Shogun 2
There are other games on this list
with more units, greater scope, and
grander settings, but Shogun 2 is
Creative Assembly at its cohesive
best. Globetrotting conquest is
replaced by a frenzied struggle to
unify Japan, but it never feels small.
Instead, the narrow focus makes
Shogun 2 a rich, wholly immersive
experience, with a superb campaign
in one of the most evocative periods
in the series. It also fixes many
traditional Total War problems. The
AI has learned how to use boats
and expands aggressively on higher
difficulty levels. Clans feel distinct.
And, best of all, The Shogun can
declare you an enemy if you get
too powerful, preventing you from
sweeping to victory - instead of
rolling over factions one-by-one,
you have to protect the resources
you’ve spent time compiling. It’s also
magnificently designed, meaning
that new players can easily adopt its
systems while Total War vets can sit
back and let this beautiful, brilliantly-
plotted game deliver all the moments
that make us love the series.THE AI HAS
LEARNED HOW
TO USE BOATS
AND EXPANDSAGGRESSIVELY