Total War: SHOGUN 2

very good game, the pace of gameplay is not to fast but also not to slow, and the variety of units is different for each clan in the campaign that made this game not repetitive.

i just like this total war and medieval 2, I havent gotten to play the newer games other than atila and Rome 2. While rome 2 was good it falls short of the amazing game this is and that medieval 2 was but would 100 recomend this game to get a new player into the total war series aND REMIND THEM THAT CREATIVE ASEMBLY SOMETIMES CARES ABOUT THER GAMES AND THIS GAME IS THE BEST EXAMPLE.

The first and second Shogun: Total War games are nostalgic titles that filled my teenage years, such beautiful and memorable experiences, and I still love them to this day.

I played this game a bit some time ago and then it stopped working. It would crash on start, it would hang up on install. Finaly, I got it reinstalled after removing it completely form my PC. Now that it starts up, all the options to play a single player campaign are grayed out and I can find practically nothing online that will help me fix this. The same advice always comes up. Verify the files. Reinstall the game. Delete specific folders in specific places in the game files. Nothing works. It seems to be a very common problem as I can find people all over with it, but nothing they suggest has fixed in on my PC. Incredibly frustrating. I think I will give up and delete it for good this time.

Review for Total War: SHOGUN 2 Playtime: 1.1 hours (Early Impressions) Total War: SHOGUN 2 is widely regarded as one of the finest entries in the Total War franchise—and even after more than a decade, it still holds up impressively well. As the spiritual successor to the original SHOGUN from 2000, this game returns to the roots of Total War, with a strong focus on tactical depth, elegant simplicity, and historical immersion. ⚔️ Gameplay & Strategy SHOGUN 2 refines the classic Total War formula to near-perfection. Set in 16th-century feudal Japan during the Sengoku Jidai (Warring States period), you take command of a powerful clan vying for dominance and ultimately the title of Shogun. The game perfectly balances its turn-based strategy on the campaign map with intense, real-time battles on land and sea. Each clan offers a slightly different playstyle—some favor diplomacy, others emphasize military strength or stealth. Unit types are focused and culturally accurate: katana samurai, yari spearmen, archers, and matchlock gunners each have a purpose and demand proper battlefield use. Unlike other entries, the limited unit diversity here actually enhances tactical clarity and decision-making. 🎯 AI & Challenge One of SHOGUN 2’s most praised features is its improved AI. Enemies are more aggressive and intelligent, especially on higher difficulties. Battles can be punishing if you underestimate terrain, fatigue, or unit morale. The campaign AI is ambitious yet fair, making each turn feel meaningful. The “Realm Divide” mechanic, which triggers a major shift in alliances once you grow too powerful, is brilliant—it forces you to rethink late-game strategy and prevents snowballing. 🗺️ Atmosphere & Immersion From the UI design to the art direction and music, SHOGUN 2 creates a deeply immersive experience. Every element feels tied to the era—menus are styled like Japanese scrolls, the soundtrack features traditional instruments, and advisors speak in appropriate tones. The campaign map itself is a beautiful, living world, dotted with cherry blossoms, mountains, and fortresses. Voice acting and historical quotes also contribute to the sense that you’re not just playing a strategy game—you’re participating in a period drama about honor, betrayal, and warfare. 🚢 Naval Battles Naval combat, while less refined than land battles, is still visually impressive. Ship maneuvering and boarding tactics play a large role, and while it may not be the game’s strongest feature, it fits the period setting well. ❗ Critiques • The learning curve might be steep for newcomers, though tutorials are helpful. • Naval battles can sometimes feel slower and clunkier compared to the rest of the game. • While the base game is excellent, some features (like expanded unit rosters) are locked behind DLCs. 🧠 Conclusion Total War: SHOGUN 2 is a masterclass in strategic game design. It’s focused, balanced, atmospheric, and tactically rich. Whether you’re new to the Total War series or a veteran, SHOGUN 2 offers one of the most rewarding and polished strategy experiences ever made. Highly recommended. Rating: 9.5/10 “A timeless strategy gem that blends elegance with depth, set against one of the most dramatic periods in world history.”

9.5/10. I have Warhammer 3, Three Kingdoms Total War, Napoleon total war, and I got this game a little under a week ago and already purchased the add on Fall of the Samurai. This and Napoleon TW is 10/10's. Fun melee battles and all the units in basegame are fun, and I like the factions in this game. good looking game for nearly being 15 years old. Campaigns are super fun and diplomacy actually matter, you can't just rush in and conquer all your rivals, you have to make agreements, deals, alliances. FoTS basically combines Napoleon TW type gameplay and units and the base game so its hard to say anything bad. Only thing I have bad thing I have to say is FoTS can feel pretty underwhelming with melee units. I've only been playing this game for a little but fingers crossed for a Shogun 3!

Been playing since 2020 (my steam hours don't say it since i pirated the game, had no money since got no job, and it was the pandemic so no allowance's to spend), LOVE IT! I would definitely want a remake or a shogun 3 of this. Game is easy, positioning armies are sometimes a bit glitchy but overall a minor issue as it doesn't happen as often. AI in campaign sucks, they immediately hate you for what ever reason, the AI is against you most of the time, alliances with AI is unreliable.

very very good game except for naval battles and the mods are great to

I just love Turn based games and also the fact that you get engrossed by the battles

really recommend this game it has good graphics and sound track the sounds make me feel like i am really in the game but here are some things i think should be added in the game more clans more units and some more weapons you should probably add flags in the game too it would be great if the flags where able to attack too really and highly recommend this game for anyone that has not played this game yet or even heard of it

I really liked "Fall of the Samurai". For me it was like Empire but in Japan, and it was super fun. I tried base game but I don't know, it didn't catch me.

このゲームを 50% オフで手に入れるために、将軍の玉でうがいをしました。絶対に価値がありました。

Nice game strategical, but tutorial is making confusion

This is in my opinion the best total war entry in the series, despite being 14 years old this game beats even the newer total war entries. Everything is good in this game except diplomacy and naval combat. But at least a bad naval (cough cough warhammer series).

Been playing this for years, bought the dlc recently and just realized I never left a review, very good game. Got it for free a few years back when it went for 0$

Summary of all three games: Rise of the samurai: ooga booga stick go WHACK whoever has more stick get land Shogun 2: a complex strategic conquering game, where miniscule choices will make large things. In a time where honor conquers all, you must sometimes conquer honor itself in order to conquer Japan. Resource management, diplomacy, and strategy are all present. Submit to Gaijin ways, quantity over quality, and vice versa. The way you proceed does not matter. Restore your clan's dominance, and claim Japan as your land! Fall of the Samurai: FEAR ME AND MY CANNONS. I HAVE BECOME DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS! WHAT'S A FEW THOUSAND ENEMIES DEAD WHEN I NEED THIS RAILROAD? MUHAHAHAHA, FEAR ME!!! overall, good game.

Going on 200 hours in this game. Every so often I get this insatiable itch to return to Japan and fight to become the Shogun.

Best of the total war series, blood mod is necessary

nice one hahah im from malaysia like this game total war.i hope next i can buy more total war like a total warhammer attila rome hahahah nice daveloper

I’ve been playing Total War: Shogun 2 for what feels like decades now, and it still holds up as one of my absolute favourite games of all time. The battles are fast-paced and exciting — you’re constantly making decisions on the fly, and it never feels slow or boring like in some of the newer Total War titles. But what really sets it apart are the sieges. Seriously, most sieges in Total War games are a bit of a chore — just blob your units through a gate and hope for the best. Not here. In Shogun 2, sieges are amazing — they’re tense, strategic, and honestly the highlight of the whole game for me. The art and style are incredible too. Each campaign — whether it’s the base game, Rise of the Samurai, or Fall of the Samurai — has its own vibe, with different unit models, UI, and artwork. It keeps everything feeling fresh and unique, even after hundreds of hours. You can actually feel the shift in time and technology as you move through different eras, which is something most games barely try to do. It’s just one of those games that gets everything right — gameplay, visuals, atmosphere. I don’t think I’ll ever uninstall it. If you like strategy at all, this is a must-play.

Campaign and battles are good but multiplayer often fails

I've played Shogun 2 for years (on the Mac non-steam version). Here, on my newer PC its even better. Such a great game. Perfect blend of history, art, economics (simplified) and military conquest

its one of the best total war games in the entire franchise! Smooth gameplay. Fully optimized for PC.

Simply the best TW out there for anybody that enjoyed the old-school more minimal TW games.

It's such an awesome experience. If you include mods, there's almost infinite playtime in this game.

This is a good game from the series, decent game play on macbook air m1 also. if you are fond about the feudal Japan this would be great game to play.

its easy to pickup and learn and also alot of fun to play different faction

it pretty cool but gets boring after a while i love the minute details but there just isnt enough there too call it a full game

Total War: Shogun 2 masterfully immerses you in feudal Japan with its spectacular artwork, spanning from stunning GUI, building, character, and unit cards, to detailed armor sets. At its core, the game is an epic of empire building, where every strategic decision is weighed to push your clan towards dominance. The combat is smooth and responsive, driven by an uncountable number of diverse units with varied roles, experience levels, and sizes; all contributing to truly engaging tactical battles. Nothing beats the thrill of watching your dwindling forces bravely fending off enemies in an epic, last-man-standing battle. Banzai!!!

Shogun 2 is arguable one of the best titles in the franchise and the last of the great classic TW games !! For a game that was released over 14 years ago, it holds up extremely well even to this day. This really highlights how Creative Assembly have since lost their way. The attention to detail, cultural immersion (language, art and music) and game features have not been matched in any title since. Shogun 2 hinted at the future possibilities of what Total War could become. Unfortunately, quality game development has since been sacrificed on the alter of maximising income streams and DEI hiring (identity over merit). I doubt we'll see the likes of Shogun 2 again, RIP TW

Keep corrupting my legendary difficulty single save files CAddy

Total War: SHOGUN 2 is not just a return to form for the Total War franchise—it’s a masterclass in balanced, elegant strategy design. Set in the chaos of 16th-century Japan, it drops you into the role of a daimyo vying for power, glory, and ultimately, the title of shogun. What follows is a near-perfect blend of turn-based empire management and cinematic real-time battles. Where some Total War games sprawl into global conflicts, Shogun 2 thrives in its focus. The narrowed geographic and cultural scope allows for incredible detail—politics, trade, espionage, and warfare all feel interconnected and deliberate. Each clan offers unique bonuses and playstyles, but victory always demands cunning diplomacy, economic management, and battlefield brilliance. The visuals are still impressive even years later. From cherry blossom trees fluttering above a battlefield to samurai charging through morning fog, the game's art direction delivers historical atmosphere with style. The Japanese voice acting and traditional soundtrack elevate the immersion further. Combat is tight, tactical, and visually stunning. Watching a unit of katana samurai clash with ashigaru spearmen or defending a siege with a dwindling garrison is thrilling every time. Naval battles are functional, though not the game’s strongest suit. The campaign AI is one of the most competent in the series, and the infamous Realm Divide event—where the whole map turns on you once you become too powerful—is a brilliant, terrifying twist that keeps every late-game conquest earned, not handed. Total War: SHOGUN 2 stands as one of the greatest entries in the series. It’s refined, atmospheric, and strategically rich. Whether you're a seasoned Total War veteran or a curious newcomer, this is a must-play—a beautifully crafted war game where every choice matters, and every battle tells a story. Rating: 9/10

There are no good total war games because they are all fundamentally flawed. They get old very quickly when you realize that every 'start' is just a limitation that you need to strategize around instead of being like an actual strategy game such as Eu4 or even RTS games where you can adapt meaningfully. Every turn in every total war game plays the same because you either stick to a strategy or get blown out on a 'hard' start since you didn't watch or read a reddit post telling you exactly what to do. If you were going to play any total war games, then it should be this one.

The best Total War game to date. The true golden standard for Total War.

Creative assembly broke mods 2 years ago, making modding the game much more difficult if not impossible for majority of the players. Buyer beware, you will most likely only be able to play vanilla, and even if you do manage to mod the game, you can kiss multiplayer campaigns goodbye. It also seems like they have no intention to address what they did, restore the old mod manager, or even fix their ill-conceived modern launcher to properly work with mods, as right now it will tell you that all the mods uploaded before they "updated" the game are broken, despite CA changing nothing in the games files that would actually render them unable to work. It is purely the hubris of CA with its "all-in-one" launcher that prevents us from having easy modding again.

Fantastic total war experience, true to the original concept but with much better graphics.

Played as Ikko Ikki. Everyone hates me. Spams ashigaru to "defend" myself.. Destroy neighbours. Other neighbours angry, they declare war on me.. Bankruptcy.. See like 6 armies coming for my ass... Makes more temples.. Dies anyways.. 10/10 would do it again...

Classic Total War, with a great play structure. Great for any history buffs.

Simple mechanics and a great intro into Total War games

3 and a half stars, they failed the maps. Shrinking the maps, to make more clans. Halve ass job.

Love this Game to bits. I always forget about Realm divide and get stomped by the AI

Hours Played: 758 Recommended: Like a katana to the heart—YES SHOGUN 2 is what happens when chess, Civilization, and anime battle cries all drink too much sake and start a clan war. Highlights of my 758 hours: Betrayed my allies so often, the AI stopped sending me diplomatic offers and just sighed. Won a battle using only bow ashigaru and terrain cheese. Miyamoto Musashi personally rolled in his grave. Had a monk who was basically the Kanye West of religious conversion—unhinged, but unstoppable. Survived Realm Divide through sheer spite and over-micromanagement. My mouse has PTSD. The battles are poetry. The politics are betrayal. The loading screens taught me more Japanese history than high school ever did. I still whisper “shameful display” to myself when I mess up life decisions. 750 hours in and I still lose sleep wondering if I should’ve picked the Date clan again. If you’re looking for the most beautiful, treacherous, and addictively tactical war game ever made… This. Is. It. 11/10. My katana is dull, but my resolve is sharp.

Un gran juego, quizá uno de los mejores total war.

There is so much good here, if your a fan of the Total War Franchise and if you love Sengoku period you can not turn this one down.

It remains the best total war game ever made, even 2025.

Hope that the DEV soon will return creating master piece like this game!

The game is really fun from the campaign system to the battles truly the: "Hordes of poor farmers vs hordes of poor farmers" experience

Had this a long time ago. Got it again. The last excellent CA game.

holds up very well for 15 years old i would like a remaster or remake would be very nice

Loved it, still love it, Wish the Avatar Campaign still worked :/