Total war series and other strategy games

Probably Rome due to nostalgia or Medieval II

Shogun 2 - Fall of the Samurai > Shogun 2 > Rome I

I used to be a great TW fan, playing from the very beginning with Shogun 1. But at least since Empire there isn't much left from the former glory. The series didn't improve much while Paradox raised my expectations with their titles.

I enjoyed medieval 2 a long time ago, but for me, TW games on map strategy way too limited. Isn't enough complex. Battles are nice but battles are then RTS. When I play TW games usually using auto solve for those battles.

I prefer pure 4X games or grand strategies, I already bought the upcoming Imperator Rome which will be released on 25th April and today paradox announced the release datum of Age of Wonders Planetfall + prepurchases started today. Not sure I'll preorder that one but ill definitely play it sooner or later.

From the old ones: Rome, Shogun, Medieval 2, Medieval 1
From the new ones: Shogun 2, Attila, Rome 2, Napoleon, Empire
Fantasy: Warhammer 2/1

Medieval 2 Total War is simply unbeatable in my opinion, thanks to its incredible and immense modding community.

Or are you like me, playing it active for a week, stop playing for 5 months, then fall in love with it again and so one.

Yes but not with Total War. :P
I have that with C&C Red Alert (1) and C&C Generals (Zero Hour), and more recently with Company of Heroes.

I only ever played Total War in the direct battles or how they're called in Total War with/against my brother, who was always playing Total War. :D

Edit: Oh no idea when I started playing any RTS. My gaming history is very gradual.

I only like medieval 1 total war

Rome II is my favoritte due to the setting and that it has nicer graphics then the first one. Favorite strategy game is CKII, which imo in unbeatable.

Used to love the series and owned every game till Shogun 2 on physical discs. Rome was my favorite one - there was a good balance of everything and you could play it any way you want to (expand, conquer, whatever) without being forced to do one or the other from the very first turn. Medieval 2 was very good as well, Empire was a huge letdown and Shogun 2 was simply awful. Didn't bother with newer TW games after such disappointment.

Definitely prefer Paradox strategies at the moment.

I regularly play Europa Universalis 4. It's my all time favourite strategy game, but it's not the only one I really enjoy. Company of Heroes 2, Age of Empires 2, Age of Wonders 1 & 3, Heroes of Might & Magic, Starcraft, Rise of Nations, Hearts of Iron 2 & 4, Majesty the Fantasy kingdom Sim, Civilization 2, 5 & 6... the list of strategy games I return to from time to time can be made longer.

As for favourite Total War game, I would have to go with Warhammer. Just by virtue of how varied the factions are the AI issues seems "smaller" as you get more variety and thus the AI feels less predictable. I do in theory like most of the other Total War games, I just find the predictable AI to be an issue. Outside of Warhammer, I think Shogun 2 is my favourite Total War title. The one I'm the most torn on is Rome 1. On the one hand it's got a lot of different units, on the other hand, the AI is really really awful and predictable.

I got started with Civ 2 & C&C Red Alert back in 1996, and never looked back. Strategy, together with CRPGs, are my favourite genres

Big fan of the series with Rome 2, Attila, Empire being my favourite ones. I would usually pick up every part, play it for ~100 hours and wait for the next one. But I have lost all interest when Warhammer I appeared. I really liked the historical settings and I can't get my head around the fantasy stuff...

I really like TW series, got into it with first Rome, demo for which I got on a disc with a gaming magazine. It was so different compared to other strategy games I have played until then (the unity numbers, arrow volleys, cavalry and elephant charges physics) that it immediately earned a spot on my Christmas 'wishlist'. Apart from Empire (the setting just did not work for me) I have liked every TW that followed. Medieval 2 is probably my favorite (partially because of the setting, also I guess I favor the simpler empire management mechanics compared to latter games).

As for other strategy games, the first one I have played was probably Settlers back in the day but truly got into the genre with first Age of Empires and Starcraft. Games that come to mind (apart from other installments in aforementioned series) are Stronghold, Empire Earth, KKnD Crossfire 2 and Rise of Nations.

In recent years I got more into TBS games like Civ series and Paradox stuff.

My first strategy game was The Ancient Art of War, which is surprisingly similar to Total War, with an overland strategic map and zoomed in tactical battles. Only 3 unit types, and a max of 14 soldiers, but it was released in 1984. I was too young to grasp the concepts, but still loved it

I fell in love with TW:Shogun when it came out, but drifted away to Parafix a few years ago. Don’t think I’ve ever played Atilla.

Preference by eta:
Tile map: Viking invasion > Medieval > Shogun > Mongol Invasion
Classic; Rome > Medieval 2 > Napoleon > Americas > Crusades > peninsular campaign > Teutonic > warpath campaign > barbarian invasion > Britainia >Alexander > empire
Modern; Caesar in Gaul > Wrath of Sparta > Rome 2 > FOS > shogun 2 > Hannibal at the gates > ROS > Emperator Augustus
Can’t rate Atilla and its expansions as I haven’t played them
Fantasy: ??? Haven’t bought them yet
New: Britanica/Three Kingdoms - haven’t bought them yet

I almost bought empires divided at the last sale. Maybe at the summer sale I’ll grab it and Rise of the Republic. Rome 2’s biggest problem was scope, the smaller expansions were far more enjoyable in the long run.

My 1st Total war game is Shogun from 2000, then Rome.