Today is the day! Total War: Warhammer III has arrived on PC at last – and this mammoth capstone to an epic trilogy features a staggering eight playable factions at launch.*
That’s a number that pleases Khorne greatly, especially in a game all about crushing your enemies, expanding your territory, and taking skulls. There’s a twist, too, with the eighth Legendary Lord letting you play as a Daemon Prince for Chaos Undivided, whom you’ll be able to customise to your heart's content. Here’s the launch trailer to give you a taste of what’s to come.
There are a frankly ridiculous number of ways to get started – so many, in fact, that we decided to ask a bunch of the fine folks at Creative Assembly, who developed the game, for their top tips on where even to begin.
Ian Roxburgh, Game Director
“Whether you’re a series veteran or a new player, your first stop should be the ‘The Lost God’ prologue campaign. It’s our most accessible Total War campaign ever and it will teach you basic and advanced techniques in generalship, diplomacy, and settlement management. It also has one of the most impactful narrative experiences we’ve ever created, which ties directly into the main Realm of Chaos campaign.”
Andy Hall, Principal Writer
“Assuming you’ve played through the prologue campaign and discovered the fate of
, I’d make tickets representing all the Legendary Lords, put them in a hat (or an unused paint-water pot) and then let the fickle will of fates – well, Tzeentch – decide on who to play in your first full campaign!”
Al Bickham, Principal Development Communications Manager
“Grab a friend – or seven – and embark on some multiplayer campaign shenanigans together! We’ve made some massive changes, including various campaign scenarios for three to eight players. Plus, the introduction of simultaneous turns allows you to help – or backstab – your pals. This might be the perfect way to teach a friend how to play in an evening while painting The Old World red.”
Mark Sinclair, Lead Campaign Designer
“Jump straight into a custom battle versus the AI! Don’t worry about being an armchair general – just smash your units straight into the enemy and admire all the amazing model details and animations. I’d personally suggest Nurgle, as they have some of the foulest combat animations we’ve ever created…”
Jim Whitston, Lead Battle Designer
“All of the races feel very different to play, so we’ve put a lot of time into easing players into each of them gently. Even so, I immediately felt drawn to the clean-but-bloody simplicity of Khorne. In the early game, you can forget about constructing civic amenities, balancing your budget, or diplomatic negotiations. Khorne sees those things for the meaningless fripperies they are! His pawn on the world stage is Skarbrand – an unstoppable juggernaut of rage. With this gentle soul at the helm, you are encouraged to launch an endless war. Blood for the Blood God, skulls for the Skull Throne!”
James Martin, Battle Designer
“There’s so much to choose from that you can’t make a wrong decision! After the prologue, I would jump right into the Realm of Chaos campaign as the Daemon Prince. It’s the ultimate power fantasy to create an abominable being in the Dark Gods’ image. I’m sure Warhammer fans will love the number of personalisation options they’ll have at their disposal. Khornate weapons? Check! Tzeentchian wings? Check! Slaaneshi pauldrons? Check! Nurglish tail? Check!”
There you have it. You literally can’t make a wrong move! And if you feel you have, just chalk it up to Tzeenchian shenanigans or Slaanesh’s allure of the forbidden, brush yourself off, and start a new game.
You can buy Total War: Warhammer III right now on Steam and the Epic Games Store, while its also available on PC Game Pass. A physical limited edition is also being released, which comes in an embossed 3D metal case, special chaos stickers, and a double-sided poster with a campaign map on one side and artwork on the other.
This is available from various online retailers right now, and, from Saturday the 19th of February, at a few physical Warhammer stores: Warhammer World, Warhammer Tottenham Court Road, Warhammer Nottingham, and Warhammer Chester.
* Including the Ogre Kingdoms DLC, which is available for free this week when you order the rest of the game. What are you waiting for?