Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV

Fans of the series and setting will probably find validation and likable aspects here, but I wouldn’t suggest jumping in here if you’re unfamiliar. There are better strategy games out there for cheaper with more depth, options, and personality than this one. By the end, I preferred the idea of just playing Civilization VI as China -- that’d probably be a more fun evening of strategy for me.

Romance of The Three Kingdoms XIV is an intensive and thorough strategy game that captures everything from warfare to empire management. In my opinion, this game is just not made with new players in mind… If you are a veteran fan of RTK series or strategy games in general and are seeking a more hardcore and thorough experience then this game is for you.

Koei does an unrivalled job representing the complex history and characters of the period, but the lack of variety in the experience combined with a steep price tag makes it hard to endorse without reservation.

I remember the first Romance of the Three Kingdoms game I played. Which was it? Well, I'm glad you asked Chris; it was Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII on the PS2. I'd played Dynasty Warriors before that and, as I said when I reviewed Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII, I've been absorbing all elements of the Three Kingdoms history and fantasy for a very long time. Knowing this, I came into Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV with a little trepidation.

The strategy is complex and rewarding, but the menu shuffling and extremely slow pace won't earn the series any new fans.

Koei's latest isn't aimed at acquiring new audiences and is instead hell-bent on serving the dedicated one it already has.

There's a satisfying strategy experience to be had here though one that comes with quite the learning curve. Even once you have a grip on the basics, tangling with ROTK's new grid-based system and overall pacing can often put a few awkward steps between you executing your next cunning plan.

A grand turn-based strategy that seeks to find the Goldilocks zone but misses the mark

Full disclaimer, this is my first Romance of the Three Kingdoms experience. I wasn’t even previously aware this franchise existed, let alone that Dynasty Warriors was its spin-off. So as a huge fan of both the genre and the story, I was intrigued and excited to try it out. After playing it however, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV definitely left me wanting. Granted it’s entirely possible issues I had are considered features by series veterans. Still, I feel that other newcomers would f...