Total War: Rome II

About Total War: Rome II

Total War: Rome II arrived in September 2013 from The Creative Assembly and Sega. You play this turn-based grand strategy on PC or Mac. The game covers the ancient world when Rome fought for dominance across Europe, Africa, and Asia. It mixes political maneuvering with massive battles that happen in real time. You pick a faction and try to build an empire through conquest or diplomacy. The scale is huge because you manage entire provinces while leading legions on the battlefield. It came out over a decade ago but remains a heavy hitter for strategy fans who want deep historical simulation without modern graphics cluttering the view.

Gameplay

Your turn-based campaign layer requires constant attention to finances, recruitment, and diplomacy. You move armies across a detailed map of the known world while managing province loyalty and public order. Betrayals happen frequently because your allies might turn against you for better deals or power. When two forces meet, the game switches to real-time tactical combat. You control thousands of units directly during these skirmishes. Orders include forming phalanxes, flanking maneuvers, or breaking formations under pressure. Battles last anywhere from ten minutes to an hour depending on your army size. You can fight solo campaigns or join multiplayer matches where friends coordinate attacks and defenses against each other.

What Players Think

The data shows a mixed but generally positive reception with an IGDB score of 74.9 out of 100 based on 201 ratings. Players spend significant time here, with many completing the full campaign experience. Average playtime often exceeds 60 hours for those who try to master the mechanics. Community moods lean toward frustration during early access bugs but shift to satisfaction once patches fixed major issues. Review snippets frequently mention the depth of the diplomacy system and the chaos of large battles. Some users note that multiplayer can be tricky with lag, yet co-op modes remain popular. The cheapest price sits around $2.49 on Green Man Gaming, making it an easy buy for new players despite its age.

PlayPile's Take

This title is for people who enjoy managing complex economies and leading large armies without hand-holding. You need patience to handle the steep learning curve of early game mechanics. At $2.49, the price point removes any risk from trying it out. There are numerous achievements tied to specific faction victories or military milestones that encourage multiple playthroughs. Do not expect a polished modern experience right out of the box since launch issues lingered for years. If you can tolerate some rough edges in exchange for deep strategic options, this game delivers value that few others match in its genre.

Storyline

Become the world's first superpower and command the most incredible and vast war machine of the Ancient world. Dominate the enemies of your glorious empire by military, economic and political means. Your rise will bring admiration from your followers but will also attract greed and jealousy, even from your closest allies. Will betrayal strike you down, or will you be the first to turn on old friends? How much are you ready to sacrifice for your vision of Rome? Will you fight to save the Republic, or plot to rule alone as Dictator – as Emperor?