Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition

Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition
90
Metacritic
89
Steam
92.057
xDR
Our rating is calculated based on the reviews and popularity of the game.
Price
$24.99
Release date
4 March 2009
Steam reviews score
Total
89 (17 424 votes)
Recent
87 (209 votes)

Command the seas, control the land, forge a new nation, and conquer the globe.

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Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition system requirements

  • Supported OS: Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista™
  • Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel® Pentium® or greater or AMD® Athlon® equivalent CPU
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM (XP,) 2 GB RAM (Vista™)
  • Graphics: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible hardware accelerated video card with shader version 2.0 support, 256 MB video memory
  • Display: Minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels
  • Sound: Directx9.0c compatible sound card
  • Hard Drive: 15 GB free hard disk space formatted as NTFS
  • Peripherals: Windows compatible mouse and keyboard

Recommended:

Recommended requirements are not yet specified.
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Reviews
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Nova Prime
Nova Prime

I love this game i just don"t like the fact that I have to boot it like a million times to get it to boot correct.

adrianluna566
adrianluna566

great campaign just on the older side so graphics could be better would recommend darthmod for that bit more detail on the units themselves

Seely16
Seely16

I haven't had any problems with the game so far! Everything runs smoothly. However, buying the definitive edition is highly recommended cause there's so much more to do!! Plus, it's my first total war game and I love the revolutionary war era so it I have a sweet spot for it now.

Serb
Serb

The only game where I was able to make Russia a Republic for 30 years until somehow messing it all up and becoming a Monarchy with an awful Tsarina.

capdarthsion
capdarthsion

love almost all total wars but especially the historical ones. This is a great game for experiencing the era of gun powder and colonialism and I hope CA releases en empire 2 with an even larger map and more factions.

Durabol
Durabol

I am a 52 year old father, probably one of the oldest people playing. I am a single father to my son, who is now 14. My son recently started playing and in less than a week, he had already played for over 20 hours. This was terrible for me because it was already hard enough for me to spend time with my son, as he is always out with his friends or just watching videos on Youtube. So I decided to make a Steam account and get this game to see if I could maybe play alongside him. I loaded into the game and started playing but I was stuck on what you where supposed to do. I asked my son for help, and together we spent hours playing . I loved it as it was the best time I had spent with my son since my wife had died. Steam has ever since brought me and my son closer again, and now we actually spend time together outside the house as well. reminded me that there's fun to be had in everything, and it has brought both my son and I many happy memories.

David El Manbar
David El Manbar

Este juego tiene el mismo bug desde hace dos años, las partidas se traban en el paso de turno y se cierran, pasa siempre con algunas civilizaciones

morrow.ronin
morrow.ronin

I have thousands of hours across all the total war games(historic), a buddy of mine told me I needed to play this game... for some reason it's one of the only ones I never had time for. Anyways, this is the most fun I've had playing a video game in a long time. great game

Colemathis45
Colemathis45

fun. as much as the pathfinding can be... interesting in both battles and campaign, and the decisions of the AI NOT ALWAYS sound. still a fun game imo

tobypollett
tobypollett

Nothing better than playing a game for three hours just to have it crash or freeze up. Even better is the unshootable enemy or the occassional unit that turns from an 18 srenth unit to 76 or so me other random number. It is great game play but wehoever released this glitchy garbage before it was fixed and ready for market needed to get fired... preferably out of one of the game cannons that freezes up and won't dismount to fire.

ZephyriiS
ZephyriiS

Not the most complex of total war games, but still holds up and is a fun way to play through the time of empires

wemisstacobell
wemisstacobell

This is a great game that I've had a lot of fun playing. I started playing this game after playing medieval 2 because I was craving the feeling of watching a beautiful musket volley. It turns out it was everything to be on more because of the new mechanics they added to the game. If you have a good pc or laptop that can run the specs, I highly suggest you get this game. I mean, it is such a beautiful game, you just can't go wrong with it.

sharpas
sharpas

7 hour review. not a bad sim. 'only if it had the same camera as the total war games' would be good. no "follow camera." 'other then that.

lucas_saimor
lucas_saimor

1 problem with the game is that it could do with update graphics wise, otherwise its actually alright, just my opinion! but I like it

Anonymous
Anonymous

- great strategy game with good historical accuracy. The mix of economic and military requirements to succeed is good. On the downside it crashes all the time on my Mac and the turn changes can take a few minutes.

Skullivan
Skullivan

Empire: Total War is a buggy mess, overly ambitious and clearly not finished in certain areas... but I'll be damned if it isnt my favourite Total War game. There just something so epic about it.... fighting epic colonial wars over 3 trade theatres lends itself perfectly to this franchise. I can still play it for hours all these years later, and so should you.

cameronsmith100699
cameronsmith100699

One of the best Total Wars ever. Enjoyed it far more then Napoleon. As long as you download Darthmod with it.

OTC Gideon
OTC Gideon

Just play Napoleon so it can stop being the game that people pretended others played.

SkinnyGames
SkinnyGames

Is it the jankiest total war? Is it the best total war? Yes.

Oz-
Oz-

I play Total War since my childhood. This would be in top three - others being Medieval II and Rome the classic. Thumbs up for sure.

Bingd
Bingd

Please add so that the units respond to what you command them too.

Bribarian
Bribarian

One of my favorite of the series, even with all the bugs, crashes, etc.
1. Medieval 2
2. Empire
3. Attila

Empire was ambitious and with all the modding done the game has really been improved over the years. I also appreciate the fact they put effort into the sea battles in this game. The sea battles look great.

As with all Total War games, it does tend to get repetitive after so many battles, so i will put it down and pick it back up later.

1990's Hacker Guy
1990's Hacker Guy

Good game for its time, without mods its a frustrating experience. The UI is fine, I encountered several frustrating glitches, mostly to do with AI's pathing, a couple of glitches on the campaign map. plenty of frustrating mechanics, glitches, AI behaviours in battle which is unfourtunately the most important (mostly troops not registering commands, (specifically artillery, ships) crashes which were few and far between to be fair). it may not seem like much but when you use you artillery as shotguns like i do its VERY frustrating.

It is a great game for the time it was made however, and i'd imagine with mods many of the issues i faced dont exist- it was mostly the nostalgia that made me play this for so long. TOTALWAR is an amazing series and i dont doubt youd still be able to have fun in the game!

Calm
Calm

One of the best strategy games available on steam!

maggartmgm
maggartmgm

RULE BRITANNIA! BRITANNIA RULE THE WAVES!
THE BRITONS NEVER EVER SHALL BE SLAVES!

Probably
Probably

I've played 5 different Total War games and this one seems the most difficult to master diplomatically (no one wants to do anything with you). Militarily its a joke, the AI is incapable of winning a battle and most battles are just like you would think, lines of men shooting each other with lots of casualties.

I'd rather just play Warhammer again.

Toast
Toast

this game is what i needed, after refunding many games, i found this and im not refunding it

pyongyang soy boy
pyongyang soy boy

THIS WONT HELP YOU FIGHT A REAL WAR SHITTTTTTTTTTTTT FUCCKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Blubbergrunt1
Blubbergrunt1

Great game, shows it's age a little at times. Some prettty good mod/community support. I would really love to see ETW get a proper sequel, taking place over a longer time span and a bigger globe... Either way great rts would recommend!

PandaTheBoss6689
PandaTheBoss6689

its a really good game really reccomend

Dark Lord Dennis the Fearsome
Dark Lord Denn…

Beer is proof that God wants us to be happy!

- Thomas Jefferson, 3rd U.S. President

9/10

OdinsBeard
OdinsBeard

absolutely amazing game, i have enjoyed many campaigns on here and it is a very competitive and exciting game

aaryangoel2
aaryangoel2

crashes every time I run it for some reason.

Brave Sir Robin
Brave Sir Robin

Ai status: on the verge of falling apart it's army just a few know regiments,

You the player receive a diplomatic message from them reading it you see the following

Give region: Jamaica, Newfoundland
Give gold: 5000
peace treaty

you receive peace treaty

you deny it and couter with just offering a peace treaty and some tech, they refuse and insist the previous one.
you send a army to besiege their capital the peace treaty then turns to this.

Give gold: 5000
peace treaty

You give up and just take their remaining regions.

Ai diplomacy in a nutshell.

regalgenner
regalgenner

The epic battles set this game a part from anything else.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Best total war hands down to this day, certified classic, just make sure you don't play the vanilla version

Everett Lathrop
Everett Lathrop

Takes a bit to get the hang of, but, if you're a fan of Total War, then I recommend it.

JUWAD
JUWAD

I LOVE ALL TOTAL WAR FRANCHISE

Sparkton5522
Sparkton5522

Empire rap

Natives give me tea (mmh)
I set them free (mmh)
The rest history! (mmh)
Ignore atrocities! (europe) (mmh)

ooschmid
ooschmid

i believe it good game to be competitive with friends and family

Mayor O'hare
Mayor O'hare

Yes, although download Darth Mod for a little more control, and some improvements!

robert_tischler
robert_tischler

this game is the perfect military game

YOWL
YOWL

good game need updated version

dzhus
dzhus

The game freezes on AI turn, and you can only start a new campaign. What did I pay for?

DampmusTTV
DampmusTTV

Great game. Danmark dosent have a chance against Sweden. Good battles and cool sounds and stuff. 10/10

monkpow9
monkpow9

This game is great but there is little variety in the units. Still fun but one of the weaker Total War titles

RedCloakOfGold
RedCloakOfGold

Overpowere Maratha and mysore really broke he flow of the game.
Enjoyed for the most part the Americas and European theaters but when fighting the grossly
overpowered Maratha and having an absurd autoresolve scenario where i had 18 deck and losing to a 4 deck army it pretty much soured me on this game.

Thenomand1
Thenomand1

very fun and with the right mods even more fun

adam.andrewe
adam.andrewe

great game, but you cant play grand campaign more than a few dozen turns before it starts crashing. You can work around the crashes at first, but it gets really annoying after a while to have to keep going back a couple turns and doing things differently. Should really get a remaster

Bastille
Bastille

Very satisfying, from both a strategical and a tactical perspective. Reviewing this makes me want to reinstall it haha

Obersoldaten JSF
Obersoldaten JSF

Vereinigte Provinzen vs. Indischer Subkontinent

Safer
Safer

The old time classic, with some mods with DarthMod it can still be fun

rpetrino23
rpetrino23

how do you ge the mods if i only got definitive version? no special forces but does have warpath campaign

ArslanAKA48k
ArslanAKA48k

Game is good but it is so old. We need next version

C.Z.
C.Z.

It's a good game and fills the expectations both technical and in gameplay, but I prefer close sword combat battles rather than shooting guns from a distance most of the time.

Jayden_1
Jayden_1

I love committing war crimes against the french

RaiserExion
RaiserExion

I get to play as the Commonwealth and run down people with winged hussars, while the AI constantly moves around and never puts up a fight. 10/10 would steam roll a brain dead AI again.

Storm anteater
Storm anteater

Finally, Total War game with fun navy.

HoldMyFrag
HoldMyFrag

Empire is still probably the best Total War game I have ever played. I have hundreds of hours in and im coming back to it after 5 years

MUSTAPHA
MUSTAPHA

one of the best strategy games despite its shitty graphs

ronin
ronin

Empire is rarely someone's favourite in the Total War series. It is the most ambitious in the series with virtually everything available in one package. The whole world is included in Empire in some way. There are a huge number of possible unit types that encompass everything from melee to line infantry, and horses to camels to elephants. Smaller places are included, and the technology tree is a really interesting addition. I love the sea battles as well as the detailing is great.
The ambition is also Empire's undoing. It is really slow to load and only the fastest PC configurations get the loading time to something reasonable. The game is also slow, like really slow. It takes many, many turns to research some items in the technology tree or to build larger ships. This means that if trying to accomplish something focused, but controlling a larger empire, I might have to spend 10-15 turns just creating trade ships and sending them to ports while waiting for a single ship to arrive somewhere. So, it is actually far more fun to play in a limited area because it just becomes tedious when controlling a truly vast empire. I wish we could automate some of the repetitive activities.
Yet, at the end of the day I find it great fun to play every once in a while. Napoleon may have the sea battles and artillery and line infantry battles as well but Empire also encapsulates some of the fun from Medieval, because of the time period in which it takes place. This inclusion of melee and the fun of charging with elephants makes Empire one of my all time favourites, especially now on faster processors.

Skipp3rUA
Skipp3rUA

Played over 1000+ hours, only because i love this setting. (18 century) About game:
- useless agents
- bad AI, that sometimes did very very stupid things
- worst sieges, that i saw in TW serie
- not many playable countries

P.S.Dear SEGA/CREATIVE ASSEMBLY - maybe time to create a TW game about 16-17 or 19 century setting?

6/10

coinsss
coinsss

The best total war game in my opinion. I just wish It had the visual of Napoleon and it would have been perfect

Anonymous
Anonymous

Most fun as a history major that loves the colonial era.

NWP
NWP

the total war series is just exceptional

camiddleton2014
camiddleton2014

Very realistic and historically accurate

kosh2k
kosh2k

excellent game and the mods make it better

Pbubba102008
Pbubba102008

yes ptsd and warcrime simulator 10/10 :)

ogvpyv
ogvpyv

This game is 13 years old already.
Still, gives you probably the biggest map of Earth you can get in Total War series game.
Compared to latter releases from the series, a lot of aspects are very simplistic which can be considered a positive or negative trait.
Nice tutorial campaign, and two full campaigns - American campaign, or Grand campaign located in most of the world.
In the latter we have access to Europe, Central and North America, North Africa and most of Asia, which is really neat and gives you a lot of possibilites in your campaign.
Diplomacy is somewhat lacking, but isn't bad.
Rather small amount of units to choose from, but artillery and naval technologies give you a lot to choose from later on in the game.
AI in battles makes a lot of mistakes and pointless actions making it easier for the player to win battles. Also, it's worth to save before battles as some units can get bugged and you can't take them down.
AI on world map on higher difficulties will hate you just because you exist and it will hurt you.

Overall, the map is great, rest is lacking compared to later releases, but is not bad. Also, there is nothing better than showering your enemies with STEEHL RAIN from your mortar batteries

LittleBigSmoak
LittleBigSmoak

Game softlocks my entire pc when I try changing the settings, one of the only games where I can confidently say watching youtube videos of the ship battles is more fun than actually trying to play the game to set one up yourself.

Wh1teWxlf_21
Wh1teWxlf_21

very good game highly recommended

Anonymous
Anonymous

Creative Assembly have done well with the whole Total War series. I love Empire for the time period, campaign, battle's and the emursion in history. Darthmod and Empire 2 have really expanded phenomenally on the great game CA made. What I don't like about the game doesn't matter because I still play it :) I'm sure CA is working actively to improve all the Total War games as the communtities are not shy to let them know what the time is.

froglvl99
froglvl99

In the middle of a legendary game I was winning half of my armies stopped moving and never moved again. I had to delete them and then I lost the game desperately after about 30 or so more turns. This has to be the worst game in the world.
This game has corrupted my save multiple times but luckily I could reload from about 10 turns ago.

goldenfreddycl
goldenfreddycl

Awesome game, love it. Not as good as Napoleon or Shogun, but it offers lots of freedom looking at the different maps you can trave, to in campaign and the variety of units. Vanilla mode in my opinion is better than Napoleon's fresh Vanilla, and mods make the game even better.

andrewbarratt65
andrewbarratt65

Probably the best in the Total War series

mvcnsb
mvcnsb

Great game if you love history