Parents' Guide to

Total War: Rome II

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Compelling war strategy game combines brains with brawn.

Game Windows 2013
Total War: Rome II Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Total War: Rome II Game: Screenshot #1
  • Total War: Rome II Game: Screenshot #2
  • Total War: Rome II Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 7 parent reviews

Caesar_Augustus
Caesar_Augustus Adult
October 30, 2022
age 2+

OUR MEN ARE FLEEING THE FIELD OF BATTLE, THIS IS A SHAMEFUL DISPLAY

Play as a faction, join allies in war, get war declared on you, get slaughtered on all sides, lose to ai, lose to autoresolve situations, get back capped, attrition, get destroyed, cry, repeat.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Debi S.
Debi S. Adult
August 17, 2016
age 11+

Very good game

First off this game is really fun but hard. You can learn alot from roman and Greek times. Even In the loading screen it's teaching good morals. Violence isn't that big of a deal unless you buy the blood pack. But that doesn't even matter unless you have a really good PC. The most sexual the game can get is a picture of Caesar hugging Cleopatra. There's a little of swearing. That's it buy the game
See all 7 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Similar to its award-winning predecessor, TOTAL WAR: ROME II is a real-time strategy game that lets you take control over one of nine unique, ancient factions: Rome, Carthage, Ptolemaic Egypt, Macedon, Pontus, Parthia, The Suebi, The Averni, and The Iceni. While there are some economic and political decisions to make, in order to advance your civilization, much of the gameplay involves military might. Using the computer mouse, you’ll select and move troops on a huge map, to support a number of offensive or defensive maneuvers. The main campaign begins in 272 BC, a time when the Republic of Rome dominates the Italian peninsula and is eager to expand. Along with a number of historical missions and an open “sandbox” turn-based campaign, the game also houses additional two-player cooperative and competitive modes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (8 ):
Yes. Computer gamers who prefer some brains with their brawn will no doubt enjoy clicking through Total War: Rome II. The thoughtfully conceived and meticulously executed PC game offers deep and challenging tactical gameplay; multiple factions and modes to choose from; and unique weapons, battlefields, and tech trees. In other words, there’s a lot of meat here. A smart tutorial campaign will familiarize you with the controls, interface, and strategies needed to tackle the varied solo and multiplayer campaigns. Despite a few technical bugs -– many of which have been addressed in a recent software upgrade -- and a camera that doesn't quite zoom out enough for larger battlefields, developer Creative Assembly has created an ambitious and engrossing historical strategy simulation worth sinking your mouse into.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Can gamers learn about history, geography, and diplomacy with a strategy game like this? There is an educational component to the game, not to mention actions and consequences.

  • Since this is a game about war, how do you feel about showing some violence in a game if it's rooted in history, and if there are repercussions for military attacks?

Game Details

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