Total War: ARENA
Total War: ARENA is a free-to-play multiplayer spin on the Total War formula, built around competitive 10 vs 10 battles where every player controls a small detachment rather than an entire army. Instead of long campaign maps and grand strategy layers, it focuses on tight objective-based matches, MOBA-like teamwork, and using famous historical commanders (Leonidas, Caesar, and others) to shape how your units fight and support allies.
 | Publisher: Wargaming Type: Real-time Strategy PvP: Large-Scale Wars Release Date: February 22, 2018 Shut Down: February 2019 Pros: +Distinct 10v10 format that merges RTS decision-making with MOBA-style roles. +Huge battles with a strong sense of scale. +Plenty of units, commanders, and upgrades to unlock. +Impressive battlefield visuals and detail. Cons: -Unlock progression can become repetitive and time-consuming. |
Total War: ARENA Overview
Total War: ARENA is a free-to-play real-time strategy MMO designed specifically for match-based PvP. It takes the positioning, counterplay, and unit matchups associated with RTS combat and compresses them into fast sessions that reward coordinated pushes, smart flanks, and disciplined defense. Rather than handing you a full army, the game places you in a 10-player squad where each participant brings a commander and three units, creating a battlefield that feels large while still keeping your personal responsibilities clear, similar in spirit to other RTS-MMO hybrids like Kingdom Under Fire II and War Rage.
Matches revolve around working the terrain and reading the flow of a fight. Because you only field a handful of units, the emphasis shifts toward timing, choosing when to commit, and supporting allies at the right moment. Different maps and lanes encourage distinct approaches, and team composition matters, since unit types and commander kits can complement each other, cover weaknesses, and punish overextensions.
Progression is built around unlocking additional commanders and expanding your roster of unit tiers. As you play, you gain access to new skills, equipment options, and statistical improvements that can meaningfully change how a unit performs. The game also includes optional microtransactions, largely aimed at customization, premium unit access, and accelerating the pace of unlocking and upgrading.
Total War: ARENA Key Features:
- Strategic Team-Based PvP – coordinate through chat, plan your rotations, and execute group pushes to capture objectives and break the opposing team’s hold on the map.
- Historical Commanders – earn and play a roster of recognizable leaders, each with their own tactical strengths, including Alexander the Great, Leonidas, Caesar, and more.
- Tons of Unlockables – advance commanders and units to gain specialized perks, improved gear, and new combat options that broaden your tactical toolkit.
- 10v10 Multiplayer – fight alongside nine allies, each bringing three units, enabling layered front lines, reinforcement plays, and coordinated pressure across the battlefield.
- Total War Series – built by a studio known for large-scale strategy, the game adapts familiar Total War combat sensibilities into a format tailored for competitive multiplayer.
Total War: ARENA Screenshots
Total War: ARENA Featured Video
Total War: ARENA Review
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Total War: ARENA Online Links
Total War: ARENA Official Site
Total War: ARENA Steam
Total War: ARENA Facebook
Total War: ARENA System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows XP/7/8
CPU: Intel Core i3-550 / AMD Phenom II x4 945
Video Card: Geforce GTS 450 / Radeon HD 5750
RAM: 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 7 GB
Total War: ARENA Music & Soundtrack
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Total War: ARENA Additional Information
Developer: The Creative Assembly
Publisher: Wargaming
Closed Alpha Date: March 24, 2015
Closed Beta Date: September 24, 2015
Open Beta: February 22, 2018
Development History / Background:
Total War: ARENA is developed by The Creative Assembly, the UK studio best known for the long-running Total War franchise, and it was released in partnership with Wargaming. Unlike the mainline entries that combine campaign management with large battles, ARENA was conceived as a multiplayer-first project, borrowing ideas from MOBA design (clear roles, team compositions, and match objectives) while keeping a focus on unit formations and positional play. The title was first revealed on June 20, 2013, later entering a Steam-based closed alpha on March 24, 2015. Closed beta followed on September 24, 2015, with access available through sign-ups on the official site.
On February 22, 2018, the game entered open beta via Wargaming (known for World of Tanks, World of Warships, and World of Warplanes). Creative Assembly later confirmed in an official announcement dated November 22, 2018 that Total War: ARENA would be discontinued in February 2019.