Romance of the Three Kingdoms X

Romance of the Three Kingdoms X from 2004 follows on from the ninth instalment and further develops the link between map and battles, but at the same time returns to the option of playing as a single character, combining the two approaches that had alternated in the series until then: either managing a whole territory as a ruler, or the personal story of a general in the service of others or of himself.

The tenth instalment puts great emphasis on relationships between characters, including friendships, rivalries and family ties. These affect how generals cooperate on and off the battlefield and whether they are willing to risk their lives for one another, so when building their faction the player must consider not only the abilities of individuals but also their mutual chemistry. These relationships can also change over time: allies can fall out and enemies grow closer, which brings unpredictability even to long campaigns. Battles take place on a large map similar to the previous instalment, with emphasis on formations, terrain and weather, while province management includes developing agriculture, trade and the technology needed to keep an army in the field after long campaigns. The graphics and user interface match the standard of PC strategy games of the time, with richly illustrated portraits of dozens of historical figures from across the Three Kingdoms period.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms X is ranked by fans among the more popular instalments of the series precisely because of its rich system of relationships between characters, which gives even such a vast historical strategy a human dimension. Among followers of the series it still has a reputation as one of the most complete titles before the switch to more modern, graphically demanding engines in later instalments. For many longtime players the tenth instalment remains a favourite because of the balance between strategic depth and the personal story of the generals, which later instalments did not always manage to repeat.