in the Total War series, offering a satisfying blend of tactical warfare and empire-building.

    • “Medieval 2: Total War offers a captivating blend of strategic depth and immersive historical warfare, creating a compelling gameplay experience.”
    • “The gameplay is excellent, 10/10.”
    • “The gameplay, the setting, the size of the world to conquer, the variety and amount of different units.”
    • “The controls and unit mechanics can be clunky, while the game itself can be somewhat unstable on modern computers (always quick-save).”
    • “The dread vs chivalry battle mechanics are honestly blatantly broken where, if you actually want to play a chivalrous lord, you're plum out of luck, since it takes a mind-numbingly harder criteria to unlock while dread you just win a battle, and getting a chivalry outcome outside of autoresolve becomes near impossible to reliably do on higher battle difficulty.”
    • “The graphics are old-fashioned, the gameplay is sometimes not super responsive, pathfinding is meh and the diplomacy is a bit broken.”
  • replayability198 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting the vast array of factions, diverse strategies, and engaging mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs. The extensive modding community further enhances this aspect, offering countless modifications that keep the gameplay fresh and exciting. Overall, many reviewers rate the replayability as near infinite, making it a standout title in the strategy genre.

    • “The replay value of the grand campaigns cannot be overstated, especially for those brave enough to tackle higher difficulties, allowing a near endless supply of strategy, intrigue, betrayal, politics, faith, and war.”
    • “So much fun, so many replayable factions, great mix of grand strategy, battle tactics, religion and diplomacy dynamics, and the opportunity to expand and make alliances in completely different ways.”
    • “With the vast sea of mods available and the endless replayability value it brings, this is the best strategy game ever made, period.”
    • “There's little replay value after the first couple of hours.”
    • “Feel cheated due to lack of replayability, but I feel the experience is a net positive overall.”
    • “The only con is that only about five or six of the factions are playable from the beginning until one completes either the short or long campaign.”
  • music168 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive quality, featuring a diverse range of styles that enhance both the campaign and battle experiences. Composed by Jeff van Dyck, the soundtrack is noted for its ability to evoke strong emotions and create a sense of historical grandeur, making it one of the standout elements of the game. Many players find themselves drawn to the music, often listening to it outside of gameplay, and consider it a significant factor in the game's lasting appeal.

    • “The music in this game is epic and legendary to listen to!”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, just pure amazing.”
    • “The music is fantastic and varies from faction to faction and region to region, which makes the whole world come alive and feel organic.”
    • “The music ranges from pleasing and subtle throughout the campaign map to bombastic and pompous during battle, though the musical cue that we liked the most was the haunting defeat chorus after losing a battle.”
    • “Its a good game and worth buying although I think that it has quite a boring and depressing atmosphere especially with the music.”
    • “Also the sound effects and music aren't playing on certain parts.”
  • story118 mentions

    The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it lacking or non-existent, while others appreciate the emergent narratives created through gameplay and missions. Many enjoy the humorous moments, engaging cutscenes, and the ability to craft personal stories through strategic choices, particularly in the context of historical campaigns and faction interactions. Overall, while the game may not have a traditional narrative structure, it offers a rich tapestry of experiences that players can shape themselves.

    • “From bumbling advisors to unexpected plot twists, the game is full of hilarious moments that will have you chuckling as you conquer kingdoms.”
    • “It is a highly immersive experience because it feels very much like a story unfolding.”
    • “Every campaign through this game is a story in itself.”
    • “The grand campaign is boring beyond belief, late game is lackluster, and boils down to you forcibly having to enjoy getting overwhelmed by the pope's horrible mission choices.”
    • “This game has almost no story at all, which is disappointing considering the potential for narrative depth.”
    • “The campaign mode has no story, like every other Total War game; based on the situation of your nation and other nations, you make your own story.”
  • stability102 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in unit pathfinding, siege battles, and AI behavior. While some users note that the game runs well overall and can be enjoyable, many express frustration with crashes, freezing issues, and the persistence of bugs that detract from the experience. Despite these problems, the game maintains a dedicated fanbase, largely due to its engaging gameplay and strong modding community.

    • “It runs great on computers new and old too, avoiding the problems of Rome: Total War.”
    • “The multiplayer is super fun, not too buggy.”
    • “It runs great with huge units, even on my terrible 250 dollar laptop.”
    • “Many units are also buggy as hell such as cavalry refusing to charge in cities, units stringing out and the back lines walking instead of running into position to help the front lines, pikes and two-handed weapons are blatantly broken, guns and some crossbows can't aim down from walls, skirmishers at times charge instead of throwing their throwing weapons.”
    • “The game became buggy and keeps freezing and also sometimes crashes.”
    • “The tutorial was buggy as heck, a lot of minor ones with how the tutorial played out, and one major one that almost made it impossible to complete the tutorial from the very beginning because you can't even board the boat!”
  • humor51 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying hilarious pre-battle speeches, quirky voice lines, and unexpected comedic moments throughout the campaign. Many reviews highlight the amusing interactions between factions and the absurdity of certain scenarios, such as sieges involving wandering monks or humorous character backstories. Overall, the game's blend of humor and tactical gameplay creates an entertaining experience that keeps players engaged despite its technical shortcomings.

    • “From bumbling advisors to unexpected plot twists, the game is full of hilarious moments that will have you chuckling as you conquer kingdoms.”
    • “But when you're too busy laughing at your rival's attempts to siege your castle with a troupe of wandering monks, who cares about a few technical hiccups?”
    • “The AI is good, and the speeches that the generals give are hilarious.”
    • “It's not funny anymore; all of your Total War games that I have are like this.”
    • “The humor feels forced and falls flat, making the experience less enjoyable.”
    • “I expected more clever jokes, but most of the humor is just repetitive and stale.”
  • grinding36 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can often feel tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over micromanagement and the lack of depth in gameplay. While some appreciate the complexity and strategic elements, others find the constant need to manage settlements and engage in battles to be a slog, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, offering both engaging challenges and monotonous tasks.

    • “This game is amazing, one of the greatest games of the Total War franchise by far, bringing a huge amount of micromanagement (not too tedious) allowing you to command virtually every aspect of your chosen faction right down to choosing heirs to inherit your royal lineage.”
    • “I had my fun, but this game is getting really tedious and it's becoming more like work than play.”
    • “Gameplay seems great at first, but there is 0 diplomacy; after a number of turns every AI faction will declare war on you and will never accept peace, making every campaign the same slog of constantly fighting enemy stacks. It's uninteresting, not fun, and very tedious.”
    • “The interface is a bit clunky and some shortcuts are missing, especially if you are a micromanaging beast like me. The roster that lists your units doesn't allow you to filter, order, or do mass actions, and if you deal with one character, you'll have to open it all up again and scroll all over again. It gets tedious late game.”
  • optimization31 mentions

    The game's optimization receives mixed reviews, with many users noting that it runs smoothly on older hardware, making it accessible for those with lower-spec PCs. However, there are significant complaints about performance issues, including crashes and bugs, particularly during campaigns, which detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the flexibility in performance settings, others express frustration over the game's inconsistent optimization compared to newer titles in the series.

    • “The game runs smoothly on my computer, and the graphics are simple, but not ugly like Rome 2 or Attila in my opinion.”
    • “Despite being an older title, this is still a fun game to play, and if your PC is lower spec for other Total War titles, this will run smoothly.”
    • “Brilliant game, the strategy base is amazing, and I have not encountered any bugs. I do suggest you try this with mods though, as it just improves the performance and enjoyment of the game.”
    • “Good game, but terrible optimization that makes campaigns crash every few turns with 'unexpected errors'.”
    • “The newer Total War games all have optimization issues compared to Medieval Total War, which runs like butter.”
    • “And since I bought this game merely to play online battles, bugs, insufficient optimization, and excessive amounts of lag literally ruin the whole experience.”
  • atmosphere27 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its authentic medieval feel, enhanced by effective crusade and jihad mechanics, impactful battles, and a captivating musical score. Players appreciate the blend of historical accuracy, immersive sound effects, and the emotional depth that makes the experience feel both epic and engaging. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its appeal and enjoyment.

    • “The atmosphere was executed perfectly and battles are truly impactful.”
    • “War gore-iness is dimmed by funny clips throughout the campaign and the medieval atmosphere just makes you feel like you're in the middle of those historical times of swords and fairy tales.”
    • “The game has a powerful atmosphere that is hard to detach from; moreover, it includes a lot of historical facts, from historical events to army units.”
    • “A new graphics engine replaced the 'technicolor' effect of Rome, doing justice to the metallic effect of armor and ever-sharpening detail; Medieval 2 appears darker, gritty, alongside a menacing atmosphere.”
    • “The game's medieval atmosphere is further boosted by a provocative musical score, accurate sound effects, and nation-themed voice dialogue.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke feelings of power and attachment, particularly through the journey of generals who players nurture and watch grow, only to face their inevitable demise. Players also express a mix of joy and frustration, as the game's mechanics can lead to intense moments of triumph or heartbreaking defeats. Overall, the game is described as a wholesome experience that fosters deep connections and emotional investment, despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “A true classic... still touching.”
    • “When generals inevitably die, in combat or of old age, it can be emotional, because you were there with them from the start, built them up from nothing, and watched them conquer, only to have to watch them die.”
    • “I love the rhythmic drums when you're making your initial movements and then when you clash it gets intense and really makes you feel the emotional weight and immersion.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    Reviews highlight a stark contrast in monetization practices between Medieval 2 Total War and more recent titles in the series, with many players expressing frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions, DLC, and perceived cash grabs in newer games. Critics argue that these practices detract from gameplay and creativity, while Medieval 2 is praised for its lack of such monetization tactics, allowing players to unlock factions through gameplay rather than purchases. Overall, there is a strong sentiment against the current monetization strategies employed by the developers, with calls for a return to more player-friendly practices.

    • “If the day ever comes when Medieval 3 comes out, and it isn't plagued by microtransactions or loot boxes, I will probably love it more than this one.”
    • “Look how they massacred my boy, turning the new ones into a glorified Clash of Clans game. They are selling us cheats and faction unlocks on top of bare-bones DLCs and microtransactions.”
    • “Look how they massacred my boy, turned the new ones into a glorified Clash of Clans game. They are selling us cheats and faction unlocks on top of bare-bones DLCs and microtransactions.”
    • “Medieval 2 Total War reeks of Creative Assembly's past passion for the genre and their games, before waves of DLC entered the fray and corrupted its newly released games with microtransactions for stuff that should already be in the game.”
    • “This game is nothing more than a cash grab, a definitive edition that changes nothing, fixes nothing, and runs terribly on high-end computers.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its depth and richness, particularly in the context of historical and strategic elements. The engaging traits and speeches of characters enhance the overall experience, making it stand out among other titles in the genre. Players express a strong emotional connection to characters, wishing for more prominent roles for favorites like Ayyub.

    • “Here is history, here is empire, character development; this is a masterpiece for history and strategy buffs!”
    • “General speeches, character development, and traits are so engaging that no other turn-based game comes even close.”
    • “Character development - I wish Ayyub could be sultan; I love him!”
    • “Character development - I wish Ayyub could be sultan. I love him :'(”
    • “General speeches, character development, and traits are just so tasty that no other TW game comes even close.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

185hMedian play time
417hAverage play time
50-600hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 71 analyzed playthroughs

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