Total War Series
Turn-based campaign management combined with real-time mass battles and historical spectacle.
Curated by Tronsoft Museum
Exhibit Overview
Turn-based campaign management combined with real-time mass battles and historical spectacle.
Exhibit Focus
- Historical context and release chronology
- Core mechanics and interface design
- Developers, publishers, and platforms
- Influence on later strategy games
- Preservation priorities and research questions
Collection and Preservation Plan
This exhibit belongs to Gallery 9: Featured Strategy Series.
Planned Collection
- Box art and packaging
- Manuals and reference cards
- Maps, scenario material, and screenshots
- Contemporary advertisements and reviews
- Developer interviews and design commentary
Game Facts
Game or series: Total War Series
Developer and publisher context: Creative Assembly
Gameplay and Systems
Turn-based campaign management paired with real-time battles involving formations, terrain, morale, missiles, cavalry, siege warfare, and large armies.
What to Examine
- Map and interface organization
- Economic and production systems
- Artificial intelligence and hidden information
- Campaign structure and replayability
- How player decisions create long-term consequences
Historical Significance
Total War’s two-layer structure made empire management and cinematic tactical battles mutually reinforcing. The series expanded from Japan and medieval Europe into Rome, gunpowder eras, fantasy, and China.