Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Alongside Japanese history, the Koei studio also reached for one of the greatest epics of Chinese history and literature. Romance of the Three Kingdoms brought to the NES the saga of the Three Kingdoms period, the era of the Han dynasty's collapse, and wrapped it in an elaborate turn-based strategy of a kind that had few equals on an eight-bit console.

The game draws on the classic Chinese novel about the eponymous period, one of the most influential literary works of East Asia. The player takes on the role of one of many warlords and tries to gain control of fragmented China. Just as in the sister series Nobunaga's Ambition, it is not only about battles: you must manage your territories, look after the economy and supplies, hire and promote generals, form alliances, and conduct a diplomatic game with the other leaders. Each character has their own attributes, so choosing and nurturing capable commanders is the key to success.

Koei established itself as a master of historical simulations, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms is one of its cornerstone series. The studio managed to distill a dense historical source into playable form while acquainting players with the real figures and events of Chinese history. For many Western players this game was their very first encounter with the story of the Three Kingdoms, which is universally known in East Asia.

The game's cultural significance is considerable. It combined respect for its literary and historical source with an ambitious game system and became one of the defining strategies of its era. Its emphasis on long-term planning, resource management, and personnel policy made it a title for players seeking an intellectual challenge rather than fast action.

Today we see Romance of the Three Kingdoms as proof that even the NES hardware could bear an extensive strategic simulation with dozens of characters and provinces. The series received many sequels on newer platforms, and its name remains a byword among fans of historical strategy to this day.

Why play: An extensive turn-based strategy inspired by the famous Chinese epic of the Three Kingdoms period, where alongside battles the outcome is decided by economics, diplomacy, and the care of your generals.