Creative Assembly’s Total War: Empire stands out as one of the better-known strategy games. Notably, it offers an interesting blend of turn-based strategy with real-time tactics. It was originally released in 2009 as the fifth installment of the Total War series. This particular iteration of the franchise sees players battling in an 18th-century European setting.
Total War: Empire Premise
©Total War: Empire gameplay screenshot – Original
In Total War: Empire, players enter the early modern period. The 18th century is an era of exploration, economic boom, and great empires. Accordingly, players take control of one of eleven historically powerful factions, each with its own geopolitical agenda, strengths, and weaknesses. The goal is to guide your nation to supremacy through different tactical, strategic, and war actions. This includes using the military, diplomatic maneuvering, and economic dominance. The theater of war and politics spans Europe, the Middle East, India, North America, and the Caribbean.
The signature of the Total War series, two different modes of action, remain central in Total War: Empire. First, in the turn-based geopolitical campaign, players actively move armies, conduct trade and espionage, and manage politics. However, when it comes to resolving conflicts in battle, players switch to the real-time mode. Additionally, in terms of iconic geopolitical struggles of the time, Total War: Empire offers insight into the birth of the United States. Players can journey from the early Jamestown settlement to the battles of the American War of Independence thanks to a special campaign.
Total War: Empire Factions
©Total War: Empire gameplay screenshot – Original
The Total War: Empire narrative doesn’t revolve around specific characters. That said, there are important figures in the historical battles and geopolitical struggles of the time. Ultimately, though, it’s the nations and factions engaging in politics and battles that are far more significant. Here are the most meaningful ones available in Total War: Empire.
- Great Britain: Famous for its strong navy. Leading the British in Empire: Total War lets you use naval power to control trade with other factions and launch powerful invasions.
- France: France offers a balanced mixture of strong land and naval forces and has a key position in the heart of Europe.
- United Provinces (Dutch): For a small nation, United Provinces has a powerful navy and great trading opportunities.
- Spain: Spain controls massive territories in the New World. Managing its large empire can be challenging
- Sweden: The monarchy of Sweden is in a commanding position in Northern Europe. From there it can easily expand further.
- Prussia: Prussia has a strong military with some of the best infantry units in the game. Expansion is available to this faction in Central Europe.
- Austria: Wealthy Austria commands a strong army, allowing land forces to fight for expansion. Beware, as the faction is surrounded by capable enemies.
- Russia: Controlling Russia offers good territorial expansion possibilities, but like with other large empires, managing it is easier said than done.
- Poland-Lithuania: This Commonwealth has a challenging position, being pressured by the likes of Prussia and others. However, this harsh position offers a unique challenge.
- Ottoman Empire: The Ottomans hold a strategic position connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, they start technologically behind other factions, which poses a challenge.
- Maratha Confederacy: Maratha is the leading power in India and offers a campaign away from Europe and the chance to control valuable trade routes.
Games in the Total War Series
Total War is a strategy game series developed by the British game studio Creative Assembly. Since 2000, the series has provided games from various historic and fictional worlds. All the games feature the series’ signature dual nature with turn-based geopolitics and real-time battles. Here are all the Total War games in chronological order.
- Shogun: Total War (2000)
- Medieval: Total War (2002)
- Rome: Total War (2004)
- Medieval II: Total War (2006)
- Empire: Total War (2009)
- Napoleon: Total War (2010)
- Total War: Shogun 2 (2011)
- Total War: Rome II (2013)
- Total War: Attila (2015)
- Total War: Warhammer (2016)
- Total War: Warhammer II (2017)
- Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019)
- Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia (2018)
- Total War Saga: Troy (2020)
- Total War: Warhammer III (2022)
Total War: Empire Cheats
Total War: Empire doesn’t have a built-in cheat code system, meaning there’s no official way to enter cheats into the game. That said, there are some unofficial options for players to use to enable cheats, such as 3rd party trainer programs. With trainers, it is possible to increase game money, recover troops, and increase the speed of research and construction. However, by using these programs, one might risk breaking saves and, potentially, the game.
Total War: Empire Achievements
| Achievement | Description |
|---|---|
| A New Rome | Capture 100 regions |
| Accomplished Strategist | Complete the campaign on easy difficulty |
| Affairs of Honour | Use duellists to kill twenty men on the “field of honour”. |
| American Hero | Complete the “Road to Independence” campaigns freeing the American colonists from British rule |
| Assassin! | Use assassins to take out 20 conspirators |
| Blooded | Complete 10 multiplayer battles |
| Bloody Madman | Defeat 100,000 enemies |
| Command of the Ocean | As a commanding admiral, win 10 multiplayer naval battles |
| Conqueror of All | Defeat 1 million enemies |
| Drumbeat to Victory | Complete a Quick Battle |
| Emperor of Europe | Subdue and hold all the provinces and regions in Europe at once |
| Expansionist Power | Capture any 10 regions |
| Founding Father | Take one region by conquest |
| Grand Tactician | Win 10 classic multiplayer battles |
| Into the Breach! | Win 10 multiplayer siege battles while controlling a besieging army |
| l337 Guard | Win 10 multiplayer battles |
| Maharajah of the Indies | Have mastery over all the provinces and regions in India at once |
| Marshal’s Baton | Win 50 multiplayer battles |
| Master of the Americas | Conquer or control all the provinces and regions in the Americas at once |
| Observe Diplomatic Niceties | Use diplomacy to win 5 negotiations |
| Only Obeying Orders | Complete 30 missions |
| Perfidious Beast | Turn against 5 allied nations and attack them |
| Polymath | Research all available technologies |
| Raw Recruit | Take part in a multiplayer battle |
| Strategic Genius | Complete the campaign on hard difficulty |
| The “Chevaux de Frise” | Win 10 multiplayer siege battles while commanding the defenders of a fortress. |
| The Efforts of Others | Successfully steal five technologies researched by other nations |
| Tyrant and Ogre | Defeat 500,000 enemies |
| Veteran Strategist | Complete the campaign on medium difficulty |
| Whiff of Grapeshot | Complete one ranked battle |
Total War: Empire Cheat FAQs
What is the next Total War game?
The latest game in the Total War series is 2023’s Total War: Pharoah. The title currently has a “Mixed” reception on Steam despite some strong critic reviews.
What is the hardest faction in Total War: Empire?
Ultimately, the answer to that depends on the style of play. The Ottoman Empire starts with fewer technological advancements which might be a challenge. Additionally, both Austria and Poland-Lithuania pose challenging positions geopolitically.
Can you not play as the United States in Total War: Empire?
The United States is not one of the playable factions. However, in the special “Road to Independence” campaign, players can play the US as an emerging faction.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Total War: Empire key art.