Total War: WARHAMMER

It’s been said: if you love Warhammer, you’ll love this game. The attention to lore and detail is simply too fantastic to not admire. If you have any attachment to either franchise or even the RTS genre in general, this is definitely worth the buy.

83%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

stability, grinding

85% User Score Based on 35,454 reviews

Critic Score 84%Based on 28 reviews

Platforms

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About

This edition includes three race packs (along with unique Legendary Lords and gameplay mechanics), new artwork, and a free Warhammer ebook.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 35,482 reviews

gameplay1.3k positive mentions

stability318 negative mentions

gameplay
4,713 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The gameplay of *Total War: Warhammer* is characterized by its blend of traditional Total War mechanics with unique elements from the Warhammer universe, such as magic, flying units, and distinct faction mechanics that enhance replayability. Players appreciate the depth and variety each faction offers, leading to diverse strategies and experiences, although some criticize the simplification of certain campaign mechanics compared to previous titles. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging battles and immersive setting, despite some concerns about balance and the reliance on DLC for additional content.
- “Total War: Warhammer excellently merges the grand strategy genre with a rich, fantasy world, creating an immersive and deep gameplay experience that is hard to put down.”
- “The gameplay is solid and fun, with vast differences between factions, and puts you right into the lore of classic (pre-AoS) Warhammer.”
- “The gameplay, my friends, is where Total War: Warhammer truly shines. It seamlessly blends the deep, strategic gameplay of the Total War series with the unique abilities and units of the Warhammer universe.”
- “Really good underlying game, but extremely frustrating and unpolished campaign mechanics.”
- “The Waaagh mechanic is rubbish, the AI armies are useless for anything but auto resolve, and sometimes lose you the battle in multi-army battles where the Waaagh is deployed first and your army shows up piecemeal just in front of the enemy.”
- “Fights are mediocre, almost impossible to understand why one army wins and another loses... the art is nice though, but mechanics are complete garbage.”
graphics
2,571 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
43%
4%
The graphics in Total War: Warhammer have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and attention to detail, effectively bringing the Warhammer universe to life. Many players highlight the beautifully rendered unit models and expansive battlefields, although some express concerns about performance issues on lower-end systems and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, while the graphics are generally praised, the game's performance can vary significantly depending on hardware capabilities, with some users experiencing lag or needing to adjust settings for optimal play.
- “The visuals in Total War: Warhammer are stunning, with beautifully detailed unit models and expansive battlefields that truly bring the epic scale of Warhammer battles to life.”
- “Beautiful graphics and sound design: the game's visuals and sound design are top-notch, effectively bringing the Warhammer world to life.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the factions make sense and the game runs very smoothly unlike other Total War releases.”
- “Very fun but the graphics suck.”
- “The graphics make the game unintelligible, the building and troop development are utterly different from previous games and the tutorial is non-existent, all bar essays of interlaced instructions that you’d need a post grad to understand.”
- “The graphics were not to my expectations, same as the combat between units were poor.”
story
1,563 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The story aspect of "Total War: Warhammer" is characterized by a mix of engaging lore and unique faction narratives, with each faction offering distinct campaigns and quests that enhance replayability. While many players appreciate the depth of the Warhammer universe and the integration of quests that provide context and rewards, some criticize the overall narrative as lacking depth and cohesion, often feeling more like a series of battles than a compelling story. Additionally, the reliance on DLC for more substantial story content has drawn mixed reactions, with some players feeling that the base game could benefit from a more robust narrative structure.
- “Engaging campaigns: each faction offers a distinct campaign experience with unique objectives, storytelling, and challenges.”
- “The sheer amount of detail in the lore and story is just jaw-dropping.”
- “Each faction has an actual story, and they're all amazing.”
- “The gameplay itself is decent but there isn't any story-driven objectives or ending cutscene for roleplay.”
- “The campaign story was below average, but I sunk my teeth into this heavy 4x wargame just fine anyway.”
- “The story is underwhelming and scarce; I expected a cinematic experience with a story to follow and characters to relate to.”
replayability
1,014 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its diverse factions, each with unique mechanics and playstyles that encourage varied strategies and experiences in campaigns. Players appreciate the depth and variety offered by different races, which significantly enhances the replay value, especially with the addition of DLCs and mods. However, some users express concerns about potential staleness after multiple playthroughs and the limitations imposed by the number of playable factions in the base game.
- “A huge sandbox with tens of factions, with the majority unique from one another, provides near-infinite replayability, especially for those who love creating their internal narrative to campaigns that already provide mountains of lore and character to immerse you in the world.”
- “The variety of factions and their unique playstyles add a tremendous amount of replay value to the game.”
- “The different mechanics and playstyles of every race also add a lot of replayability and depth.”
- “Ok so I originally gave it a thumbs up but I've changed to a thumbs down, you can't play as a troll (well not in the standard game) so this game offers no challenge whatsoever and no replay value for me, 42 hours is all I'm going to be putting into this one and the last 20 of those were extremely boring.”
- “The game itself is quite enjoyable, but lacks content and replayability.”
- “Limited factions, short main campaigns and low replayability had me putting this Total War game on the shelf faster than any of the others I've played before.”
optimization
861 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems and with NVIDIA graphics cards. While some users report smooth gameplay and improved performance compared to previous Total War titles, others experience stuttering, lag, and long loading times, suggesting that the game may not be well-optimized for all hardware configurations. Overall, while there are improvements, particularly for AMD users, many players recommend caution and suggest waiting for further patches to address ongoing optimization concerns.
- “The game also runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, and is somehow the most optimized Total War for this platform (out of the 4-5 Total War titles I tried).”
- “Very well optimized and possessing an epic scale!”
- “This game is one of the most optimized Total War games out there; the turns are calculated very quickly and combat gameplay is smooth.”
- “Never before have I come into contact with such a poorly optimized game since Sonic 06.”
- “The optimization of the game is so poor that my GTX 970 can't even hold the high quality.”
- “If there was a way to get my money back for this unoptimized dumpster fire, I gladly would.”
stability
514 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
3%
62%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that significantly impact gameplay. While some users have noted improvements and a relatively smooth experience, particularly on higher-end systems, the overall consensus highlights ongoing issues that detract from the enjoyment of the game. Patches have addressed some problems, but many players still express frustration over the game's stability at launch and its performance on different hardware configurations.
- “This has proven to be the most bug-free experience so far.”
- “Disclaimer: the game functions great, is optimized, and not buggy.”
- “Overall this is a great game, it runs great, and it delivers an experience that makes you feel like playing an RPG with Total War integration.”
- “Sadly, the experience is ruined by almost hourly crashes and freezes.”
- “Its a real shame that this entry is currently in such a buggy mess.”
- “The game constant freezes, and certain battles can't even be loaded, it's a mess.”
music
308 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
3%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as immersive and fitting for the Warhammer universe, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. However, many users express disappointment over the lack of music on the campaign map and the limited variety of tracks for different factions, leading to repetitiveness. Overall, while the battle themes are often highlighted as epic and engaging, the absence of a more robust musical presence in the campaign detracts from the game's potential.
- “It delivers a very memorable and immersive experience that will inevitably suck you into the epic world of Warhammer thanks to its ambience, the legendary soundtrack, and its overall vibe.”
- “The soundtrack is great, the campaign map is new and exciting (i.e. not Europe) and the fantasy aspect adds a whole new level of gameplay.”
- “The music is perfectly aligned to the action; it's impossible to not be drawn totally in.”
- “If you intend to play the Warhammer 1 campaign, be advised that this is a full-priced game sold in 2023 where the majority of the in-game music is simply gone, missing, no longer there.”
- “A game this recent being sold with over half the music missing is nothing short of shameful.”
- “Music is lackluster, atmosphere in general suffers, because, well, lazy devs.”
atmosphere
216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The atmosphere of "Total War: Warhammer" is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed representation of the Warhammer universe, effectively capturing the dark, grim themes and high fantasy elements of the setting. Players appreciate the game's stunning graphics, compelling sound design, and the depth of lore that enhances the overall experience, making it feel alive and engaging. While some critiques mention occasional shortcomings in specific factions' atmospheres, the consensus is that the game successfully brings the Warhammer world to life, offering a unique and captivating atmosphere that stands out in the Total War series.
- “The atmosphere and portrayal of the Warhammer world, as well as the faction diversity, put it heads and shoulders above other Total War games and orders above other medieval RTS games.”
- “The atmosphere of this game really sets a mood that can make you lose yourself.”
- “The atmosphere in this is impressively immersive, from the sound design to maps to missions; it all ties together to surround the player in a living, breathing world.”
- “I was suspicious about whether this game killed the atmosphere of the Warhammer universe.”
- “Music is lackluster, atmosphere in general suffers, because, well, lazy devs.”
- “I am actually surprised by the lack of lore and atmosphere this game currently offers, given the rich world Games Workshop has developed.”
grinding
206 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players describing it as tedious, repetitive, and often frustrating. Many reviews highlight the excessive number of battles and the slow pace of campaigns, leading to a sense of forced gameplay rather than enjoyment. While some players appreciate the strategic elements, the overall sentiment is that the grind detracts significantly from the experience, making it feel more like a chore than a rewarding challenge.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “The map is also very small, so it is not grindy unlike most other series.”
- “The problem is there's too many battles to undergo and the actual battling to be done is tedious and uninteresting.”
- “It gets very tedious and you end up forcing yourself to complete the campaign.”
- “Overall wouldn't recommend, it's tedious and to be honest I wish I'd just replayed Rome: Total War.”
monetization
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
15%
83%
The monetization practices of the game have been widely criticized as exploitative and indicative of a cash grab mentality, with numerous reviewers expressing frustration over the high cost of DLCs that contain content many believe should have been included in the base game. Players have also noted the presence of in-game advertisements and microtransactions, which detract from the overall experience and contribute to a perception of greed from the developers. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative regarding the game's monetization strategy, leading many to recommend against purchasing it at full price.
- “If you don't want to pay for the microtransactions, don't.”
- “And no microtransactions or obvious bugs.”
- “Unlike Deus Ex, it doesn't have microtransactions, so this barely earns it a recommendation from me.”
- “The monetization practices of this company are absolutely reprehensible.”
- “This is a blatant insult to the community and a corporate cash grab.”
- “However, the amount of microtransactions is appalling; only 5-7 of ~20 races are available to play without buying them.”
humor
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the wacky antics of various factions, particularly the greenskins and chaos units. Many find the absurdity of battles, quirky unit interactions, and humorous dialogue to be a source of entertainment, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere amidst the game's darker themes. Overall, the blend of strategic gameplay with comedic elements creates a unique and enjoyable experience for players.
- “Great game and I find some of the greenskin units hilarious.”
- “It's gritty, grim and dark but also very funny at times without being goofy, foppish or overly nerdy.”
- “The orc speeches and dwarf quotes are absolutely hilarious, and although the game has many 'funny' moments, they manage to maintain an 'epic' feel to the entire gameplay experience.”
- “C'mon, Sega, that's not funny. I have already bought your game, and it cost as much as any AAA title with DLC worthy of free-to-play.”
- “:)))) but it's not funny, it's sad.”
- “:)))) but it's not funny, it's sad.”
emotional
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting intense moments of triumph and heartbreak during battles, as well as a strong attachment to unique factions and characters. The game's rich lore and vibrant art contribute to an immersive experience, though some players feel let down by the lack of a satisfying victory animation. Overall, the emotional highs and lows of gameplay resonate strongly, making it a memorable experience for many.
- “Cheering as your troops overrun the enemy and gasping in horror as your ranks are blasted by green magic from the orcs makes for an emotional play session.”
- “Bah - I cried as the final dwarf hold fell in a tide of green.”
- “I almost shed a tear when my vargulf called 'Crazy Eyes' died after around 8 battles. I will miss that big guy, and as I can't yet recruit them, it feels like a huge hole in my armies.”
character development
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
9%
Character development in the game is highly praised, with players noting its depth and integration into the campaign through unique factions, legendary lords, and personal quests. The system effectively replaces previous mechanics, such as the family tree, and enhances gameplay by providing meaningful progression and strategic choices. Overall, the character development is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and replayability.
- “The atmosphere, mechanics, faction diversity, replayability, character development are all exceptional.”
- “The general / hero / special character development is at its peak in this game.”
- “In addition, there are some pretty amazing elements added for this game such as the legendary lord character development.”
- “Don't mind the broken collision system, the terrible building, character development, unit stat systems among others.”
- “That character development feature replaced the family tree that came back in Attila.”
- “The is based around Warhammer lore, and invests quite a lot in character development, and gameplay mechanics.”