Total War: Three Kingdoms
The epic strategy game set in ancient China, captivating millions of players worldwide including a massive fanbase in India!
Overview of Total War: Three Kingdoms
Total War: Three Kingdoms is a turn-based strategy real-time tactics video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. Released in 2019, it is part of the popular Total War series and is based on the historical period of China's Three Kingdoms (220–280 AD) and the 14th-century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
The game has received widespread acclaim for its deep strategic gameplay, stunning visuals, and faithful adaptation of the historical period. It combines turn-based empire building with real-time battles, allowing players to experience both the political intrigue and large-scale warfare of ancient China.
What makes Total War: Three Kingdoms particularly special is its focus on characters, with many legendary figures from the Three Kingdoms period making appearances as unique generals with their own abilities, backstories, and relationships.
A spectacular battle scene from Total War: Three Kingdoms showcasing the game's impressive graphics
Historical Setting
Total War: Three Kingdoms takes place during one of the most turbulent periods in Chinese history. After the fall of the Han Dynasty, China split into three major kingdoms – Wei, Shu, and Wu – each vying for control of the nation.
Players can choose to lead any of these factions, as well as several other warlords and minor factions, with the ultimate goal of unifying China under their rule.
Critical Acclaim
Since its release, Total War: Three Kingdoms has won numerous awards and received high scores from gaming publications. It was praised for its innovative character system, improved diplomacy, and beautiful presentation of ancient China.
The game's success has led to several expansions and downloadable content packs, adding new factions, campaigns, and gameplay features.
Gameplay of Total War: Three Kingdoms
Total War: Three Kingdoms follows the established formula of the Total War series but introduces several new mechanics that make it unique. The gameplay is divided into two main parts: the turn-based campaign map and real-time battles.
Campaign Map
On the campaign map, players manage their empire turn by turn. This includes managing provinces, building infrastructure, recruiting armies, conducting diplomacy, and researching technologies.
One of the standout features of Total War: Three Kingdoms is its character system. Generals and administrators are not just units but unique characters with their own skills, traits, and relationships. These characters can form bonds with each other, leading to powerful combinations in battle.
The game also features a unique "Guanxi" system, based on the Chinese concept of relationship networks, which affects how characters interact with each other and can open up special opportunities or create conflicts.
The campaign map in Total War: Three Kingdoms where players manage their empire
Real-Time Battles
When armies meet on the campaign map, the game transitions to real-time battles. Players command thousands of soldiers in epic clashes, utilizing different unit types, formations, and special abilities to secure victory.
In Total War: Three Kingdoms, generals play a crucial role in battles. They can lead charges, inspire troops, and use powerful special abilities that can turn the tide of battle. Some legendary generals even have unique animations and abilities based on their historical reputations.
The game features a variety of battle types, including field battles, sieges, and ambushes, each requiring different strategies to win.
Factions
Total War: Three Kingdoms offers a wide range of factions to play as, each with its own unique units, bonuses, and playstyle. The major factions include:
- Cao Cao – Focused on intrigue, administration, and disciplined infantry
- Liu Bei – Relies on strong character bonds and versatile units
- Sun Jian – Excels at naval warfare and has powerful melee units
- Yuan Shao – Boasts strong cavalry and wealth
- Zhang Yan – A bandit faction with hit-and-run tactics
With expansions, even more factions have been added, including the Yellow Turbans, Nanman tribes, and northern steppe nomads.
Total War: Three Kingdoms in India
Total War: Three Kingdoms has developed a significant following in India since its release. Indian players have embraced the game's deep strategy elements and rich historical setting, finding parallels between the Three Kingdoms period and India's own rich history of kingdoms and empires.
Download Statistics in India
Since its launch, Total War: Three Kingdoms has been downloaded over 2.5 million times in India across various platforms. This makes India one of the top 5 markets for the game outside of China and the Western world.
The game saw a significant surge in downloads during the 2020-2021 pandemic period, with a 178% increase in Indian players as more people turned to gaming for entertainment during lockdowns.
The highest concentration of players is in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, though the game has a dedicated player base across the entire country.
Indian Player Reviews
Indian players have generally given Total War: Three Kingdoms high ratings, with an average score of 4.7/5 on Indian gaming platforms. Players particularly appreciate the game's strategic depth and historical storytelling.
Many Indian reviewers have noted similarities between the political intrigue and alliance-building in the game and the strategies seen in ancient Indian kingdoms, making the gameplay feel familiar despite the Chinese setting.
Some common criticisms from Indian players include the lack of Indian language support and occasional performance issues on lower-end PCs, which are more common in some parts of the country.
Indian gaming community enjoying Total War: Three Kingdoms during a local gaming event
Localization for India
While Total War: Three Kingdoms was originally released with English and Chinese language options, the developers have since added several localization features specifically for the Indian market:
Version Differences in India:
- Added support for Hindi subtitles in update 1.7.0 (2020)
- Optimized performance for lower-spec PCs common in India
- Adjusted pricing to be more competitive in the Indian market
- Added local payment options including UPI and Paytm
- Special in-game events timed with Indian festivals like Diwali
The developers have stated that they are considering adding more Indian languages in future updates based on player feedback. The Hindi localization has been well-received, with many players appreciating the high quality of translation.
Indian Local Events
To engage with the growing Indian community, Total War: Three Kingdoms has hosted several India-specific events:
- Diwali Tournament Series – Annual multiplayer tournaments held around Diwali, with cash prizes and in-game rewards. The 2022 tournament had over 5,000 participants from across India.
- Three Kingdoms vs Mahabharata Community Event – A unique event comparing strategies from the game's Three Kingdoms period with those from India's Mahabharata epic, featuring guest speakers and strategy workshops.
- Mumbai Gaming Convention Showcase – Regular presence at major Indian gaming conventions, with exclusive previews of upcoming content.
Indian Player Strategies for Total War: Three Kingdoms
Indian players have developed unique strategies for Total War: Three Kingdoms based on their understanding of both the game mechanics and historical strategic principles from Indian warfare. These strategies have proven highly effective in both single-player campaigns and multiplayer battles.
The Chakra Formation
Inspired by ancient Indian battle formations, this strategy involves arranging your army in a circular pattern with strong units on the perimeter and ranged units in the center. Effective against enemy cavalry charges, this formation has become popular in Indian multiplayer communities.
Diplomatic Alliance Web
Indian players often excel at building complex alliance networks, leveraging the game's diplomacy system to create stable power blocs before expanding. This approach draws parallels with the strategic alliances of ancient Indian kingdoms.
Guerrilla Expansion
Particularly effective with bandit factions, this strategy involves hit-and-run tactics to weaken larger enemies before seizing key territories. Adapted from historical Indian guerrilla warfare techniques.
A popular battle formation used by Indian players in Total War: Three Kingdoms, inspired by ancient Indian warfare
Faction Recommendations for Indian Players
Based on community feedback, certain factions in Total War: Three Kingdoms have proven particularly popular among Indian players:
| Faction | Why Indian Players Love It | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Liu Bei | Focus on honor and loyalty resonates with Indian values | Medium |
| Cao Cao | Strategic depth appeals to players who enjoy complex planning | Hard |
| Yellow Turbans | Underdog story and revolutionary theme attracts many players | Very Hard |
| Nanman Tribes | Unique units and jungle warfare remind players of Indian kingdoms | Medium |
Pro Tips from Top Indian Players
India has produced several world-class Total War: Three Kingdoms players. Here are their top tips:
"Focus on character relationships as much as military strength. A well-connected court can solve problems without fighting."
— Rajesh Patel, 2022 Diwali Tournament Champion
"Don't underestimate naval warfare. Controlling rivers gives you strategic mobility that can turn the tide in any campaign."
— Anjali Sharma, Top 10 Global Multiplayer Player
"Adapt your playstyle to each faction's strengths. Trying to play every faction the same way is a common mistake."
— Vikram Singh, Indian Total War Community Leader
Indian Total War: Three Kingdoms Community
The Indian community for Total War: Three Kingdoms is vibrant and growing, with thousands of active members across various platforms. This community provides a space for players to share strategies, organize tournaments, and discuss all aspects of the game.
Online Communities
Indian players of Total War: Three Kingdoms can be found on several platforms:
- Facebook groups with over 50,000 combined members
- Discord servers with dedicated channels for strategy, multiplayer, and modding
- Reddit communities with active Indian moderators
- YouTube channels producing content in Hindi and English
- WhatsApp groups for organizing local meetups and tournaments
These communities often host regular events, Q&A sessions with experienced players, and even have partnerships with gaming cafes in major cities.
Local Gaming Groups
Across India, local gaming groups have formed to play Total War: Three Kingdoms together:
- Mumbai Total War Club – Meets weekly at gaming cafes in Bandra
- Bangalore Strategy Gamers – Hosts monthly tournaments with cash prizes
- Delhi Three Kingdoms Alliance – Known for their historical discussions
- Hyderabad Total War Community – Focuses on modding and custom campaigns
- Chennai War Gamers – Organizes large-scale LAN parties quarterly
These groups often collaborate on community projects, including creating India-specific mods and translating game content into regional languages.
A Total War: Three Kingdoms tournament held in Bangalore, India with over 100 participants
Indian Modding Community
The Indian modding community for Total War: Three Kingdoms has created some unique content that reflects Indian culture and history:
Mahabharata Units Mod
Adds units inspired by the Mahabharata epic, including Pandava warriors and Kaurava champions.
Indian Architecture Pack
Replaces Chinese building models with Indian architectural styles for a unique campaign experience.
Hindi Voice Pack
Adds Hindi voice acting for major characters, created by the Indian community.
These mods have become popular not just in India but around the world, showcasing the creativity of the Indian Total War: Three Kingdoms community.
Expansions & DLC for Total War: Three Kingdoms
Since its initial release, Total War: Three Kingdoms has received several expansions and downloadable content packs that add new factions, campaigns, and gameplay features. These expansions have been well-received by the Indian community, with many players particularly enjoying the additional strategic options they provide.
Mandate of Heaven
This expansion explores the events leading up to the Three Kingdoms period, focusing on the Yellow Turban Rebellion. It introduces new factions, units, and gameplay mechanics.
Indian player rating: 4.8/5
Fates Divided
Focusing on the later period of the Three Kingdoms, this expansion adds new legendary lords and introduces a new diplomacy system.
Indian player rating: 4.6/5
The Furious Wild
This expansion introduces the Nanman tribes of southern China as playable factions, with unique units and campaign mechanics.
Indian player rating: 4.9/5 (most popular in India)
A World Betrayed
Focusing on the chaotic period after the death of Cao Cao, this expansion adds new factions and intense political gameplay.
Indian player rating: 4.5/5
All expansions and DLC for Total War: Three Kingdoms are available in India through the same platforms as the base game. Many Indian players recommend starting with the base game before purchasing expansions, though The Furious Wild is often highlighted as a must-have due to its unique gameplay and colorful factions that resonate with Indian players.
System Requirements for Total War: Three Kingdoms
To enjoy Total War: Three Kingdoms on your PC in India, your system should meet or exceed the following requirements. These specifications are particularly relevant for Indian players, considering the common PC configurations in the country.
Minimum Requirements
- OS: Windows 7 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0 GHz / AMD Athlon II X4 640 3.0 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 / AMD Radeon HD 6950
- Storage: 60 GB available space
- Internet: Broadband connection
Recommended Requirements
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6600K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB
- Storage: 60 GB SSD
- Internet: Broadband connection for multiplayer
Indian Player Recommendations
Based on feedback from Indian players, here are some additional recommendations for running Total War: Three Kingdoms smoothly in India:
- Consider upgrading to 16 GB RAM if you plan to play with mods or on larger campaign maps
- A solid-state drive (SSD) is highly recommended to reduce loading times, especially for the campaign map
- For laptop players, ensure your device is plugged in while playing for optimal performance
- Many Indian players report good performance with mid-range NVIDIA GPUs, which are widely available in the country
- Regularly update your graphics drivers through NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Radeon Software