Total War: Warhammer III game poster and cover art

Game Introduction

Total War: Warhammer III – Game Introduction



Total War: Warhammer III is the epic conclusion to Creative Assembly's acclaimed trilogy, blending grand-scale turn-based strategy with real-time tactical battles in the dark fantasy world of Warhammer Fantasy Battles. Developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega, the game launched on February 17, 2022 for PC (Windows) exclusively via Steam and Epic Games Store. It remains a PC-only title with no console versions announced.

Story Overview



Set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe, the game revolves around the struggle for the soul of a dying god. The narrative centers on the Bear God Ursun, whose roar is heard across the world. As the realms of Chaos encroach, four Chaos Gods – Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch, and Slaanesh – seek to claim Ursun's power for themselves. The player takes on the role of one of eight legendary lords (from various factions) racing to either save or exploit Ursun. The main campaign, Realm of Chaos, involves venturing into the Chaos Realms to prevent any single god from dominating, while a secondary narrative follows the Proclaimer of the Great Orthodoxy, Kostaltyn, and the Ice Court of Kislev.

Setting



The game features a vast, richly detailed map covering the Dark Lands, Mountains of Mourn, and the Chaos Wastes, alongside returning regions from previous titles via the combined map. Major locations include:
  • Kislev: A hardy human kingdom, besieged by Chaos, with icy tundras and fortified cities.

  • Cathay: An Eastern-inspired empire with grand dragon rulers and celestial magic.

  • The Chaos Realms: Four otherworldly domains, each themed after a Chaos God (e.g., the Blood God's brass citadel, Nurgle's plague-ridden gardens).


    • Main Characters



  • Yuri (The Proclaimer): A Kislevite hero who becomes the vessel for Ursun’s power, serving as the game’s tutorial lord.

  • Katarin (The Ice Queen): Ruler of Kislev, a powerful ice mage leading the Ice Court.

  • Kostaltyn (The Great Orthodoxy): A fanatical priest harnessing the zeal of the people.

  • Miao Ying (The Storm Dragon): Leader of the Northern Provinces of Cathay, a dragon-shifter.

  • Zhao Ming (The Iron Dragon): Ruler of the Western Provinces, a master of alchemy.

  • Daemon Prince: A customisable non-legendary lord (unique to the campaign) who serves Chaos Undivided.

  • Legendary Lords of the base game: Each representing the four Chaos Gods: Skarbrand (Khorne), Ku'gath (Nurgle), N'Kari (Slaanesh), and Kairos Fateweaver (Tzeentch).


    • Core Appeal



  • Massive Scale: Hundreds of units on screen, epic sieges, and a campaign map spanning an entire continent.

  • Deep Strategy: Turn-based empire management (diplomacy, economy, tech tree) combined with real-time tactical battles.

  • Faction Diversity: Eight distinct races (base game) with unique mechanics, units, and playstyles – from the bloodthirsty Khorne to the scheming Tzeentch.

  • Narrative Depth: The Realm of Chaos campaign introduces a dynamic race against rival factions to win Ursun’s favor, with branching objectives.


    • Target Audience



  • Strategy enthusiasts who enjoy complex campaigns and tactical combat.

  • Warhammer Fantasy fans looking for the most authentic digital representation of the setting.

  • Players who appreciate high replayability thanks to varied lords, victory conditions, and mod support.

  • Total War veterans – the trilogy’s finale brings together all previous races and mechanics.


    • Game Modes



  • Realm of Chaos Campaign: The narrative-driven main campaign where players race to prevent a Chaos God from claiming Ursun’s soul. Features unique chaos realm mechanics and survival battles.

  • Immortal Empires Campaign: A massive sandbox campaign (free DLC) combining factions from all three Total War: Warhammer titles – the largest map and most comprehensive experience.

  • Custom Battles: Set up one-off skirmishes with any unlocked units and maps.

  • Multiplayer Battles & Campaigns: Up to 8-player online matches (PvP or co-op) both in real-time battles and turn-based campaigns.

  • Mortal Empires (legacy): The predecessor to Immortal Empires, available for owners of previous games.


    • Online/Offline Support



  • Offline: Full single-player campaign mode (both Realm of Chaos and Immortal Empires) works without internet after installation.

  • Online: Required for multiplayer, co-op campaigns, cloud saves, and leaderboards. Cross-platform play is not supported (no console crossplay). Steam and Epic users can play together via cross-store multiplayer.


    • DLC & Expansions Overview



    Creative Assembly continues to support the game with paid and free DLC:

    Major DLC Packs (as of early 2025):
  • Ogre Kingdoms (pre-order bonus / later standalone): Adds the hungry Ogre mercenaries with a unique camp mechanic.

  • Champions of Chaos (2022): Adds four new legendary lords for the Chaos factions (Valkia, Festus, Vilitch, Azazel) and new units.

  • Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs (2023): Introduces the Chaos Dwarf race – a powerful industrial-dwarf faction with daemon engines and slave economy.

  • Shadows of Change (2023): Adds the Changeling (Tzeentch) and expands Kislev and Cathay.

  • Thrones of Decay (2024): Adds Tamurkhan (Nurgle) and content for the Empire and Dwarfs.


    • Free DLC:
  • Immortal Empires (free to all owners of Warhammer III).

  • Blood for the Blood God (graphical blood effects – often paid but sometimes free).

  • Various Regiments of Renown (elite unit packs) released over time.


    • What Makes This Game Unique?



  • Trilogy Finale: For the first time, all races from the Warhammer Fantasy setting are unified in a single game (via Immortal Empires), making it the most comprehensive Warhammer strategy experience ever.

  • Chaos Realms: A new campaign mechanic where players physically enter the hellish planes of Chaos, facing unique survival battles and seeking powerful boons.

  • Largest Total War Map Ever: Immortal Empires features over 280 playable factions and 500+ regions – the most content-rich Total War title.

  • Touchstone for Modding: Steam Workshop integration allows for massive community-driven overhauls, unit packs, and total conversions.

  • Accessible yet Deep: Improved tutorial and tooltips lower the barrier for newcomers while retaining the strategic depth veterans love.