A Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia narrows the focus of the Total War series to the British Isles in 878 AD, shortly after Alfred the Great's victory over the Danes. This tighter scope allows for an in-depth look at the political and military struggles of the era, featuring factions like the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Gaelic clans. Each faction offers unique gameplay elements and objectives, encouraging players to adapt their strategies based on cultural strengths and weaknesses. The campaign centers on expanding your influence through warfare, diplomacy, and economic management, all within a richly detailed historical setting.

The campaign map is densely packed with settlements, each representing a key strategic asset. What distinguishes this game is the province system where each major city is supported by several smaller settlements like farms, mines, or pastures. Managing these holdings requires careful resource allocation and thoughtful expansion planning. While this adds strategic depth, some players may find the interface cluttered, especially when juggling multiple settlements within a province. Sorting and managing your territories can become cumbersome, slightly detracting from the otherwise immersive campaign experience.

Combat in Thrones of Britannia sticks to the familiar real-time tactical formula that Total War fans expect. Battles emphasize infantry formations, terrain advantage, and unit positioning. Naval and coastal siege battles return, adding variety to engagements. However, some may find the battles less visually spectacular compared to other entries in the franchise, and enemy AI occasionally exhibits odd behaviors, such as prolonging fights unnecessarily or failing to exploit weaknesses efficiently. These quirks can make some encounters feel drawn out and repetitive, though successful battles still provide a satisfying tactical challenge.

Diplomacy and political maneuvering are more prominent here than in many other Total War games. The addition of loyalty and influence systems means that managing relationships with other factions, vassals, and your own nobles is crucial. Players face dilemmas and events that require tough choices, adding narrative depth and a layer of moral complexity to the game. This political aspect enriches the overall strategy, pushing players to consider more than just battlefield victories to secure lasting power.

Despite its strengths, Thrones of Britannia isn’t without drawbacks. Some players have criticized its limited replay value, noting that different factions often follow similar paths to victory, making campaigns feel repetitive over time. Performance issues such as frame rate drops and occasional bugs have been reported, especially on more powerful machines, which is surprising for a game of its scale. Additionally, the game’s streamlined focus, while refreshing for some, may feel narrow to fans who enjoy the broader scope of other Total War titles.

Overall, A Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia delivers a focused and historically rich strategy experience that captures the complexity of 9th-century British politics and warfare. It introduces new mechanics and challenges that deepen the series' tactical and diplomatic gameplay, even if it stumbles occasionally with interface design and AI behavior. For players interested in a detailed and immersive journey through this turbulent era, Thrones of Britannia offers many hours of strategic planning and battlefield command, making it a worthwhile entry in the Total War saga.

Rating: 7/10

its fun, but can be a pain in the rear at times

Great fun! Units take a while longer to regenerate but not a big deal for me.