The Total War series from Creative Assembly and SEGA is one of the most well-known strategy games series. More than a dozen entries span over 20 years of gaming history, offering gamers intimate control of a variety of historical periods.

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Each game has built on the foundation of its predecessor, so it’s no surprise that newer games fared better on our list.

Total War: Shogun is the game that started it all, but it does not make the list of best Total War games. It is worth playing if you’re a die-hard fan, but the barebones nature of Shogun compared to later games in the series is very apparent.

All of the early Total War games from before Rome II are worth playing for die-hard fans, but modern gamers should start below (the order below is our subjective opinion of course).

Table of Contents

#1 Total War: Shogun 2 – 2011

If you only want to play one Total War game to see whether or not you like the series, make it Total War: Shogun 2. Shogun 2 is the sequel to the first game but features new content in the Fall of the Samurai expansion. The Fall of the Samurai expansion brings it in-line with other gunpowder-era Total War games.

Shogun 2 looks gorgeous, and its graphics hold up well, even though the game is nearing ten years since release. Everything that made conquering Japan interesting in the first game is present here, with gorgeous execution and deep gameplay systems that work well together.

#2 Total War: MEDIEVAL II – 2006

This total war game allows you to take the reigns of your army to expand your territory. During it, you will be able to take command and direct massive battles that feature up to 10,000 troops on a 3D battlefield.

The game takes place in one of the most turbulent eras that have ever been seen in the Western world. Your hungry quest for power will take you through various continents allowing you to expand your reach as you continue to grow your army to insurmountable heights.

With this game, you can expect bigger and better battles than ever before seen throughout the Total War series. You will battle at a quicker pace and finish single fights with bloodier and more visceral moves than ever before.

It comes with a brand new and exciting single-player campaign that takes you to three different continents.

Likewise, it offers 40 brand new and never before seen features including a much-enhanced user interface and the ability to condense your campaign in order to ensure you are able to have the kind of experience you want out of it.

Likewise, you will be able to take place in intense multiplayer battles that help you wage war against other Total War: MEDIEVAL II players with 8-way games.

#3 Rome: Total War – 2004

In Rome: Total War, you look to establish command over the most powerful Roman Empire. It will take you through a time period spanning from 270 BCE to 14 CE which will showcase some of the early periods of Ancient Rome in Imperial era.

You will take control over one of the three Roman families which will force you to engage in battle after battle to take gain control over the army.

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You will experience this through the same Total War gameplay you have enjoyed in previous games including real-time tactical battles along with a turn-based system.

However, you will be forced to be strategic about your movements because it can play a critical role in determining whether or not you are successful over the battle.

In this way, it closely simulates what you would experience with real tactical elements on a real battlefield.

Throughout this entire game, you will be fighting in order to gain control over the greatest empire to ever grace this planet. You will be responsible for managing everything from the government to the economy and even diplomacy where you will look to tackle objective after objective on your journey.

#4 Total War: Attila – 2015

Total War: Attila makes some core changes to the traditional Total War series, so it is worth noting the difference. If you’re a beginner to the series, play one of the Total War: Rome games before Attila. You’ll appreciate the gameplay changes much much if you do.

In Attila cities can burn, regions are devastated, and an endless horde of nomadic tribes are consistently rampaging across Anatolia. The game really paints a good picture of what survival must have been like after the collapse of the Roman world.

The combat portion of the game is also the most impactful of any in the series. In previous games, losing an early battle means a setback. Losing a battle in Attila means the city will probably be wiped from the map.

#5 Napoleon: Total War – Definitive Edition – 2010

Napoleon: Total War is the first time the series focused on the specific exploits of one general, rather than an over-arching period in history. Napoleon gets points for being one of the most historically accurate games on this list, right down to the battle uniforms.

The vast, bloody battles that are possible with one of the first introductions to gunpowder warfare is also satisfying. There are a handful of DLC experiences for the game that improves the base game, but none are entirely necessary to enjoy this entry in the Total War series.

It was also one of the classic Total War games that got a Definitive edition upgrade late last year, along with Medieval II and Empire.

#6 Total War: Warhammer II – 2017

Total War: Warhammer was the series’ first foray into a world of fantasy strategy and empire management. The game wasn’t well received despite the fresh setting, mainly because of several missteps with the design and execution of underlying game systems.

Total War: Warhammer II fixed most critics’ complaints about the first game while renewing interest in the new Warhammer fantasy setting. It should be the starting point for any fantasy fan interested in the Total War series since it refines everything about the original release. Just be aware that there is plenty of DLC for this one and most factions will need to be purchased this way.

#7 Total War: Empire – Definitive Edition – 2009

Total War: Empire brings the series into the Age of Enlightenment and the first true 3D naval combat in the series. It offers a pretty serviceable look at how naval combat in the 18th century worked. While the game debuted in 2009, it was spruced up as part of the definitive edition update late last year.

#8 Total War: Warhammer – 2016

Total War: Warhammer was a surprise for fans of the series since it was the first foray into a fantasy world. It’s a serviceable release, even if it is a bit barebones. Plenty of DLC released in 2016 made the game easier to play, but even Creative Assembly felt the need to start over. Warhammer II was released in 2017 and is the better game of the two.

#9 Rome II: Total War – Emperor Edition – 2013

Rome II: Total War was long considered the worst Total War game in the series, but the Emperor Edition re-release has helped a lot. Dynastic politics are still a feature in the series, though none of the supporting systems from Shogun 2 made it through.

Fans also complained that the version of Egypt that appears in Rome 2 appears very cartoonish in nature. Both Rome II and Empire were not well-regarded at release, and later games outshine them.

#10 Total War: Medieval II – Definitive Edition – 2006

Medieval 2: Total War didn’t revolutionize the series, but it did bring a return to pike-and-shot warfare. The recent definitive edition update helped with the aging graphics, but the diplomacy side of the game is severely lacking.

If you prefer to manage your kingdoms as a warlord, you’ll find a lot to like about Medieval 2: Total War. Economic and diplomatic-minded fans wer