Total War: WARHAMMER II stands as a grand strategy game that blends turn-based empire management with real-time tactical battles in a fantasy setting drawn from the Warhammer universe. Released in 2017, it invites players to command armies across vast continents, forging alliances or crushing foes in a bid for dominance. With its focus on strategic depth and large-scale combat, the title appeals to those who enjoy complex decision-making and spectacular warfare.
Gameplay
In Total War: WARHAMMER II, the core experience revolves around a turn-based campaign where you oversee an empire, handling diplomacy, exploration, and settlement building. Each turn allows for recruiting armies, leveling up lords and heroes, and equipping them with powerful gear. Battles shift to real-time, commanding thousands of units including monsters, dragons, and magic users. Tactics involve positioning troops, using ambushes, and deploying spells to outmaneuver enemies. Unique race mechanics add layers, such as the High Elves' influence system for diplomacy or the Skaven's undercity networks for stealthy expansion.
Factions bring distinct playstyles; for instance, Lizardmen rely on ancient rituals and dinosaur-like beasts, while Dark Elves emphasize slavery and betrayal. The game supports customization through unit recruitment and army composition, ensuring varied approaches to conquest.
Game Modes
The Eye of the Vortex campaign serves as the main narrative mode, where players control one of four base races-High Elves, Dark Elves, Lizardmen, or Skaven-to stabilize or disrupt a magical vortex through rituals. This mode features story elements and cutscenes tailored to each faction.
Mortal Empires combines maps from the first and second games into a massive sandbox campaign, available to owners of both titles. It offers open-ended conquest without the vortex objectives. Multiplayer includes co-operative campaigns and head-to-head battles, plus custom battles for testing scenarios. The Laboratory mode lets you tweak battle settings for experimental fights.
Factions and Mechanics
Base factions include High Elves with elegant archers and phoenixes, Dark Elves favoring brutal infantry and hydras, Lizardmen using saurus warriors and stegadons, and Skaven deploying rat swarms and war machines. DLC expansions add races like Tomb Kings with undead constructs and Vampire Coast with zombie pirates, each introducing new lords and units.
Mechanics vary by faction; Skaven can spread corruption and summon reinforcements mid-battle, while Tomb Kings build free armies through dynastic progression. Updates have integrated free legendary lords like Alith Anar for High Elves, enhancing replayability with unique starting positions and abilities.
Is It Worth Playing?
With a Metacritic score reflecting generally favorable reviews, Total War: WARHAMMER II earns praise for its faction diversity and engaging campaigns, as noted in outlets like GameSpot which gave it a 9/10. Players highlight the strategic variety and hundreds of hours of content, though some critique the AI and system demands.
As of 2026, the game remains supported through its DLC library up to 2021, with no new updates since the release of Total War: Warhammer III in 2022. It suits strategy enthusiasts seeking deep fantasy tactics, especially if you own the trilogy for full map access. For newcomers, the rich mechanics and multiplayer options make it a solid choice, provided your setup handles the scale.
