Review: ’Total War: Pharaoh’ Boasts a Rich Campaign Map Befitting a Ruler

When Shogun: Total War charged onto the scene in 2000, its unique mix of real-time strategy battles and turn-based campaign map formed the foundation of one of the most prolific and long-running series in gaming. The Total War franchise has grappled with many periods of history, from medieval Europe to the Roman Empire to the formation of the United States. But this is the first time we’ve had the chance to unite Ancient Egypt and become a pharaoh.

The battlefield experience will be instantly familiar to series veterans, and there’s a decent tutorial for newcomers, but developer Creative Assembly Sofia has overhauled the campaign side with well-themed mechanics and strategic challenges. Conquering the land of the pharaohs requires careful resource management, Machiavellian plotting in court, and the favor of the gods.

After 2,000 years of unparalleled power and wealth, the Late Bronze Age collapse marked the beginning of the end of Egypt’s dominance. Its empire began to crumble under the weight of mass migration, climate disasters, and frequent incursions from the aggressive Sea Peoples. Egypt and its long-term enemy, the Hittites, fell into decline, abandoning or losing cities to unrest and relentless external threats.

You can play as one of four Egyptian contenders for the throne (Ramesses, Seti, Tausret, or Amenmesse), Canaanite outsiders (Bay or Irsu), or potential Hittite kings (Suppiluliuma or Kurunta). Most folks will start as the youthful Ramesses, but you have some big sandals to fill if you want to match the achievements of the real Ramesses III, considered the last great monarch of the New Kingdom.