Total War: ROME II – Rise of the Republic received a 78 Metascore, rated “Generally Favorable,” from six PC critic reviews listed by Metacritic. Critics tended to praise its early-Rome setting, faction differences and campaign additions, while excerpts also flag harsh pacing, AI problems and a lack of novelty. That is a small critic sample, not a measure of player opinion.
What critics scored Rise of the Republic
Metacritic’s PC page displays six critic reviews for the campaign pack and a 78 Metascore. Its breakdown is five positive reviews (83%), one mixed review (17%) and no negative reviews. The listed scores run from 70 to 85. Metacritic’s critic-review page was accessed in 2026; the aggregate reflects the reviews it displayed at that time.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Total War: Rome 2 - PC | $61.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Total War Rome II (PC DVD) | $73.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Total War Rome II PC | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Total War: Rome 2 - Enemy at the Gates Edition (PC) | $27.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Medieval II Gold Pack (Total War, Total War Kingdoms) - PC | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Outlet | Score | Date shown | What the displayed excerpt emphasizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GameWatcher | 85 | August 8, 2018 | Calls it a capable expansion, highlighting campaign features and a two-battle fall-of-Rome sequence. |
| SpazioGames | 80 | August 6, 2018 | Praises the historical reconstruction and the period portrayed. |
| Strategy Gamer | 80 | August 6, 2018 | Praises new mechanics and the campaign experience, but notes harsh pacing. |
| PCGamesN | 80 | August 16, 2018 | Describes the pack as adding a new campaign and features to the five-year-old game. |
| Hooked Gamers | 75 | August 10, 2018 | Points to AI problems, while recommending it to players interested in refreshed Total War play and Rome’s conquest of Italy. |
| Jeuxvideo.com | 70 | August 12, 2018 | Likes the setting and faction-specific styles, but finds the lack of real novelty disappointing. |
This summary reflects the short excerpts shown on Metacritic, not a full reading of each review. The spread suggests broad approval rather than consensus that the DLC reinvents Rome II: the highest-scoring excerpt celebrates the expansion’s scope, while the lowest-scoring one questions its freshness.
What the campaign pack adds
Rise of the Republic is a prequel campaign set in the fourth century BC. The store description places its map around Italy and neighboring areas, including Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Carthage, and lists nine playable factions. It also advertises new technologies, faction-specific objectives, regional dilemma systems and Government Actions that vary by faction. These additions give the campaign a distinct early-Rome focus and provide the faction variety several critic excerpts singled out. Steam’s listing identifies Creative Assembly and Feral Interactive as developers and SEGA and Feral Interactive as publishers.
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#1 Best Overall
- Feel the thunderous clash of battle as the Roman war-machine takes to the field in real-time combat. Tens of thousands of men collide in bone-splintering detail that you directly control.
- All-new graphics engine - see exotic ancient cities and colossal armies rendered in incredible detail, while jaw-dropping cinematic battles unfold. New unit cameras allow you to see the battle from every perspective.
- Completely scalable experience, with performance optimized for your PC or laptop. Witness the awesome scale of Total War - Rome II, no matter what your spec.
Is Rise of the Republic worth it?
The critic excerpts point to a better fit for players who want another Rome II campaign centered on early Roman history and differentiated faction play than for those seeking a major overhaul. The favorable reviews highlight the setting, mechanics and campaign experience; the reservations concern pacing, AI and how much feels new. The score is useful context, but six listed reviews are a limited sample, and the excerpts do not establish how the campaign will feel to every player.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Critic reviews versus Steam player reviews
Steam’s customer sentiment is separate from Metacritic’s critic score. When accessed on October 8, 2026, Steam showed 62% positive from 670 customer reviews. That is a moving all-time user-review snapshot, not a second version of the 78 Metascore, and it can change as more reviews arrive. Steam’s store page also lists the DLC’s release date as August 9, 2018, and says it requires Total War: ROME II – Emperor Edition.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Richly detailed battles that feature thousands of 3D units and intense combat.
- Manage the economic, civil, religious and military arms of your empire.
- Over 100 different units, including knights, men-at-arms, English longbowmen, and more.
- Spectacular sieges, as you pound castles into dust with cannons, catapults, and ballistae.
- Multiplayer battles with up to seven other players over the Internet.
Rank #3
Rank #2
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