There was a moment in gaming history when game developers were creating historical-themed games nonstop. Critically acclaimed games like Empire Earth, Shogun: Total War, and Age of Empires were 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 ones and 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 gamers lean toward a medieval setting with crossbows and trebuchets, some prefer one with more spears, swords, and shields like that of the Bronze Age.
5 Chariots of War
Chariots of War flew under the radar of most strategy fans because it took a different gameplay route. Instead of being a real-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 War didn't garner much attention.
Nonetheless, Chariots of War featured 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.
Platforms:
- Microsoft Windows
4 Tyranny
While Tyranny is set in a high-fantasy universe (since it takes place in the same setting as Pillars of Eternity), it borrows several elements from the Bronze Age. But unlike most Bronze Age-themed games, Tyranny isn'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 makes Tyranny stand 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 hugely increases replay value.
Platforms:
- macOS
- Microsoft Windows
- Linux
3 A Total War Saga: TROY
Undoubtedly, the Total War series is among the best RTS games, especially since it covers settings ranging from the Warhammer universe (Total War Warhammer) to the Middle Ages (Medieval: Total War). But, among all the Total War games, A Total War Saga: TROY stands 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: TROY matches are significantly shorter than its predecessors. However, players can use mods 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 to Age of Mythology. On top of that, multiplayer supports up to eight players, adding hours of more Bronze Age fun.
Platforms:
- macOS
- Microsoft Windows
- Linux
2 Hegemony 3: Clash of Ancients
For the most part, casual RTS players enjoy playing games like Empire Earth or Age of Empires since 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. And Hegemony 3: Clash of Ancients is an excellent beginner-friendly Bronze Age-themed grand strategy game.
In Hegemony 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 of Hegemony 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.
Platforms:
- Microsoft Windows
1 Rome: Total War
Without any doubt, the best game set in the Bronze Age is Rome: Total War, even more so than the sequel, Rome: Total War 2. That's because Rome: Total War features extensive and intricate political, economic, and military gameplay systems, features that very few games have managed to replicate. On top of that, the AI of Rome: Total War was 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 of Rome: Total War.
Platforms:
- Microsoft Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android