Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,492 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • optimization
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"Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES" expands the campaign map from Ancient Egypt to Mesopotamia and the Aegean, adding new factions, settlements, and victory objectives. The new Dynasty system lets you start a family tree, navigating strategic marriages, deaths, and assassinations while dealing with mortality. Sea travel lanes have been added for faster fleet movement, enabling raids and invasions to reach further and faster.

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  • Windows
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,492 reviews
gameplay153 positive mentions
grinding30 negative mentions
  • The Dynasties update has significantly improved the game, adding depth and complexity to the campaign mechanics.
  • The game features a vast and beautifully designed campaign map, with a variety of factions and unique units.
  • The new lethality system in battles adds a layer of strategy and realism, making combat more engaging.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and crashes, particularly during battles and campaign turns.
  • The AI is often unbalanced, with minor factions able to field overwhelming armies early in the game.
  • The court and dynasty mechanics can feel tedious and underdeveloped, lacking meaningful impact on gameplay.
  • gameplay483 mentions

    The gameplay of Total War: Pharaoh has received mixed reviews, with many praising its depth and complexity through innovative mechanics like the lethality system, resource management, and dynastic features that enhance strategic gameplay. However, some players criticize the game for being bogged down by excessive mechanics that can feel tedious and overwhelming, as well as bugs that affect core functionalities. Overall, while the game offers a rich and immersive experience, it also faces challenges in balancing its intricate systems and ensuring a smooth gameplay experience.

    • “The gameplay mechanics are excellent, striking a careful balance between accessibility and depth.”
    • “The addition of dynastic systems and legacy mechanics ensures that each campaign feels like a personal story of survival and power.”
    • “The new mechanics, particularly around diplomacy and internal politics, add layers of depth that keep each campaign fresh and engaging.”
    • “Bugs relating to the court mechanic currently render the game unplayable for a subset of the population.”
    • “There's a few complex mechanics (and I don't say complex as in, 'it's hard to learn, but makes sense' but rather, it's confusing and doesn't seem to provide anything to the game) like most of the family and dynasties, and worshiping mechanics honestly.”
    • “The gameplay is alright when you're on the campaign map but as soon as you enter a battle it sets in, the horror of this awful creation.”
  • graphics139 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising their beauty and attention to detail, particularly in battle and campaign maps, often describing them as stunning or gorgeous. However, some users have reported performance issues, such as graphical pop-ins, lag, and crashes, even on high-end hardware, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, optimization and technical performance remain areas of concern for some players.

    • “Graphically, Total War: Pharaoh is stunning.”
    • “The game’s strengths lie in its visuals and overall feel, which are absolutely stunning.”
    • “Gorgeous graphics with smooth performance and a lot of attention to detail.”
    • “Also graphically weak and has a weird graphical pop-in for things at a distance despite being played at max settings.”
    • “I hate this game; I hate the new sugar-coated visuals with the arcade-like gameplay.”
    • “After playing a bit, I can't recommend the game or the franchise because the graphics all look so childish and cartoon-like.”
  • optimization49 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews. While many players appreciate the improved performance and smooth graphics, especially compared to previous Total War titles, there are notable concerns about memory leaks, slowdowns in late-game scenarios, and occasional crashes. Some users report that despite a generally good experience, the game still requires further polish and optimization to fully meet expectations.

    • “The game runs smoothly, arguably better than some of the other titles in the Total War series, which is a testament to the optimization work the developers have put in.”
    • “Gorgeous graphics with smooth performance and a lot of attention to detail.”
    • “Performance is overall very good.”
    • “Over time you will find performance in this game will slow to a crawl and if you don't exit and restart dynasties it will eventually crash.”
    • “There is some sort of memory leak or performance issue that is causing excessive lag after a few hours of play.”
    • “So after playing this game for a few hours I'm appalled that it hasn't been optimized for PC (it's only platform).”
  • music46 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance immersion, particularly in relation to the game's ancient setting. While many players appreciate the diverse and region-specific tracks, others find the soundtrack repetitive and uninspired over extended play sessions. Overall, the sound design is noted as a strong point, contributing positively to the gameplay experience despite some criticisms regarding depth and mixing.

    • “The sound and music elevate the experience, with atmospheric tracks that immerse players in the ancient setting.”
    • “The soundtrack and visuals deserve a special mention too—both are top-notch and really help immerse you in the world of ancient Egypt.”
    • “One of the most mechanically interesting Total War games to date, one of the more historically flavorful, and that's all garnished with some of the finest sounds, music, and visuals of any Total War ever.”
    • “Giving this a bad review; if not for the gameplay being boring (which by god it is very boring), the music is god awful.”
    • “As for the soundtrack, there isn't much to say; it's safe and uninspired and leads to zero audial immersion. I also think that the sound mixing for this game seems rather muted.”
    • “I own all the Total War series (including DLCs) since Rome, and I noticed the soundtrack in these games is getting worse with every game (perhaps Jeff van Dyck raised the bar too high).”
  • replayability40 mentions

    The replayability of Total War: Pharaoh is generally viewed as high, with many players appreciating the diverse factions, unique starting positions, and strategic depth that encourage experimentation with different playstyles. However, some critiques highlight issues such as repetitive tasks and a lack of distinct progression, which can detract from the overall replay value. Despite these concerns, the introduction of new features, playable minor factions, and community-driven content significantly enhance the game's replayability potential.

    • “Replayability is high, with multiple factions offering distinct starting positions, mechanics, and playstyles.”
    • “The developers have addressed the initial shortcomings and delivered a well-rounded, immersive, and highly replayable experience.”
    • “The community-driven content, including mods and custom scenarios, further extends the game's replayability, ensuring that no two campaigns are ever the same.”
    • “Managing numerous cities and outposts, fighting boring siege battles (some of the worst in the franchise), cleaning up the remnant armies of foes you've already conquered, and a litany of monotonous and slightly irritating tasks hurt the game's replay value.”
    • “It's clear there is more emphasis on the campaign here, which is why the game lacks replay value.”
    • “The original game was a good game, but somewhat limited in scope and therefore not as replayable as many would have liked.”
  • grinding30 mentions

    The reviews overwhelmingly describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and unfulfilling, with excessive micromanagement and convoluted mechanics that detract from the overall enjoyment. Players express frustration with the numerous factions and systems that require constant clicking and management, leading to a monotonous experience that feels more like busywork than engaging gameplay. While some appreciate the potential for modding to enhance the game, the base experience is criticized for being overly complicated and lacking in rewarding gameplay.

    • “The campaign, although somewhat nice at first, becomes tedious and boring extremely quickly.”
    • “The mechanics being vomited all over the player are tedious busy work designed by people who are constantly asking the question, 'does this function make their game/faction/character unique?' Instead, they should have been asking the question, 'does this function make all the above fun?'”
    • “Instead of focusing on the grand strategy that made the older Total War games great, Pharaoh: Dynasties bogs you down with pointless, tedious tasks.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs, freezes, and sluggish performance, particularly during campaign play. While some players have experienced smooth performance with high frame rates, the overall consensus indicates that the game feels unpolished and requires further testing and fixes to address persistent issues. Overall, the game is seen as needing more time in development to enhance its stability and playability.

    • “The game is stable and runs great, achieving up to 240 fps in the campaign map and 130 fps in battles.”
    • “Another good aspect of the game is that it seems quite bug-free and stable.”
    • “With dynasties, the game truly has a chance to shine as a deep, vast, and gorgeous historical total war that plays and runs great!”
    • “It needed more time in play testing and QA; lots of stuff is buggy, not explained, and requires you to go out into the internet to get your answers.”
    • “Game is outright unplayable, extremely buggy.”
    • “The game starts being laggy and buggy after turn 70-80, like the original Pharaoh, and I need to reopen the game every 15 turns to continue my campaign.”
  • story19 mentions

    The game's story is characterized by emergent storytelling that revolves around wars, betrayals, and dynastic struggles, creating a personal narrative for each campaign. Players appreciate the depth added by dynastic systems and legacy mechanics, which allow for unique experiences and side quests, although some express frustration with recurring issues from previous titles. Overall, the game is seen as a redemption story for the franchise, offering a sandbox environment where players can craft their own narratives amidst engaging strategic gameplay.

    • “While not strictly scripted, the emergent storytelling through wars, betrayals, and dynastic struggles keeps campaigns engaging.”
    • “The addition of dynastic systems and legacy mechanics ensures that each campaign feels like a personal story of survival and power.”
    • “What the game has done with Pharaoh is a classic redemption story, and one with a magnificent bronze ending.”
    • “I get that that happened historically, but if I populate my court with my closest allies and they continue to try and assassinate, discredit, and plot against me, what's the point?”
    • “Now a little plot twist: every single problem in this game has been in virtually all the preceding Total War games.”
    • “Instead of getting story objectives, you can just toy around with your tools in an open sandbox of opportunities and make your own story.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive sound design, music, and stunning visuals that effectively capture the essence of the ancient setting. Players appreciate the dynamic mechanics and the gritty realism of historical warfare, which enhance the overall experience, making it feel both engaging and authentic. The combination of rich cultural elements, strategic depth, and a beautifully crafted environment contributes to a standout atmosphere that resonates with fans of historical strategy games.

    • “The sound and music elevate the experience, with atmospheric tracks that immerse players in the ancient setting.”
    • “The era’s unique atmosphere is beautifully captured, and few games deliver the same feeling of commanding armies under the shadow of the pyramids.”
    • “Graphics and soundtrack are top-notch, creating an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The art style is refreshing, and the apocalyptic atmosphere was nailed, slowly growing more gritty as the end times draw near.”
    • “What sets Total War apart from other games is its manual battles—ancient war formations, soldier charges, clashes of weapons, the grim atmosphere of ancient warfare, soldier formations, and the recreation of armor.”
    • “It brings back the atmosphere and excitement of the older games.”
  • humor6 mentions

    Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting the amusing comments from generals and soldiers, as well as the cringe-worthy yet funny game intro. The absurdity of certain gameplay mechanics, like fighting with straw boats and the chaotic rush of armies, adds to the comedic experience, particularly when playing as the Egyptian faction.

    • “I also like the funny comments some of the generals and soldiers make.”
    • “Also, the intro to the game is super cringe but funny.”
    • “However, they concentrate with everything they have; the whole army rushes your two units, which is hilarious for 2024. They always kept units in reserve, but not anymore.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it offers little new content compared to previous titles and relies heavily on nostalgia. While some appreciate the absence of hidden costs or microtransactions, the overall sentiment suggests disappointment in the perceived lack of value and innovation.

    • “Yep, you heard that right—no hidden costs, no sneaky microtransactions, just pure strategy goodness.”
    • “The monetization model is refreshingly fair, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content, making it accessible for everyone without forcing purchases.”
    • “This is probably my least favorite title release that I own, which feels more like a cash grab by the developers. The animations are terrible, such as the archers on walls.”
    • “This game and all the eras games are cheap cash grabs that were just cheap expansions back in the day.”
    • “Nothing meaningful changed from Pharaoh. If you liked Pharaoh, you will like this; if you didn't like Pharaoh, you won't like it. It's the same game, just a cash grab for anyone.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Users express a mix of frustration and disappointment regarding the emotional impact of the game, highlighting that technical issues, such as awkward camera movements and poor unit interactions, detract from their overall experience. The sentiment suggests that these flaws not only hinder gameplay but also evoke feelings of heartbreak when expectations are not met.

    • “If that is really the case, it is heartbreaking.”
  • character development4 mentions

    The game features intriguing RPG-style character development, enhanced by well-designed characters and engaging cut scenes. Players appreciate the depth added by mechanics such as family trees and court dynamics, which enrich the overall strategic experience. The combination of visual appeal and character progression contributes to a compelling narrative and gameplay experience.

    • “On top of that, it has fantastic graphics, interesting mechanics that I have not come across before, and an intriguing RPG-style character development involvement.”
    • “The game is absolutely beautiful to look at, with great character designs, post-battle duel animations (I'd highly recommend the Blood & Sand DLC), and some really well-done cut scenes placed throughout the game.”
    • “Family tree/dynasty mechanics, multi-god religion, court machinations, the necessity of trade for valuable resources, the return of on-map outposts, RPG-esque character development, and more has greatly improved the strategic layer.”
    • “I don't mind some character development for the generals and some ancillaries, but it feels over the top.”
    • “The character development is lacking depth and fails to engage me with the story.”
    • “I expected more from the character arcs; they feel flat and uninteresting.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

25hMedian play time
322hAverage play time
8-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs

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