Is Total War: Warhammer 3 Multiplayer?

While it can be entertaining to mop up computer-controlled factions in an RTS or grand strategy game, the real fun is matching wits with other players. After all, there’s a reason that chess is still a predominantly human sport, in spite of how advanced chess AI has become: people can think on the fly and try really weird strategies. Total War: Warhammer 3’s myriad of crazy fantasy/sci-fi races provide no shortage of opportunities for weird plays, but the question is, is Total War: Warhammer 3 multiplayer?

Is Total War: Warhammer 3 Multiplayer?

You’re in luck, because Total War: Warhammer 3 not only does have multiplayer, but numerous flavors of multiplayer for the discerning warmongerer. In a nutshell, the modes that support multiplayer functionality are:

• The Realm of Chaos (Main Campaign)
• Darkness & Disharmony
• Something Rotten in Kislev
• Customizable Matches and Ranked Matches

Most wars aren’t finished in a day, and the same goes for wars in Total War: Warhammer 3. You can wage war with other players across three different campaign types, each with different settings, factions, and player limits. In addition to controlling separate factions, players can also team up and control one faction jointly. In a change from previous games, players now take their moves simultaneously instead of one at a time, which helps keep the pace of the game nice and consistent.

The Realm of Chaos

The Realm of Chaos is the game’s main campaign, which you can play either by yourself or with up to seven friends. Every player starts an empire, journeys through the realms of Chaos, and builds up to an ultimate showdown with Be’lakor.

Darkness & Disharmony

Darkness & Disharmony is a special sandbox campaign, also for up to eight players. In this campaign, the Grand Cathay is invaded by demons, and every faction will need to take control of important territories. All factions are available in this mode except for the Legion of Chaos and Kislev.

Something Rotten in Kislev

Something Rotten in Kislev is a bite-sized campaign for up to three players. As opposed to the grand scales of the other campaigns, this is a cooperative romp that’s intended to be finished in a single sitting. It’s a good option for when you want to play a quick pickup game but don’t want to customize it yourself.

Customizable Matches and Ranked Matches

Speaking of which, you can also customize your own scenarios for casual play with 2-8 players. All of the same combat types from the previous games are available, such as free-for-alls, ambushes, and chokepoints, as well as several new additions:

• Domination: An objective-based mode where players need to capture and hold territories in compact arena maps
• Survival: A cooperative mode where you journey across the map toward the goal while holding off demonic hordes and constructing a supply line along the way
• Settlement and Siege: Attack and defend small settlements in various locales across the game’s map

For the competitive ones out there, there is also ranked multiplayer. Ranked matches work basically the same as casual ones, albeit with a couple of little tweaks:

• Both players’ race picks are hidden until they’re locked in
• You can’t play as your personal Daemonic Prince if you’re using the Legion of Chaos