Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Game Cover
Total War: Three Kingdoms uses excellent pacing and strong character mechanics to create a consistently exciting and challenging historical strategy campaign.

"Total War: Three Kingdoms" is a real-time strategy game that offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, including co-op. Set in ancient China, the game combines turn-based campaigning with real-time battles, allowing players to build and conquer empires while experiencing epic conflicts in an age of heroes and legends. This entry in the series aims to redefine turn-based and real-time strategy gameplay within a rich historical setting.

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Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 15,866 reviews
gameplay586 positive mentions
stability139 negative mentions
  • gameplay1,725 mentions

    The gameplay of "Total War: Three Kingdoms" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its innovative mechanics, particularly the character-driven narratives and improved diplomacy systems, which add depth and complexity to the campaign. However, some players find the game overwhelming due to its numerous mechanics and a steep learning curve, while others criticize the battle mechanics as repetitive and lacking in variety. Overall, the game is seen as a significant step forward for the series, blending traditional Total War elements with fresh features, though it may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer the more straightforward gameplay of earlier titles.

    • “Probably the best-developed campaign mechanics in the series.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are both accessible to newcomers and deep enough to satisfy seasoned veterans of the Total War series.”
    • “The addition of character-driven narratives adds an extra layer of depth to the strategic gameplay, as you must balance the needs of your faction with the ambitions of your generals and advisors.”
    • “After 17.4 hours of gameplay, this game is lowkey the most boring Total War, and really just doesn't feel the same as other great titles, such as Empire, Shogun 2, and Rome 2. But lowkey if you mod it, it's kinda fun.”
    • “As a longtime fan of the Three Kingdoms time period and Total War games, I thought I would like this title, but after hours of gameplay, I just can't get into it.”
    • “The gameplay feels rushed and feels like the early days of Creative Assembly like Rome and Medieval.”
  • graphics1,056 mentions

    The graphics of "Total War: Three Kingdoms" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals, vibrant art style, and attention to detail that effectively capture the essence of ancient China. However, some players have criticized the graphics for being cartoonish or subpar compared to previous titles in the series, with reports of performance issues and graphical glitches on certain hardware. Overall, while the game showcases impressive aesthetics and immersive environments, opinions vary on its graphical fidelity and optimization.

    • “The graphics are stunning, battles fun and engaging, and the campaign offers a diverse list of start options depending on the faction you pick.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, fast-paced battles, and an in-depth campaign map with an insane level of complexity makes this a must-have if you are a fan of RTS games!”
    • “The graphics are impeccable and gameplay is addicting.”
    • “The graphics are lousy in my opinion; there is no trace of the stunning beauty of the old game.”
    • “The graphics suck.”
    • “The graphics are poor, worse than Shogun 2.”
  • story644 mentions

    The story of "Total War: Three Kingdoms" is highly praised for its rich narrative rooted in the historical "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," offering players a unique blend of character-driven storytelling and strategic gameplay. While many players appreciate the depth of character development and the ability to follow or diverge from the historical plot, some express disappointment over the game's execution, citing a lack of polish and coherence in the storyline. Overall, the game is seen as a compelling experience for fans of the genre, particularly those familiar with the source material, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking a strictly linear narrative.

    • “What truly sets Total War: Three Kingdoms apart, however, is its emphasis on storytelling and character development.”
    • “The story of Three Kingdoms is the best topic game with hundreds of characters.”
    • “The campaign design is brilliant, full of character, and tells a cohesive, historical-feeling story with satisfying act breaks and unexpected twists.”
    • “Sadly, it still needs a bit more polishing in the sense of story and characters.”
    • “This game is laughably bad at following the story: story events and chains of events just don't happen, characters like Sun Jian live much longer than they did in the story, which completely invalidates parts of the chain of events that led to the titular three kingdoms.”
    • “For fans of Total War, this is pretty fun, but if you want to reenact the Romance of the Three Kingdoms storyline, you will be very disappointed; the story elements are insanely weak.”
  • optimization324 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising it as one of the best-optimized entries in the Total War series, particularly in terms of performance and loading times. However, some users have reported persistent issues such as stuttering, crashes, and poor performance on higher-end hardware, indicating that while the game performs well on lower-end systems, it still has significant optimization challenges to address. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game is a step forward in optimization compared to previous titles, but there are still areas needing improvement.

    • “The game is beautiful, the music is very well done, and the performance on my hardware is quite good.”
    • “This game is surprisingly well optimized, at least for me, so kudos is in order for Creative Assembly.”
    • “The optimization is incredible and you can do pretty much anything you want as far as how you can customize how it runs, plays, and feels.”
    • “Every Total War game since 2013’s Rome 2 has had significant performance issues, even on high-end hardware.”
    • “I was actually shocked at how horrific this game is optimized for higher-end hardware.”
    • “The total war franchise has existed as a series of buggy, optimization nightmares for the last twenty years.”
  • music229 mentions

    The music in "Total War: Three Kingdoms" has received widespread acclaim for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, effectively blending traditional Chinese instruments with orchestral elements to enhance the game's historical setting. Many players describe the soundtrack as beautiful and evocative, contributing significantly to the overall experience, although some express disappointment in its memorability compared to previous titles in the series. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, with many reviewers praising its ability to complement the game's visuals and gameplay dynamics.

    • “The soundtrack, ambient and presentation are a 10/10.”
    • “Beautiful art and sound design: Three Kingdoms boasts beautiful visuals and an evocative soundtrack that immerses players in the historical ambiance of ancient China.”
    • “The music sets the tone for each scene, enhancing the overall atmosphere and adding an extra layer of depth to the experience.”
    • “I am a fan of medieval and medieval 2 and I find this game lacking in graphics; also, sound and music are inferior to Medieval 2.”
    • “The biggest reason why I uninstalled was the horrific and echoey main menu music that plays and runs in the background, disabling the ability to hear anything else.”
    • “To be honest, the soundtrack in TW: Three Kingdoms is decent, but I was expecting better OSTs; I felt underwhelmed with the game's music.”
  • replayability199 mentions

    The replayability of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its high replay value due to diverse faction mechanics and strategies, while others criticize it for a lack of content and similarity between factions. Many reviews highlight that while the game offers unique experiences with different characters and playstyles, it falls short compared to other Total War titles, particularly in terms of unit diversity and long-term engagement. Overall, the inclusion of mods and DLC can enhance replayability, but the base game may feel repetitive for some players.

    • “The game is beautiful and sounds amazing, has fun and responsive battles, a decent settlement-building mechanic, acceptable diplomacy mechanics and tech trees, and high replay value courtesy of the different faction mechanics.”
    • “Great game, interesting and diverse faction mechanics and incredible replayability due to various strategies to try and the best AI intelligence and variation I have seen in a Total War game.”
    • “Each faction has unique mechanics, units, and buildings that add to the replayability factor.”
    • “With the low amount of factions included in the base game, replayability is quite low without buying DLC.”
    • “The short time period of the game really hinders its replay value.”
    • “Some of the worst replayability in the series.”
  • stability170 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that disrupt gameplay. While some players have experienced smoother performance and fewer issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains significantly buggy, particularly in late-game scenarios and on certain platforms. Many users recommend modding or waiting for patches to improve the experience, as the game's current state is often described as unpolished and frustrating.

    • “The game just runs great on the campaign map and in battles.”
    • “It runs great, looks great, plays great, and is not buggy at release like some past Total War titles.”
    • “Ca did us good and released a bug free and polished game.”
    • “Overall a good game, but extremely buggy and the game crashes quite often.”
    • “The game is still quite buggy; some of them are acceptable, but some of them are game crashing.”
    • “Way too buggy for a game that costs this much.”
  • grinding100 mentions

    Reviews highlight that while the early game can be engaging, the late game often devolves into tedious grinding, characterized by excessive micromanagement and repetitive battles. Players frequently express frustration with the lack of variety and meaningful progression, leading to a sense of boredom and the need for significant time investment to achieve goals. Overall, the game struggles with balancing enjoyable gameplay with the burdensome aspects of grinding, particularly in the mid to late stages.

    • “Empire management isn't tedious (at least not until very endgame).”
    • “Edit: I went back and finished the game and it wasn't as grindy as I thought it would be to complete.”
    • “I would really like to get back to playing this game, because it is actually fun and not tedious, annoying, or lazily designed.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game is unbelievably tedious and needlessly complicated.”
    • “Great early game, boring and grindy late game.”
  • humor42 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as both intentional and unintentional, with players finding amusement in the absurdities of combat mechanics, character interactions, and AI behavior. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to provide laughs through its quirky dialogue, hilarious glitches, and the often ridiculous scenarios that unfold during gameplay. While some players appreciate the humor as a refreshing escape, others note that it can wear thin after a few hours, leaving a mixed impression overall.

    • “Very funny game, for real.”
    • “Siege battles often turn into a game of running around and capturing the flag, as the capture points are hilariously quick to change sides.”
    • “Very well optimized game with massively fleshed out characters who actually feel alive on the battlefield through some hilarious banter.”
  • character development42 mentions

    Character development in "Total War: Three Kingdoms" is widely praised for its depth and integration into gameplay, enhancing both battles and storytelling. Players appreciate the intricate relationships, character traits, and the impact of development on strategy, making the game feel more alive and engaging compared to previous titles. While the character designs and mechanics are generally well-received, some users express a desire for further improvements and customization options.

    • “What truly sets Total War: Three Kingdoms apart, however, is its emphasis on storytelling and character development.”
    • “The character development and relationship building is awesome!”
    • “Three Kingdoms breathes new life into the stagnant Total War franchise, resulting in more dynamic gameplay and an increasing focus on character development.”
    • “A great introduction to classical Chinese history, improved game mechanics and solid gameplay, although character development could use a bit more work.”
    • “Records mode was an afterthought, character development is shallow.”
    • “Character development is probably the only way to make future historical titles playable, so keep tuning this up or else fantasy will be the only way to go.”
  • atmosphere41 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and visually stunning qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the effective use of music and graphics to enhance the overall experience. The setting, particularly its representation of Chinese culture, adds depth and authenticity, making the gameplay feel lively and engaging. However, some players noted that the visual complexity can sometimes detract from the atmosphere, leading to confusion during battles.

    • “The music sets the tone for each scene, enhancing the overall atmosphere and adding an extra layer of depth to the experience.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and a very nice atmosphere.”
    • “The battles are beyond beautiful - more importantly than just plain good graphics, the game has a really well done atmosphere.”
    • “Just trying to pick through the visual noise to figure out what the hell is going on is so stressful that I have a hard time getting into the game, as well as killing any sense of atmosphere.”
    • “The only issue is that I still struggle to get into the Chinese atmosphere, but that's just personal.”
    • “Just because you made a game with Chinese atmosphere, that doesn't mean every Chinese will get hooked in less than a year.”
  • monetization38 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it as a blatant cash grab, particularly targeting the Chinese market. Players express frustration over the abundance of microtransactions, unskippable ads, and significant content locked behind paid DLC, leading to a perception of the game being stripped of its original value. While some users acknowledge fair pricing for certain DLCs, the overall sentiment reflects disappointment in the game's monetization practices, which detract from the gameplay experience.

    • “I do hope there are more free DLCs and no in-game purchases.”
    • “It is concerning that when Creative Assembly starts releasing DLCs without addressing existing issues, it feels like they prioritize monetization over community support.”
    • “I used to like this game, but CA has become nothing but a cash grab company.”
    • “The game feels like a cash grab.”
    • “In summary, I feel the game has been totally gutted from what it once was, downgraded for reasons I can only guess at (ease of production?) with the game being a total cash grab of the Asian audience and the rest of us.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    Players express a mix of emotional engagement and frustration with the game, highlighting moments of genuine investment in the narrative and character dynamics, while also feeling let down by technical issues and gameplay mechanics. The emotional highs are often contrasted with feelings of disappointment, particularly regarding the game's diplomatic elements and overall execution. Despite these drawbacks, many find solace and connection through the game's wholesome aspects and community support.

    • “As I progress through the game, I find myself becoming emotionally invested in the narrative, eagerly anticipating the next twist or revelation.”
    • “I'm not good at it, my computer can barely run it, but I love it; it's my only wholesome release in this godforsaken world where any genuine communication with friends ends in sad stories or being called a gay loser and laughing it off. Thank you, video game.”
    • “Character dynamics provide roleplay and emotional investment.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

75hMedian play time
173hAverage play time
20-225hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 104 analyzed playthroughs

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