Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI from 2006 brought a major graphical overhaul to Koei's series - for the first time, both the battles and the map of all China are displayed on a hexagonal grid, which allows far more precise planning of unit movement, city sieges and use of terrain than earlier systems played out on less structured maps divided only into provinces.

As the ruler of one of the Chinese territories, the player manages the economy, builds fortifications, develops agriculture and trade, and conducts diplomacy with neighboring states through alliances and truces, while on the tactical level units move across hexagonal tiles where the type of terrain, the weather and the traits of the commanding generals and their special abilities all matter. The game also offers a scenario editor, which let the community create its own maps and game situations and noticeably extended the life of the title years after its release. The eleventh installment is often praised for its visuals, which, compared to earlier entries, went for a more picturesque, painted map style reminiscent of traditional Chinese paintings, and for the depth of options for adapting strategy to your own play style - from slow economic development to aggressive military expansion on multiple fronts.

Among the series' fans, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI ranks among the most popular entries of all, thanks to the combination of depth, the clarity of the hexagonal map and an artistic presentation that ages very well, even with the passing of years and many modern mods created by the community. Many players still recommend it today as the ideal entry point into the series for those looking for a deep yet visually pleasant turn-based strategy set in the historical Three Kingdoms era, and not infrequently call it their lifelong favorite within the whole category of turn-based strategies set in a historical environment.