Total War: Warhammer III is the latest and most ambitious installment in Creative Assembly’s Total War: Warhammer trilogy. Released in 2022, this game takes the best elements of its predecessors and expands upon them, offering the largest and most diverse fantasy battlefields ever seen in a strategy game.

For fans of both Total War and Warhammer Fantasy, this game is a dream come true. It combines massive real-time battles with deep turn-based empire management, allowing players to lead one of many unique factions in their quest for conquest, survival, or even demonic ascension.

But does Warhammer III truly live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the campaign, combat, factions, and overall experience to find out. If you don’t want to install the game, you can try to play online strategy games, like kiomet.

A World Engulfed in Chaos – Story and Setting

The campaign is set in the Realm of Chaos, a nightmarish plane ruled by the four Chaos Gods—Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle, and Slaanesh. The story revolves around Ursun, the dying Bear-God of Kislev, whose roar has shattered the fabric of reality, opening gateways between the mortal world and Chaos.

Every faction has its own motives and goals:

• The forces of Chaos want to claim Ursun’s power for themselves.

• The mortal factions, like Kislev and Grand Cathay, seek to either rescue or use him for their own purposes.

• Meanwhile, the demonic Daemon Prince represents a customizable villain that players can shape throughout the campaign.

The story-driven Realm of Chaos campaign is a departure from previous Total War games. Instead of simple conquest, players must enter chaotic rifts, battle through enemy-infested lands, and challenge Chaos Gods directly. It’s a bold change—but does it work?

Gameplay – A Blend of Turn-Based Strategy and Real-Time Battles

Like other Total War games, Warhammer III is split into two main gameplay elements:

1. Turn-Based Campaign Management – Players build cities, manage diplomacy, recruit armies, and expand their empire.

2. Real-Time Battles – When two armies clash, the game shifts into large-scale, cinematic warfare where players command thousands of soldiers in tactical combat.

1. The Realm of Chaos Campaign – A New Approach

The biggest addition to Warhammer III is the Chaos Rifts system. Every so often, portals to the Realm of Chaos open across the world, forcing factions to either:

• Enter the Rifts and battle through the domains of Chaos to claim Ursun’s power.

• Close the Rifts to prevent Chaos from corrupting their lands.

This introduces a race-like element, where factions must balance empire-building with their pursuit of the Chaos Gods. It adds a sense of urgency, but also frustration, as players are forced to divert their best armies to chase objectives instead of expanding their empire freely.

2. Real-Time Battles – Bigger and Bloodier Than Ever

Combat in Total War: Warhammer III is a spectacle of destruction, featuring towering demons, monstrous cavalry, and devastating magic. Key improvements include:

• Siege Battles Revamped – Cities now have multi-layered defenses, allowing for more tactical positioning.

• Minor Settlement Battles – Unlike previous games where minor settlements had no walls, now they have defensive structures, making these fights more interesting.

• Improved AI – Enemy generals are smarter, making battles more challenging.

The sheer variety of units across factions makes battles visually stunning and tactically diverse. Whether you’re unleashing Tzeentch’s sorcery, charging with Kislev’s bear cavalry, or summoning Slaanesh’s seductive horrors, every battle feels distinct.

The Factions – Diverse, Unique, and Wildly Fun

One of Warhammer III’s greatest strengths is its faction diversity. Each of the eight starting factions plays completely differently, with unique mechanics, unit rosters, and campaign strategies.

1. The Forces of Order

• Kislev – A Russian-inspired faction of warriors, ice mages, and bear cavalry. They are excellent at hybrid ranged and melee combat, making them one of the most versatile factions.

• Grand Cathay – Inspired by Chinese mythology, Cathay is a defensive powerhouse, featuring massive artillery, flying war machines, and harmony-based mechanics that reward balanced army compositions.

2. The Forces of Chaos

• Khorne – The god of war and slaughter, Khorne’s armies focus on brute force, melee combat, and overwhelming aggression. They have no magic, but make up for it with sheer brutality.

• Tzeentch – The trickster god of magic and deception, Tzeentch factions use powerful spellcasting, teleportation mechanics, and ranged firepower.

• Nurgle – The god of disease and decay, Nurgle’s armies are slow but incredibly durable, with units that regenerate and spread corruption.

• Slaanesh – The god of excess and pleasure, Slaanesh’s armies rely on speed, flanking attacks, and seduction mechanics to dominate enemies.

3. The Customizable Daemon Prince

A completely new addition to Total War, the Daemon Prince is a fully customizable Chaos Lord. As players progress, they can mix and match abilities from all four Chaos Gods, creating a completely unique demonic warlord.

Multiplayer and Additional Game Modes

Beyond the main campaign, Warhammer III introduces several new multiplayer and skirmish modes:

• Immortal Empires – A gigantic campaign mode combining the maps of all three Total War: Warhammer games into one massive world. It allows for every faction from all three games to fight in one gigantic sandbox.

• Co-Op Campaign – Players can now play full campaigns together in real-time, rather than taking turns like in previous games.

• Survival Battles – A new wave-based battle mode, where players must hold out against endless enemy forces.

Graphics, Sound, and Atmosphere

Visually, Warhammer III is stunning. Every battlefield, unit, and spell effect is richly detailed, bringing the dark fantasy setting to life. The Chaos realms are particularly impressive, featuring nightmarish landscapes that reflect the personalities of their respective gods.

The sound design is equally outstanding. Whether it’s the chilling whispers of Tzeentch’s demons, the war cries of Kislev’s soldiers, or the thunderous roar of a charging war mammoth, the game’s audio adds immense depth to the experience.

The music, composed by Richard Beddow, is epic and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the grandeur and brutality of the Warhammer universe.

Criticism and Downsides

Despite its strengths, Total War: Warhammer III isn’t perfect. Some of the biggest complaints include:

1. Realm of Chaos Campaign Can Feel Repetitive – Constantly entering Chaos Rifts can interrupt natural empire-building, frustrating some players.

2. Performance Issues – At launch, the game had optimization problems, with long turn times and occasional crashes. Many have been patched, but some issues remain.

3. DLC Dependence – While the base game offers great content, many iconic Warhammer factions (like the Chaos Dwarfs) are locked behind DLC.

Final Verdict – A Fantasy Strategy Masterpiece

Total War: Warhammer III is the most ambitious Total War game ever made. With its incredible faction variety, improved battles, and immersive setting, it delivers a truly epic fantasy warfare experience.

Pros:

✔ Unparalleled faction diversity
✔ Stunning visuals and sound design
✔ Improved battles and AI
✔ Immortal Empires mode adds endless replayability

Cons:

✖ Realm of Chaos campaign can feel tedious
✖ Performance issues on some systems
✖ Heavy reliance on DLC for long-term content

Final Score: 9/10

For fans of strategy and Warhammer Fantasy, this game is a must-play. Just be prepared for hundreds of hours of chaotic, glorious warfare.