Do You Need Total War: Warhammer 1 & 2 to Play Total War: Warhammer 3? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is no, you do not need to install Total War: Warhammer 1 and Total War: Warhammer 2 to play Total War: Warhammer 3. However, owning them (on the same platform) unlocks a significant amount of content within Warhammer 3, specifically access to the Immortal Empires campaign, a massive combined map featuring factions and locations from all three games. Let’s delve deeper into this to fully understand the relationship between the games.
Understanding the Total War: Warhammer Trilogy
The Total War: Warhammer series is a trilogy of strategy games developed by Creative Assembly. Each installment expands upon the previous, adding new races, units, and campaign mechanics. The culmination of the trilogy, Warhammer 3, aims to bring together all the content from the previous games into a single, definitive experience.
Immortal Empires: The Ultimate Warhammer Experience
The Immortal Empires campaign is the centerpiece of this unification. It’s a vast, sprawling campaign map that combines the maps and factions of all three Total War: Warhammer games. To access this mode, you need to own Warhammer 3 and Warhammer 1 and Warhammer 2 on the same platform (e.g., Steam, Epic Games Store). Note that you don’t need to have 1 and 2 installed to access Immortal Empires, they just need to be owned on the same platform. Without owning the first two games, you’re limited to the Warhammer 3 standalone campaign, which is still substantial but lacks the breadth and scope of Immortal Empires.
The Standalone Experience of Warhammer 3
Even without owning the previous games, Warhammer 3 offers a complete and engaging experience. The base game features a compelling narrative campaign centered around the Realm of Chaos and introduces several new factions, including:
- Kislev: A human faction inspired by Eastern European cultures, fiercely defending their lands against the forces of Chaos.
- Cathay: A human faction inspired by ancient China, wielding powerful magic and advanced technology.
- Daemons of Chaos: A horde faction dedicated to the four Chaos Gods: Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle, and Slaanesh.
- Khorne: The Chaos God of War and bloodshed.
- Tzeentch: The Chaos God of change and manipulation.
- Nurgle: The Chaos God of decay and disease.
- Slaanesh: The Chaos God of pleasure and excess.
The standalone campaign offers plenty of replayability and strategic depth, making it a worthwhile purchase even if you don’t own the previous games. Many find it enjoyable to understand the mechanics of Warhammer 3 and then explore the world that is unlocked with Immortal Empires.
Factions and DLC
Furthermore, any races or factions that you own from Warhammer 1 and Warhammer 2 (including DLC) will become available in Warhammer 3‘s Immortal Empires campaign, provided you own all games on the same platform. This means that even if you don’t buy the previous games now, you could purchase factions via DLC as the are released for Warhammer 3.
Deciding Whether to Buy Warhammer 1 & 2
Ultimately, the decision of whether to buy Warhammer 1 and Warhammer 2 depends on your budget and desire for content. If you’re new to the series and unsure if you’ll enjoy it, starting with Warhammer 3 is a perfectly viable option. If you find yourself captivated by the world and gameplay, you can then consider purchasing the previous games to unlock the full potential of Immortal Empires.
Is it Worth Playing the Previous Titles First?
While not strictly necessary, playing Warhammer 1 and Warhammer 2 before Warhammer 3 can enhance your understanding of the lore and the unique playstyles of the various factions. The campaigns in the previous games provide valuable context and introduce you to the characters and conflicts that shape the world of Warhammer. Moreover, both Warhammer 1 and 2 are very good games, with engaging campaigns that will help a player new to the franchise understand the scope of the total war: Warhammer world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I need to download Total Warhammer II to get all the characters to play in Total Warhammer III?
No, you don’t need to download them; owning the games on the same platform is sufficient. They will be available as DLC within Warhammer 3 once the game recognizes that you own them.
2. Do I have to play Total War: Warhammer 1 and 2 before 3?
No, it’s not mandatory. You can jump straight into Warhammer 3 without prior experience. However, playing the previous games can enhance your understanding of the lore and factions.
3. Is Warhammer 3 connected to Warhammer 2?
Yes, in that owning races from the first two games unlocks them for multiplayer in the third game, and a combined world map, “Immortal Empires,” becomes available.
4. Do you need Total Warhammer 1 and 2 for Immortal Empires?
Yes, to access the Immortal Empires campaign, you need to own all three games on the same platform.
5. Can you play Total War: Warhammer 1 and 2 and 3 together in a single campaign?
Not directly, but Immortal Empires in Warhammer 3 combines content from all three games into a single, massive campaign.
6. Can I uninstall Warhammer 1 and 2 after purchasing Warhammer 3?
Yes, you can uninstall them after purchasing Warhammer 3, as long as you own them on the same platform where Warhammer 3 is installed.
7. Is Warhammer 3 a standalone game?
Yes, Warhammer 3 has a complete standalone campaign that you can play without owning the previous games.
8. Is Total War Warhammer 3 worth it without DLC?
Absolutely. The base game provides plenty of content and replayability. DLC adds further options, but is not essential for enjoying the game.
9. Which race is recommended to start with in Warhammer 3?
Daemons of Chaos is often recommended for beginners due to their flexible playstyle, but the campaign can be challenging.
10. Is Warhammer 3 the final game in the series?
Yes, Total War: Warhammer III is the final installment in the Total War: Warhammer trilogy.
11. Do I need Warhammer 2 installed for Warhammer 3 to unlock its content?
No, you don’t need to have it installed, just owned on the same platform.
12. Does Total War Warhammer 3 run better than 2?
Performance can vary depending on your hardware, but Warhammer 3 has been optimized to run well on modern PCs.
13. What are the PC requirements to play Total War Warhammer 3?
The recommended specifications include an Intel i5/Ryzen 5 series CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti/AMD RX 5600-XT graphics card.
14. Will Warhammer 3 have all races from the Warhammer universe?
Warhammer 3 includes a vast selection of races, each with multiple factions and unique units, though not every single minor race is represented.
15. How does Total War: Warhammer relate to education and learning?
Strategy games like Total War: Warhammer can be used to help develop strategic thinking and can be incorporated into history lessons for students. Groups like the Games Learning Society are dedicated to the study of how games like this can advance learning, you can learn more about them at GamesLearningSociety.org.
In conclusion, while owning Warhammer 1 and Warhammer 2 unlocks the vast Immortal Empires campaign in Warhammer 3, it is not necessary to enjoy the game. Warhammer 3 stands on its own as a complete and engaging strategy experience.