Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition

Twenty years after its' release, this game continues to be the quintessential medieval total war experience. Strongly recommended to anyone interested in RTS games, even in this old and unupdated state. Medieval 3 when???

Best game for Lord of the Rings fans funnily enough. 50 hours in and still trying to complete a campaign. AI is occasionally frustrating but manageable once you figure it out. Overall, a game that aged like wine and comparable to the latest games still in terms of enjoyment.

A good strategy game but it is a biot long in the endgame. This is the only negative point. Otherwisw it's a really great game and i recommand it.

A well-beloved entry in the Total War franchise, but I think one that has now aged out - Personally if I wanted to play a 'classic' style of Total War, I'd go with Total War Shogun 2 - Replicates the Sword - Spear - Archer - Cavalry dynamic of this game, but still looks beautiful, and a better realization of the strategic turn-based layer of the game.

be sure to set camera controls to fps style in settings. makes the game a lot more playable.

Albeit, it is Rome Total War with new fractions and features. And Shogun 2 is still the best Total War game. BUT this is still fun. Get it on the steam sale.

one of the best RTS grand strategies ive played. very similar to CK3, but without the absolute garbage side effect of losing your kingdom to fuedalistic inheritence every time your son/daughter takes the crown.

Kind of hard to go back after experiencing the newer TW games, plus I vastly prefer co-op. I know friends that really enjoyed it and I'm hoping for a Medieval 3 with co-op in the future.

Tl;dr, get it for the nostalgia value, but know it's outdated and outstripped by more recent games. I'd recommend getting it on sale for the nostalgia value (I played this back in high school when it was new), but otherwise I think a game like crusader kings now does a much better job on the grand strategy and role-playing aspects of this game, and the now quite severely outdated graphics on the battle simulations means that (IMO) you're better off playing more modern total war games for that aspect of it.

Found a prince whose trait said "Command: Young peasant girls laugh when this man tries to tell them what to do" old school CA was so cool and they had lot of fun making this game back in the day. This game is pure art, honest work by a much of engineers and designers. Nothing can come ever close to the systems designed in this game. Every design decision just makes sense. there is no abstraction and hiding of info, every info can be easily accessed and the game hides nothing. pure gold and must buy on full price. The vanilla game without mods is plenty good and ton of fun and after 10000s of hrs with vanilla game you can have another 100000s of hours with mods.

fucking epic game > play as spanish > kill all portugese people > get excommunicated but thats okay > kill french people > pope dies and is replaced by a guy who is a warmonger > crusade called on me ohno.jpg > try fighting poland and the HRE at the same time > get blasted > die peak game.

My first Total War game, and one I keep returning to when looking at recent releases

It's a classic game that's not only fun but also informative about history in Europe.

This is such a charming and fun game, but it's not a fit for everyone. You're far more likely to enjoy this game if you enjoy grand strategy games and the challenges of warfare logistics, and you can handle some clunky/outdated UI, alongside a lack of modern Quality of Life.

great game , everything I wanted and wished from a strategy game is there. and also it is one of the few games that work on my potato of a computer

In my opinion this is the best of all the games in the Total War series. It involves medieval battles and the battle system really does work well, much better than later games from the same company.

The purest total war game. Spread religion, execute prisoners and actually good maps when it comes to defending cities. Many campaign maps, all very different. Surprisingly, the graphics still hold well, and there is a very strong moding community on the background.

A good mix between managing a country and managing armies. This game is an easy time sink, and is accessible for new players to Strategy games.

This game is very addictive and being able to play through all of the different factions once you have unlocked them only makes it more so. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses and therefore you have to plan your battles accordingly.

Great game for Grand Strategists, worth the investment and seriously passes time, not very graphic heavy so anyone can experience this masterpiece!

Evergreen game. Buy it at a discount, download your favourite mods and sink in endless hours.

The only thing this game needs is Bots in multiplayer, that's it, please, I beg to add it, thank you.

It's a great, realistic, historical game!

Ive not played this for too long but I can say that it is a Amazing game (if you like War games). It combines building an Civ (kinda like Civ 5) But also having a very good battle system. I would give this game a 8/10 (and that's because i have only played England so far).

Great game, massively ahead of it's time, and superior to every subsequent Total War entry (not saying they're all bad but none of them reach the heights of this game. 10/10 some of the units are buggy but you can work around them and I think there are mods that fix most of the issues. Oh and the music is fantastic.

A lot of the game is pretty dated but it still is pretty fun

Outstanding game with 4 brilliant campaigns. well ahead of its time. I didn't like the demo and it takes some time to get into it, but it is addictive.

The base game is legendary, arguably the best TW game. The DLCs are spectacular. Could not recommend enough.

Bought it just to play Divide and Conquer. Spent 70 hours. Save got corrupted. Probably wont play again for a long time until i get the itch again. Highly recommend

probably my favorite game while i was deployed. Been awhile since I played it, im excited to download it agian.

Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition breathes new life into one of the most beloved entries in the Total War series. With its blend of deep turn-based empire management and epic real-time battles, it remains a pinnacle of medieval strategy gaming—even years after its original release. This Definitive Edition shines by polishing and enhancing the core experience without losing what made the original great. The updated graphics, improved UI, and widescreen support bring the gritty medieval world into sharper focus, making battles feel even more immersive. The soundtrack and voice acting also received a boost, enriching the atmosphere of campaigns across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Gameplay-wise, Medieval II still offers incredibly satisfying depth. Managing your realm’s economy, diplomacy, and military forces feels rewarding, while the tactical battles—whether sieging castles or clashing in open fields—demand skill and strategy. The vast roster of factions, units, and technologies ensures countless hours of replayability. While the Definitive Edition is a fantastic update, some dated mechanics remain, such as AI quirks and occasional pathfinding issues during battles. Additionally, the expansions and mods, like Kingdoms, remain essential for players seeking the fullest experience. Overall, Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition is a must-have for both returning fans and newcomers craving a rich, challenging medieval strategy game. It’s a classic reborn, offering an epic journey through history with polish and passion. Rating: 9/10

If you love the time period, the crusades, or the total war series you'll love this game. 8.5/10 would buy again

A simulator, and a damn realistic one at that. While you won't forget that its a game, it lets you get into it, if you let it. World Map. You can use your surroundings. Saw that a province had Minerals, and is in a defendable backline spot. Certainly worth building mines there. Plan that. Send Spy to neighboring Province. See that the AI just failed sieging down the Rebels in the first Province. Take First Province, then set up a wall. Lower tax to develop the Village to even be able to have Mines in the future. Set part of the Army into Ambush in the path to your new Property, just in case. There are a lot of reviews out there, you can read those too. Total war became famous for its battles, its worldmap is quite nice though as well.

Medieval 2 is great, and the modding makes it even better.

One of my absolute favourites out of the total war series the grand campaign mode is by far the best diplomacy is tricky. love the era, well put together runs smoothly

THE OG OF THE SERIES, UNMATCHED, UNRIVALLED, UNBEATABLE. AFTER MORE THAN 15 YEARS I KEEP COMING BACK TO PLAY THIS FROM TIME TO TIME. PLEASE GIVE US MEDIEVAL 3.

By far their best game the only reason I keep playing TW games is because how great this one is!! Alot of the ones after just plain stink! They need to do Medieval 3!!!

the pope told me to stop fighting the holy roman empire or i would be excommunicated i kept fighting and got excommunicated the pope died on the same turn i kept fighting and was no longer excommunicated then i elected my own cardinal as pope 10/10 would fight a 4 front war again

I bought this on sale recently at 90% off. Having played many different Total War games over the years I didn’t find it hard to understand but everything is so old. This game is seriously over rated. The unit path finding in battles is terrible and there are so many bugs. It becomes unplayable after a few hours of torture. At the very least this game makes me appreciate the newer ones more now. I started with Shogun 2 back in about 2011 and I guess in hindsight I was spoiled because that game functioned really well compared to this. I've found that Three Kingdoms is the best game in this series. Not because of the time period. China didn’t really interest me at first. It’s because technically the game is superior to any of the others that I've played. The engine runs so well and has the least amount of bugs compared to other TW games. I also like the diplomacy, Wu Xing five elements system, and generally more modern quality of life improvements over the older games. I also have many hours in Rome 2 and Attila and I would play those games any day over this mess. Also, Attila has the best mods out of all the games that are playable. But for total number of hours played (2500) Three Kingdoms is the winner of this series for me. Edit: Clown me all you want, muhahaha, this game is a piece of s hit. I would even play Thrones of Britannia over this, which is saying a lot. That game is well down my list, but at least it's playable. This game desperately needs a full remaster. Not recommended, even at 90% off.

Too buggy, was curious with the older Total Wars since I really enjoyed Warhammer II but there's too many bugs to deal with. I could look for mods to fix it but I don't really wanna waste my limited playtime.

This is a great classic thats still fun to play now. Well worth the money.

Gameplay Mechanics: 9/10 Narrative: 7/10 Graphics: 7/10 Sound and Music: 8/10 Replayability: 9/10 Innovation: 8/10 Total War: Medieval II remains one of the most beloved entries in the franchise—and for good reason. It blends the series' classic formula with a rich historical setting, memorable factions, and huge modding potential. The Definitive Edition bundles everything in one neat package, making it a go-to for fans of medieval warfare. Gameplay mechanics are rock solid. You manage your empire on a grand campaign map and command massive armies in real-time battles. Sieges, cavalry charges, and political backstabbing all play out beautifully across medieval Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Score: 9/10. Narrative emerges organically through gameplay. While there’s no story-driven campaign, each faction offers unique challenges and historical flavor, and the Crusade and Jihad mechanics add urgency and drama. Score: 7/10. Graphics have aged but still hold charm. The unit detail and battle animations are decent for their time, and the campaign map is clean and atmospheric. Mods can give it a fresh coat of paint, too. Score: 7/10. Sound and music are excellent. The soundtrack is appropriately epic, and the voiceovers and battlefield sound effects enhance immersion, especially during intense battles. Score: 8/10. Replayability is massive. Tons of factions, historical scenarios, and one of the most active modding communities in Total War history (Stainless Steel, Third Age, and more) keep it endlessly fresh. Score: 9/10. Innovation pushed the formula forward with religious influence, more dynamic diplomacy, and expanded unit diversity. While not as experimental as later titles, it refined what made the series great. Score: 8/10. Bottom line: Medieval II is still a classic—and for many fans, it’s the gold standard for historical Total War games. With a strong campaign, immersive battles, and incredible mod support, it remains a must-play even years after release.

-start campaign as french -get bullied by milan because of being france -kill milan -get bullied by HRE for being france -attack HRE -pope says to stop attacking HRE -i do -HRE attacks me more and pope does nothing about it -defend myself -excommunicated -everyone hates me now 10/10 the church system reminds me alot of defending yourself in a fight at school

Super overrated Not only the graphics are ancient, the learning curve is super steep. I cannot even go through the tutorial because it's bugged. It asks you to board a ship but you simply cannot board it making it impossible to even go through the learning curve itself. Tried anyways to go through the game without the tutorial but I was helpless. No idea what to do. Zero appeal, zero incentives to do anything. Most overrated game I have ever played or seen. I am baffled by the positive reviews online about this crappy game. Might have been revolutionary in the year 2002 but in 2025 this game has no reason to exist. Luckily I just spent 3 euro for this game on sale, enough to convince me to never spend any more on a total war game.

Old classic and fun game if you like strategy games.

The AI cheats non-stop because the developers couldn't program their campaign AI right, good times.

had the game then says fatal error unistalled game ,still the same , AVOID.

Game where you can charge the Germans with Russian Cavalry and with your trusty Mongolian ally.

Peak, based, and a hood classic

As a noob to the TW series, I am smitten by the sieges in this game.