Empire: Total War cover art

games like

Empire: Total War

Empire: Total War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization). Below: catalogued games with the closest cheat-test profile, and exactly where each one differs.

Matched first against: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical - then ranked by cheat-test profile.

EXECUTION2 /10READS3 /10VARIANCE3 /10OPTIMIZATION8 /10

10 games like Empire: Total War

A cross-genre tag below means that pick didn't share a genre - it filled a slot on cheat-test profile alone.

Europa Universalis IV cover art
Europa Universalis IVPure Optimization · early modern grand strategy

Both lean on execution about the same (2 vs 2). Biggest difference: optimization (8 vs 9) - idea groups, economy, mana spending

full comparison →
Hearts of Iron IV cover art
Hearts of Iron IVPure Optimization · WWII grand strategy

Both lean on execution about the same (2 vs 2). Biggest difference: reads (3 vs 4) - PvP partly, mostly scripted AI

full comparison →
Clash of Clans cover art
Clash of ClansPure Optimization · base-building strategy

Both lean on reads about the same (3 vs 3). Biggest difference: execution (2 vs 1) - Troop drop placement is forgiving

full comparison →
Heroes of Might and Magic IV cover art
Heroes of Might and Magic IVPure Optimization · turn-based strategy

Both lean on reads about the same (3 vs 3). Biggest difference: execution (2 vs 1) - no real-time physical skill needed

full comparison →
Pokémon Violet cover art
Pokémon VioletPure Optimization · monster-collecting RPG

Both lean on reads about the same (3 vs 3). Biggest difference: execution (2 vs 1) - Turn-based menus, traversal needs no precision

full comparison →
Might & Magic: Heroes VI cover art
Might & Magic: Heroes VIPure Optimization · turn-based strategy

Both lean on reads about the same (3 vs 3). Biggest difference: execution (2 vs 1) - no real-time physical skill needed

full comparison →
Napoleon: Total War cover art
Napoleon: Total WarPure Optimization · historical strategy

Both lean on reads about the same (3 vs 3). Biggest difference: execution (2 vs 3) - Real-time battle micro under pressure

full comparison →
Medieval: Total War cover art
Medieval: Total WarPure Optimization · strategy wargame

Both lean on variance about the same (3 vs 3). Biggest difference: execution (2 vs 3) - Real-time battle control rewards quick unit handling

full comparison →
Endless Legend cover art
Endless LegendPure Optimization · fantasy 4X

Both lean on reads about the same (3 vs 3). Biggest difference: execution (2 vs 1) - turn-based

full comparison →
Metin2 cover art
Metin2Pure Optimization · grind MMORPGcross-genre

Both lean on execution about the same (2 vs 2). Biggest difference: reads (3 vs 2) - Kingdom wars add light player-versus-player conflict.

full comparison →

Game details

Released
2009
Developer
The Creative Assembly
Franchise
Total War
Platforms
Linux, Android, PC, iOS, Mac
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
IGDB critics
90/100
IGDB users
78/100
Real Time Strategy (RTS)StrategyTurn-based strategy (TBS)TacticalFantasyHistorical4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate)