¶ Total War: Attila is a brutal, unforgiving journey through the tumultuous 5th century AD, a time when the world as we knew it was falling apart. The Roman Empire, once mighty and indomitable, is crumbling under the weight of constant invasions, civil wars, and the relentless cold winds of climate change. The ground grows barren, and the once-thriving lands of Europe are becoming inhospitable. Into this chaos, the Huns arrive—like a storm, tearing apart everything in their path. Survival becomes the only goal for most factions, but that’s no easy feat. The threat of annihilation hangs heavy over every decision, and maintaining your culture, your people, and your very existence is a constant struggle.

¶ The game does a fantastic job of recreating the atmosphere of this time period, immersing you in the desperate scramble to survive in a world that’s falling apart at the seams. The improved graphics make it feel even more visceral than before, with new effects like arrows setting buildings ablaze, adding a layer of visual drama. Battles now feel more dynamic and destructive, like a true representation of the era’s violent conflicts. The larger-than-life destruction as the Huns sweep across the map is stunning.

¶ One of the standout features of Attila is the increased cultural diversity. The variety of factions, each with their own unique challenges and advantages, makes every playthrough feel fresh and unique. You can feel the weight of history in every choice you make, as you try to balance your army, your settlements, and your people’s health. Sanitation becomes a key concern—neglect it, and your army and cities will spiral into decay. The delicate balancing act between money, food, and sanitation is what truly drives the difficulty of the game. On higher difficulty levels, this balance can feel like a razor’s edge, and slipping up in one area can cause your entire faction to collapse.

¶ Gone are the days of random civil wars and traitors popping up out of nowhere. The political system in Attila is far more refined, making the experience more grounded and strategic. Now, your decisions matter, and internal strife emerges naturally from mismanagement, rather than feeling like it was forced by the game. This makes it far more rewarding to manage your empire and harder to blame the game for things going wrong.

¶ However, Attila isn’t without its issues. The Age of Charlemagne DLC, while historically interesting, doesn’t do much to spice up the gameplay. The factions all feel too similar, with their units being essentially reskins of each other—different in color, but not much else. It adds a historical layer, sure, but in terms of actual gameplay, it’s a bit of a letdown.

¶ In the end, Total War: Attila is an incredibly challenging and immersive game, especially for those who enjoy a bit of historical chaos with their strategy. The world is on the brink of collapse, and every decision you make could be the one that tips the balance. If you’re ready for a game that rewards careful planning, survival instincts, and an iron will, Attila is definitely worth the challenge. Just make sure you’ve got a strong hold on your empire's health, or it might be the last one you build.

Lags and stutters, not worth it

I hope you like AIs that cheat like crazy and sustain huge armies on absolutely no economy, because this is what you get constantly in Attila. And the cherry on top? The Huns keep spawning free doomstacks turn after turn, at no cost and paying exactly zero upkeep. Oh, but you can kill Attila and the horde stops respawning, right? Well, good luck, because he will never actually die. Assassinate him? Nope, he's back after a couple of turns. Defeat him in autoresolve? Nope, he survived with exactly 8 men left, his army gets killed in the campaign animation, and still respawns later. Maybe you have to wait until the year 450 to kill him for good, maybe you have to have him declare war on you before you can kill him. It's probably faster to just sacrifice a goat to whatever gods you believe in and pray, because killing him seems to be a ritual all in its own.
In short, this game is frustrating, and despite having played many hours on it, the endgame is just unbearable.