Total War: Three Kingdoms — the legacy that inspires Medieval 3

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Medieval 3 on the horizon: a tribute to Total War: Three Kingdoms

Historical deep dive: discover the captivating universe of Total War: Three Kingdoms.
Iconic characters: meet fascinating historical figures like Liu Bei and Guan Yu.
Strategic gameplay: a balanced mix of epic battles and diplomacy.
Hero customization: a system that enriches the experience.
Narrative balance: exploring stories and alliances within the game.

Back to the historical roots

Released in 2019, Total War: Three Kingdoms is a strategy game set during one of the most epic periods of ancient China. The story is inspired by the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel, which depicts the power struggles between warlords after the fall of the Han dynasty. The characters, based on real historical figures but embellished by fiction, bring incredible richness to the narrative.

The main characters to know

There is a wealth of characters to discover in Total War: Three Kingdoms, but some really stand out. Here is a selection of the most iconic:

Liu Bei

Liu Bei is the main protagonist for many players. He is known for his nobility and his will to restore the Han dynasty. His story is full of loyalty, camaraderie and epic battles. As the leader of Shu, he tries to rally the different factions around him.

Guan Yu

One of the most famous generals in Chinese history, Guan Yu is Liu Bei’s right-hand man. His loyalty and bravery are legendary. In the game, he is often depicted as a warrior in green armor, wielding his famous glaive, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. He is a character with a lot of power on the battlefield.

Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao

These two sisters embody beauty and cunning. Although often seen as secondary characters, their role in their husbands’ intrigues is essential. Going beyond the damsel-in-distress cliché and getting involved in political strategy makes them fascinating.

Sun Jian

The “Tiger of Jiangdong” is the founder of the Wu dynasty. Sun Jian is a formidable fighter and a brilliant tactician, known for his surprising victories, often against numerical odds — something worth celebrating in the game.

A game rich in strategic choices

Beyond the characters, Total War: Three Kingdoms stands out for its strategic gameplay. Every character plays a unique role, giving the game a delicate balance between epic battles and political strategy.

Diplomacy and alliances

Alliances, betrayals and diplomacy are essential to conquer the kingdom. Players must think carefully about their moves, manage resources and pick the right units to face their enemies. The excellent mechanics let players soak up the authentic atmosphere of the period, making every campaign a real challenge.

The hero system

Total War: Three Kingdoms also introduces a hero system, letting you customize your generals with unique skills and abilities. This adds an RPG touch to the game and deepens players’ investment in their experience. Hero customization gives every playthrough its own flavor, and the variety of characters enriches strategic possibilities.

A balance between poetry and war

This title does not just deliver battles. The narrative, historical events, quests and interactions between characters add a depth that makes Total War: Three Kingdoms far more than a simple strategy game. Their intertwined stories and fragile alliances form a real drama that unfolds every turn.

Final thoughts

With the excitement building around Medieval 3, it is easy to forget the joys and challenges that Total War: Three Kingdoms brought to the player community. Whether you are a series veteran or a newcomer, the world of the Three Kingdoms awaits, full of characters to name and stories to discover. So, how many of these iconic characters can you name again? A challenge worth taking up.

Medieval 3 may well be the next big step for the series, but let us not forget the memories left by Total War: Three Kingdoms and the incredible legacy it built around itself.

FAQ

Q: What is Total War: Three Kingdoms?

A: It is a strategy game set during the Three Kingdoms period in China, inspired by the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel.

Q: Who are the main characters in this game?

A: The main characters include Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Xiao Qiao, Da Qiao and Sun Jian.

Q: What kind of gameplay does it offer?

A: The gameplay combines epic battles, political strategy, resource management and diplomacy.

Sources

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Total War: Three Kingdoms is a Total War installment by Creative Assembly focused on China during the legendary Three Kingdoms chronicles. Like the other episodes, it mixes a turn-based strategic mode with real-time battles.

The main scenario begins in 190 AD, during the fall of the Han dynasty. The young emperor’s manipulation by the warlord Dong Zhuo and his excesses lead to the rebellion of a coalition of local lords, plunging China into a civil war that will last for decades. Each lord pursues his own dream: restore the empire, build a kingdom, or simply survive the turmoil.

Two Ways to Play

The game offers two distinct modes. Record mode, faithful to history and the chronicles, focuses on managing generals, their armies and the balance of power between factions. Romance mode, more romanticized, borrows from epic tales and hero duels, with characters whose individual abilities are remarkable. This duality lets you approach ancient China both from the historical angle and from the heroic tale angle.

The game was particularly praised at launch, with scores of 16/20 on Jeuxvideo.com or 8/10 on Gamekult. Unfortunately, in 2021 Creative Assembly announced the end of support for the game, provoking a wave of anger and heavy bashing on Steam. Despite this premature end of support, Three Kingdoms remains one of the most polished episodes of the saga in terms of real-time battles.

The Game’s DLC

As always with Total War, the game received many paid DLCs:

Yellow Turban Rebellion released in May 2019
Reign of Blood released in June 2019
Eight Princes released in August 2019
Mandate of Heaven released in January 2020
A World Betrayed released in March 2020
The Furious Wild released in September 2020
Fates Divided released in March 2021

Total War: Three Kingdoms — After Strategy

Total War: Three Kingdoms — the legacy that inspires Medieval 3

Medieval 3 on the horizon: a tribute to Total War: Three Kingdoms

Back to the historical roots

The main characters to know

Liu Bei

Guan Yu

Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao

Sun Jian

A game rich in strategic choices

Diplomacy and alliances

The hero system

A balance between poetry and war

Final thoughts

FAQ

See also

Sources

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Two Ways to Play

The Game’s DLC

Watch the official Total War: Three Kingdoms trailer

Discover some images of the game

Sources

See also