There was a moment in gaming history when game developers were creating historical-themed games nonstop. Critically acclaimed games likeEmpire Earth, Shogun: Total War, andAge of Empireswere all released within a relatively short period of time. But, over time, most gamers lost interest in them,making developers shift their themes to more futuristic onesand create fewer ancient-style games.
Nonetheless, that surge in popularity increased the number of games with a historical theme, especially during the Bronze Age. And while most gamerslean toward a medieval settingwith crossbows and trebuchets, some prefer one with more spears, swords, and shields like that of the Bronze Age.
5Chariots of War
Chariots of Warflew under the radar of most strategy fans because it took a different gameplay route. Instead of being areal-time tactical strategy game, where players could move their armies in real-time, players would set up (position and formation) their armies and then press play to see how the battle would turn out without controlling them. As a result of its niche gameplay style,Chariots of Wardidn’t garner much attention.
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Nonetheless,Chariots of Warfeatured over 50 unique civilizations from the Bronze Age, from the Assyrians to the Sumerians. As players can expect, each civilization had distinctive traits that would benefit the player in both combat and resource gathering. Additionally, there were several different single-player campaigns and standard skirmish matches.
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4Tyranny
WhileTyrannyis set in a high-fantasy universe (since it takes place in the same setting asPillars of Eternity), it borrows several elements from the Bronze Age. But unlike most Bronze Age-themed games,Tyrannyisn’t a strategy-based game; rather, it’s an RPG. As is common with other RPGs, players can design their character, but there’s a unique twist that makesTyrannystand out as a Bronze Age-themed RPG game.
Players can shape the world of Kyros during the Character Creation. During that phase, players need to make certain decisions about how particular events occurred in the game. These decisions would then change the entire playthrough, allowing players to play a different game every time they make a new character. This aspect hugelyincreases replay value.
3A Total War Saga: TROY
Undoubtedly,theTotal Warseries is among the best RTS games, especially since it covers settings ranging from theWarhammeruniverse (Total War Warhammer)to the Middle Ages (Medieval: Total War). But, among all theTotal Wargames,A Total War Saga: TROYstands out. This title allows players to enjoy a historically grounded game while enjoying the mystical aspect of the epic poem where the legend of Troy is taken from: the Iliad.
In terms of gameplay,A Total War Saga: TROYmatches are significantly shorter than its predecessors. However, players can usemods to overhaul the gameplay, increasing the time spent on each match. Aside from using human infantry, players can summon mythological creatures to aid them in battle, similar toAge of Mythology. On top of that, multiplayer supports up to eight players, adding hours of more Bronze Age fun.
2Hegemony 3: Clash of Ancients
For the most part, casual RTS players enjoy playing games likeEmpire EarthorAge of Empiressince they have simple yet fun gameplay mechanics. But, for the more hardcore audience, those games aren’t enough. That is why they turn to grand strategy games, a significant step-up in terms of difficulty. AndHegemony 3: Clash of Ancientsis an excellentbeginner-friendly Bronze Age-themed grand strategy game.
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InHegemony 3: Clash of Ancients,players can zoom in and out between the standard 2D strategy map and a 3D tactic map where the battle takes place. While military superiority is a crucial aspect ofHegemony 3: Clash of Ancients, it’s more important to expand the player’s influence by utilizing trade and political dominance. In terms of playable civilizations, players can choose between seven Bronze Age factions: Etruscan, Gallic, Greek, Illyric, Latin, Sabellic, and Sicilia.
1Rome: Total War
Without any doubt,the best game set in the Bronze Age isRome: Total War, even more so than the sequel,Rome: Total War 2. That’s becauseRome: Total Warfeatures extensive and intricate political, economic, and military gameplay systems, features that very few games have managed to replicate. On top of that, the AI ofRome: Total Warwas one of the most advanced since. The AI would react to whatever the player did, from setting trade blocks to forming alliances.
Players also had to go through assassinations of leaders (which could lead to riots or anarchy), natural disasters, and disease outbreaks, all of which heavily influenced the outcome of the match. Within the battlefield, the terrain, weather, and even morale affected the battle, meaning players had to carefully consider how to handle each fight, no matter how small it was. And players that got bored with the Bronze Age setting could pick between hundreds of mods that changed the entire game, one of the best aspects ofRome: Total War.
