The Total War series is undoubtedly one of the most successful real-time strategy games of all time, with the franchise selling over 20 million copies since it first started over twenty years ago. But how did the series become so successful in the first place when similar RTS games fell short? We’ll explore how the development teams at Creative Assembly found success in the long-running historical series.
Unique Gameplay
First and foremost, the Total War series features excellent gameplay that seamlessly blends and balances turn-based strategy with real-time tactical warfare battles. One unique aspect of its gameplay is how flanking maneuvers and formations factor significantly into the game’s strategic design. For players to win, they need to strategize their battle tactics quite a bit to come out on top. The gameplay is relatively deep, has a rather steep learning curve, and has enough complexities to keep players coming back for more long after they’ve finished the game’s main campaigns. It’s no wonder that the series has gained so much notoriety over the years, as it truly has a lot to offer in the gameplay department.
Close Attention to Detail
Not only is the gameplay fantastic, but the Total War series’ close attention to detail and historical authenticity is also something to be praised. Since its first entry, the franchise has always done an outstanding job with its close attention to detail when it comes to its worlds and their settings – every entry in the series, from Rome: Total War to Total War Saga: Troy, has had heaps of amounts of research poured into it, with everything from the world’s maps, to the weaponry, to units’ clothing and armor all perfectly reflecting the game’s respective period and setting. Everything in these games feels incredibly authentic, and all of the players who are big history buffs can’t help to appreciate the amount of detail that is on display in these games.
Consistent Releases
Much of the reason for the game staying consistently popular is likely because it has managed to remain fresh and relevant – with over a dozen installments in the main series over the past two decades. The Total War series has spanned many different periods and civilizations, with each entry offering something new and different from the last. Each installment feels unique, as well, and attempts to build upon past installments in both new and exciting ways. Often, a long-running series can become stale and repetitive after a certain amount of releases. However, the Total War brand has only grown over the years and has arguably become better as time has gone on.
The Total War series has no sign of slowing down either, with Total War: Warhammer III due to release sometime later this year and more installments coming later in the future. Fans also recently got new content for both Total War: Three Kingdoms and Total War Saga: Troy. .
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(This article is credited to Ben Price. For as long as he can remember, Ben has always loved playing, discussing, and writing about video games. Since receiving his B.A. in English, he now writes about them for a living.)