Medieval II: Total War

Medieval II: Total War expanded the formula kicked off by Rome: Total War into medieval Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, and among fans of the series it is still often mentioned as one of its peaks. The player leads one of the European or non-European factions from the early Middle Ages through the Crusades to the discovery of the New World, with the campaign combining the management of cities and provinces, diplomacy with the Pope and other rulers, and the building of armies made up of knights, archers, or siege equipment.

Studio The Creative Assembly expanded the battle system with more realistic clashes between individual formations, improved artificial intelligence, and new mechanics such as religion and heretics, which affect the stability of provinces. The campaign also allowed expeditions to America after its discovery, a fairly unusual choice at the time for a historical strategy game focused primarily on the Middle Ages.

The depth of the diplomatic and economic systems, combined with visually magnificent battles where hundreds of armored units can clash, made it a reference point fans of the series kept coming back to even after newer entries were released, partly thanks to an active modding community that expanded the game with years of additional content. The game also included a campaign and battle editor, thanks to which extensive unofficial mods emerged, adding entire new eras and factions.

Why play it: Recommended for fans of medieval history and turn-based strategy games looking for a deep entry long valued by fans of the Total War series, though older technical limitations do need to be taken into account today.