Total War: Medieval II Definitive Edition review

Total War: Medieval II Definitive Edition is the budget pick for players who think in armies rather than single soldiers. Creative Assembly's Steam page describes real-time battles with up to 10,000 troops on 3D battlefields and a campaign that spans Europe, Africa and the Middle East, with diplomacy, the Inquisition and the Pope's influence shaping play, and the Crusades as a central thread. The Definitive Edition bundles all DLC, including the Kingdoms expansion with four campaigns covering the British Isles, Teutonic Northern Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. At $19.99 it ties for the cheapest game here, it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and 95% of 17,106 English Steam reviews are positive. The game first came out in 2006, which shows in its visuals and in minimum requirements that still mention Windows 2000 and XP. It is a commander's game, so players who want first-person melee should pick Bannerlord.

Who it is for

Strategy fans who want the Crusades era on a budget

Price

$19.99 one-time purchase on Steam (US store).

Medieval II: Total War™ Kingdoms View info $19.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Real-time battles with up to 10,000 troops on 3D battlefields
• Campaign across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the New World
• Diplomacy, the Inquisition and the Pope's influence in the campaign
• Kingdoms expansion adds four campaigns: British Isles, Teutonic Northern Europe, the Middle East and the Americas
• Native macOS and Linux versions by Feral Interactive

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: 95% of 17,106 English Steam reviews are positive
• Strength: $19.99 includes all DLC, with nothing else to buy
• Strength: Minimum spec lists 512 MB of RAM and 11 GB of disk space
• Weakness: Original release in 2006, so visuals are dated
• Weakness: No first-person combat; you command rather than fight
• Weakness: Minimum requirements still reference Windows 2000 and XP

Key facts

• Developer: Creative Assembly
• Publisher: SEGA
• Original release: November 15, 2006
• Included expansion: Kingdoms
• English Steam reviews: 95% positive of 17,106

Where it ranks

Total War: Medieval II Definitive Edition is No. 6 in our Best Realistic Medieval Games verdict.