Prepare for bloodshed with our list of all Total War Games released so far!

War is hell. But when waged in the privacy of your own PC, it can be an exhilarating experience.

When it comes to body count, no developer can top Creative Assembly’s, who is responsible for thousands, if not millions of virtual fatalities. Starting with 2000’s Shogun: Total War, the esteemed developer has been chugging out one Total War game after another for over a decade.

All Total War games share the same DNA, with each title consisting of two major areas of gameplay: the turn-based campaign mode, which lets players maneuver their armies across the map, manage their economy and other empire-building activities; and the real-time tactical combat of large scale battles, where players pit their armies against each other or the A.I. So far, the formula has worked, and in fact it’s safe to say that there’s no such thing as a terrible, or even average Total War game.

Still, it’s hard to disagree with fans and ratings, and when it comes down to it, some Total War games are just better than others. Here then, is our list of Total War games for the PC, ranked from best to worst.

1. Total War: Shogun 2

Samurai showdown!     

Admit it: there’s a part of you that would give away a rib for a chance to become a badass, katana-wielding samurai in feudal Japan, cutting down your foes like they’re made of butter.

But don’t visit that dubious, back alley surgeon just yet! For few eras in human history are as horrific as 16th century Japan. Set during the particularly brutal Ashikaga Shogunate, Total War: Shogun 2 puts players in the shoes of your chosen clan’s leader and general.

Each of the nine clans has a specialty, including the Takeda clan’s cavalry supremacy, the Hojo clan’s expertise with siege weapons, and the Uesugi’s devotion to Buddhism, which enables them to recruit superior warrior monks.

The bloody origins of the mosh pit 

As electrifying as watching armies of samurai disemboweling each other is, war is not always about direct confrontation on the battlefield. In Shogun 2, you can use special agents such as geishas and ninjas to act as spies and assassins, while priests and monks can convert the enemy to your side.

Shogun 2 does receive some flak as a simplified iteration of the series. For instance, there isn’t much micromanagement compared to other Total War games. Units also lack variety.

But still. Samurais. Warrior monks. Ninjas. What’s not to love?

Our rating - 5/5