Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening - Complete Edition

Don’t expect this one to feature on family games night, but if you are a fan of deep and complex military strategy then this is arguably the most comprehensive Nobunaga’s Ambition to date.

Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening was released three years ago and was a hit for fans. The release of the Switch 2 has shown that older experiences are better on it. However, a new price tag and the inability to upgrade the Switch 1 version of the game will turn returning fans away.

While surely a joy for series fans, as a newcomer, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening can, at times, be unwieldy and lack direction, with core tenets that should work to balance out the game, like diplomacy left flying half-mast. That being said, it’s a rewarding game to master, offering ample replayability and a healthy dose of Japanese history.

I’m trying to examine Awakening through a more objective lens. I know that a real Nobunaga head would see this game very differently. But it’s just so punishingly dull. The density of material, the pacing, the interface, all of this smashed against my limited attention span with incredible force. If you’re a fan of the series, Nobunaga’s Ambition Awakening Complete Edition will be a worthy addition to your Nintendo Switch 2 collection. Otherwise, I can’t recommend this game.

Nobunaga’s Ambition is one of the OG historical strategy game series, boasting its own storied history that stretches back 40 years across myriad hardware generations, continually adapting and reshaping itself for new technology. With each new instalment, KOEI reshuffles its extensive deck of ideas and innovations, creating a web of interlocking systems that simulates Daimyo decision-making in Sengoku-era Japan.