Total War: Pharaoh review: a disappointing successor

Total War: Pharaoh, the latest installment in the Total War franchise, attempts to bridge accuracy and accessibility in its Bronze Age campaign and combat. While it offers glimpses of greatness, the game falls short in delivering a memorable grand strategy experience. The truncated map restricts strategic options and excludes key civilizations of the era, while the lack of direction in the campaign leaves players stumbling. Diplomacy and backroom politics are on full display, but the passive benefits of the pantheons and limited engagement with the religious system are underwhelming. The tactical battles capture the brutality of warfare in the Bronze Age, but issues with unit collision and AI pathfinding persist. Overall, Total War: Pharaoh fails to engage both novices and veterans of the franchise, making it unlikely to stand the test of time.