Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia

Lore & Background

Thrones of Britannia takes place in the British Isles in 878 AD, after Alfred the Great defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington and the signing of the Treaty of Wedmore. Players assume control of various factions including Vikings, Britons, Gaels, and Anglo-Saxons, competing to establish total dominance on the map through war, alliances, and trade. When armies engage, players command unit regiments in real-time tactical battles.

Reader's Guide

As the first Total War Saga title, Thrones of Britannia represents a deliberate shift by Creative Assembly toward shorter, more focused games that examine a particular time period and region in depth. According to series director Mike Simpson, the Saga series aims to put defined geographical areas under the microscope with a strong cultural focus and flavor. The game received generally favorable reviews, with a Metacritic score of 75, though it drew some criticism for what some perceived as a stripped campaign, combat issues compared to previous games, and a lack of variation between factions. It won the award for Best Strategy Game at The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards 2018, and was also nominated for Best Educational Game, Best Audio Design, and Heritage. Its legacy lies in establishing the Saga sub-series within the Total War franchise, offering a more contained historical experience.

Did You Know?

• The game was originally set to release on 19 April 2018 but was delayed to 3 May 2018 for additional polishing.
• It is the first game in the Total War Saga series, designed to be shorter and more focused than mainline Total War titles.
• The game includes ten playable factions, such as Wessex, Mercia, Circenn, Mide, Gwined, and the Danelaw.
• Feral Interactive handled the macOS and Linux ports, releasing them on 24 May 2018 and 7 June 2018 respectively.