Total War: SHOGUN 2
Four out of five players have poured more than ten hours into this tactical masterpiece, and they keep coming back for more. The samurai-era warfare is so compelling that 94% of long-term players still sing its praises, long after the 2011 launch.
In players' words
Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.
What players say, by aspect
Detailed data (table)
| Aspect | Mentions | Positive | Mixed | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gameplay | 125 | 115 | 9 | 1 |
| Content / longevity | 22 | 19 | 1 | 2 |
| Story / writing | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Performance | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Graphics / art | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| Stability / bugs | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Multiplayer | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Audio / music | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Value for money | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Interface / UX | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Positive reviews by playtime
🎮 Players who like it have spent 94 h on median; those who dislike it: 69 h.
Fixed or still broken? Sentiment over time
% of positive reviews per month (months with ≥ 15 sample reviews).
💶 Price history
Steam price tracked automatically since Sep 27, 2012 · All-time low: €2.99 (Jun 27, 2024)
100% completion difficulty ("platinum")
of players have unlocked the rarest achievement — the upper bound of those who "100%'d" it. 106 achievements in total; the median achievement is unlocked by 4,8 % of players.
What creators say (YouTube)
No indexed video for this game yet.
This game on Twitch
Popular clips — nobody live right now
Strengths
- Tactical depth and gameplay shine brightest: 115 positive mentions out of 125, with only a handful of mixed reactions.
- Campaign narrative earns universal acclaim: 13 glowing mentions and zero criticisms.
- Stunning historical presentation: 8 positive mentions out of 11 for visuals, while audio garners perfect praise with 5 out of 5.
- Endgame value shines through—19 out of 22 players highlight the sheer volume of content as a highlight.
Weaknesses
- Performance hiccups persist for some: 4 negative mentions out of 11 call out framerate dips or crashes.
- Multiplayer struggles to match single-player appeal: only 2 positive mentions versus 6 negative ones.
- Game-breaking bugs haunt a vocal minority: every single one of the 9 bug-related mentions reflects frustration.
Who is it for?
Hardcore fans of deep, historical strategy games who crave a timeless experience with endless replayability. Novices might find the learning curve steep, but those who persist are rewarded with one of the genre’s finest entries.
Is Total War: SHOGUN 2 worth it in 2026?
Yes — player reception is very positive: 92% of 67,290 Steam reviews are positive (player score 93/100). Most-praised strength: Tactical depth and gameplay shine brightest. The game is free to play.
Verdict
A near-flawless 92% positive rating on Steam proves Shogun 2 remains a benchmark for grand strategy. Performance and multiplayer hold it back from perfection, but its tactical brilliance and immersive campaign secure its legendary status. A must-play for anyone who loves a challenge.
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