Sometimes players might have the urge to launch a good strategy game in order to play as the Roman Empire, and relive some glorious battles as a powerful global force. The Roman army was incredibly advanced for its time, and it can be great fun to see their own tactics play out in some real-time strategic battles.

It's great to cure this all too familiar itch and pretend to be a Roman commander, if only for a couple of hours. Perhaps players want to de-stress and unwind, or perhaps they just want to have some creative control over a large-scale battle. Whatever the reason, gamers all over the world can experience the Roman Empire like never before with these amazing strategy games.

10 Imperium Romanum

Metacritic Rating: 63

Imperium Romanum is a city-building strategy game that was released to mixed reviews but had some cool and innovative concepts. It was also super relaxing to play, with a soothing soundtrack and atmosphere. Imperium Romanum was also one of the most advanced city-building games to let players build their own Roman Empire at the time of release in 2008.

The goal of the game is to act as the governor of a Roman city, build up the province, and establish a thriving and prosperous settlement. The buildings featured in the game were incredibly authentic and players appreciated the level of detail and historical accuracy that the developers pumped into it.

9 Hegemony Rome: The Rise Of Caesar

Metacritic Rating: N/A

Although Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar didn't receive great reviews at launch, it was still an interesting game when it came to letting players take command of the Roman Empire and participate in real-time combat strategy battles. It had the recipe for greatness, but it just missed out on certain elements where it could have achieved wider success.

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Hegemony Rome is set during the Gallic Wars period of the Roman Empire, following the general Julius Caesar and his rise to become Emperor. The campaign mode is pretty fun, but it's the sandbox mode where players can enjoy themselves most. The combat system is pretty good, not great, but it shines in its strategic planning, resource management, and tactical warfare departments.

8 Grand Ages: Rome

Metacritic Rating: 72

The sequel to Imperium Romanum built on its predecessor's foundations and launched with new mechanics and a flashy new name to boot. The single-player campaign is set during the time of the First Triumvirate, a political alliance in the Roman Empire. Players establish themselves as a prominent military leader and work their way up the army ranks.

Grand Ages: Rome is not just a city-building game this time around. Instead, players can also participate in real-time strategic battles, making it a more engaging entry in the series. It's got some great historical references throughout the campaign, including Spartacus' uprising, and its an all-round great Roman Empire strategy game.

7 Europa Universalis: Rome

Metacritic Rating: 73

Players can assume control of any nation from the era of the Roman Republic in Europa Universalis: Rome, making this a versatile entry in an excellent grand strategy franchise. There are over 53 factions for players to command, and ambitious players can pit their Roman Empire up against tough opposition including the Egyptians or the Greeks.

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Paradox Development Studio released a sole expansion for the game, titled Vae Victis, which expanded on the base game and introduced deeper and more meaningful political elements and effects. It's a good entry, but it should be mentioned that it's mostly designed for hardcore strategy game fans.

6 Imperator: Rome

Metacritic Rating: 76

Another excellent grand strategy game, Imperator: Rome sees players commanding a Roman Empire spanning from 304 BC to 27 BC. It's got a huge map and the graphics are excellent. The only downside here is that Paradox Interactive unfortunately suspended support for the game in May 2021.

It's still playable, and the single-player content is surprisingly excellent. All nations in the game are playable, but naturally, it's the Roman Empire that really shines, because it's actually the most challenging. When players launch the map, they'll find that Roman-controlled areas are few and far between - it's up to them to spread the Empire and make it become an unstoppable force.

5 Total War: Rome 2

Metacritic Rating: 76

One of the few lower-rated Total War entries, Total War: Rome 2 fails to build anything too substantial on what its acclaimed predecessor already established, but it's still a fun game and is definitely recommended for fans of Roman strategy games. There are multiple Roman factions to control, and multiple periods of history to experience.

This is a game that offers everything a player needs: a turn-based campaign, empire management, and thrilling real-time battles. It's just a shame it doesn't add anything too innovative in comparison to its predecessor.

4 Crusader Kings II (With The Legacy Of Rome DLC)

Metacritic Rating: 82

Crusader Kings 2 is a grand strategy game from 2012 which is now free to play for everyone! This is the entry in the series that established a solid fan base and increased the outreach of the franchise greatly. Crusader Kings 2 is an excellent game in itself, but it's the various DLCs that really made the game shine, specifically the Legacy of Rome addition.

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In this DLC, players can take command of the Byzantine Empire, meaning this Roman Empire comes from a point in history a few hundred years after most Roman Empire video games (hence the Legacy of Rome title). It's great to be able to command such an expansive empire, and it's an interesting dynamic to take control of it from the perspective of the Byzantine Era. Legacy of Rome even added new features, including the Retinue mechanic, which meant players could maintain a permanent army.

3 Europa Universalis IV

Metacritic Rating: 87

While not exclusively focused on the Roman Empire, Europa Universalis IV allows players to take command of the Romans and shape their own alternate history. Starting as the Romans, players will have to guide their empire through centuries of global expansion and mold them into the most prominent army in the world.

Europa Universalis IV is a game that includes a deep strategic system, including elements of politics, diplomacy, and, of course, warfare. Players will have to master the arts of trading and administration all while training their army and taking control of various countries. It's great strategic fun!

2 Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Metacritic Rating: 88

Every fan of strategy games should have played Sid Meier's Civilization VI by now, but if players have been sleeping on this title, it's an excellent grand strategy game from one of gaming's most esteemed strategy franchises. It's not just about the Roman Empire, but the two expansions, Rise and Fall, as well as Gathering Storm add depth and further Roman Empire mechanics.

Featuring thrilling turn-based combat, and global expansion on a huge map and scale, Civilization VI is the ultimate experience for experiencing the Roman Empire on the biggest scale, with masterful strategic mechanics. Players will need to use their brains to guide their version of the Empire through the ages.

1 Rome: Total War

Metacritic Rating: 92

The best strategy game that lets players take control of the Roman Empire is, of course, one of the best games from the Total War series. A classic strategy game in every definition, Rome: Total War focuses on the empire at its peak. It presents an innovative mix of real-time combat and turn-based strategy mechanics to create an immersive, historical experience.

It's engaging, addictive, and incredibly fun all while maintaining its focus on historical accuracy. The game received instant critical acclaim at its release and is still regarded as one of the greatest strategy games of all time, with the inclusion of its excellent expansions Barabarian Invasion and Alexander. If players are looking for just one game to take command of their own Roman Empire, this is most certainly the one to pick!

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