BEST WAR
Tot a l Wa r :
Warhammer 2
The sequel manages to surpass Total War: Warhammer
with its smart vortex campaign and inventive factions.
The high elf forces are the most conventional, but
even they get dragons and magic. The lizardmen have
the most colourful forces of the series so far, and the
skaven are a brilliantly sneaky faction who bring up
reinforcements from underground. The map design
tends towards more interesting campaigns than the
large continent of Total War: Warhammer 1. Dinosaurs
vs. rats vs. elves vs bad elves, what’s not to love?
Bespoke add-on campaigns like the excellent Curse
of the Vampire Coast have only made the game feel
deeper and more creative than it did at launch.Medieval 2
Medieval 2 owes an unquestionable debt to the games that came before it, but it has something magical
that sets it apart from its predecessors. It’s an exemplary setting for a Total War game – a time of
conquest, crusades, and corruption, with enough stability to make each faction relatable and emboldening
opportunities for expansion and invasion. Your place in the world makes every game unique. Play as
England and the temptation to reach out and crush your neighbours is irresistible; play as Egypt and you’ll
realise how shitty it is when barbaric Christians call crusades against you for no reason. In Kingdoms, it
also has a fantastic expansion that focusses on historical flashpoints and adds nuance and detail to the
sweeping conquests of the main game. The AI can be soft at times, but it’s still a vicious challenge when
the Mongols turn up. And if it’s still too easy for you, an amazing selection of mods breathe extra life into an
already comprehensive game: Stainless Steel and Broken Crescent are both still essential today.PLAY AS EGYPT
AND YOU’LL REALISE
HOW SHITTY IT IS WHEN
BARBARIC CHRISTIANS
CALL CRUSADES
AGAINST YOU FOR
NO REASON