The strategy game series Total War has built a large fanbase over more than 20 years. However, the latest title is not well received by the community and on Steam. Yet this game is considered by MeinMMO author Ody to be one of his favorites after more than 300 hours of gameplay.
I have a peculiar trait when it comes to games: Some might simply call it bad taste. But I would say I have a soft spot for games that have a worse reputation than they deserve. One such case for me is Total War: Pharaoh.
Apocalypse in Ancient Egypt
What kind of game is Total War: Pharaoh anyway? As usual for the series, the game is a mix of real-time battles and grand strategy in turn-based format. Pharaoh is the latest entry in the main Total War series. A free update called Dynasties was released later, which doubled the size of the map in one go and added numerous new systems.
The setting is the late Bronze Age around the year 1200 BC – a time when the so-called “Sea Peoples” wreaked havoc in the Mediterranean. Scholars still debate where exactly they came from and why. However, it is pretty certain that the Sea Peoples played an important role in the downfall of many great cities and civilizations in this region. So, the late Bronze Age is actually an exciting (if relatively unknown) setting.
Catastrophic Release and Missing Players
Upon its announcement, Total War: Pharaoh did not fare well: The game was accused of being an asset flip of a previous title, namely A Total War Saga: Troy. Furthermore, the scope was considered far too small for a full-price title (at the time of Pharaoh’s original release). The map only covered “Egypt, Canaan (present-day Levant) and the Hittite Empire in Asia Minor.” Moreover, the game was not Medieval 3 or Empire 2 – both games that fans have been wanting for a long time.
The pre-release criticism significantly harmed the success of the game. It currently stands among the least played Total War titles on Steam. No numbers are available for players on Epic Games.
According to steamdb.info, the release version of Pharaoh peaked with approximately 5,400 concurrent players. After the extensive update to Pharaoh Dynasties, there were almost 8,000 players (via steamdb.info). For comparison: Rome 2 had a peak of just over 118,000 players, according to steamdb.info. So there was definitely room for more.
Unique Aesthetics and Deep Gameplay
So why have I become so attached to Pharaoh specifically? For one, of course, because the setting has fascinated me since childhood. The Bronze Age has a unique aesthetic and is much too rarely addressed in video games. With the Hittites, a culture that I personally find very exciting and have not seen in any other game since the first Age of Empires, was also included from the start.
The reason I love Total War: Pharaoh (even more than other games in the series) is not just nostalgia. Because aside from subjective preferences, a large part of the criticism can already be countered by playing the game. Although Pharaoh and Troy may superficially resemble each other, they feel very different in many ways. This applies both in battles and on the campaign map.
Here are just a few examples:
- The battles have been significantly slowed down and feel much more tactical
- Outposts offer significantly more strategic options on the campaign map to build your empire and move your armies quickly
- The struggle for the crown can be fought not only in battle but also through influence and legitimacy at court
- The characteristics of the individual faction leaders come with Ancient Legacies that you can choose yourself and which offer unique mechanics
Whether the scope at release was sufficient for a full-price title is open to debate. Shogun 2 and Three Kingdoms, for example, offer a much smaller scope due to their focus on one culture, and the individual factions differ even less from each other.
Nevertheless, both games are very popular – Three Kingdoms has 82% positive reviews on Steam and Shogun 2 even 91% (via Steam). This is justified, as these games are indeed very good. But a focused map does not seem to have been a major exclusion criterion either.
Major Update Doubles Game Content, Costs Nothing
After the free Dynasty update, the community’s mood towards Pharaoh has also changed significantly. The game has become noticeably larger and is now better rated by players. On Steam, the reviews are overall 85% positive.
The update introduced long-awaited elements like a family tree. The map has also been expanded to the east and west, reaching from Greece to Mesopotamia. Now the Mycenaeans, Trojans, Assyrians, and Babylonians have joined as playable factions.
In addition to the 14 main factions, there are 25 playable minor factions. They do not have unique mechanics, but they offer new starting positions and a special mix of units. Speaking of which: If you missed cavalry at the start, you’ll now find it with the Mesopotamians. Cavalry was not supposed to exist at that time, but due to many players’ requests, it is included anyway.
If you want to get into Total War: Pharaoh, now is the ideal time to do so. The game is as complete as it will ever be and offers much more than it did at release. The standard price has also dropped to 40 euros. So there is not much standing between you and what has, at least in my eyes, become the best historical Total War in a long time with constant updates and a bunch of free content.
Fans of Total War: Warhammer 3 were recently treated to a long-awaited trailer. It also contains a very special curiosity, which you can read more about here: A long-awaited trailer for a Warhammer game on Steam is finally here and surprises with a story twist
