Unlocking the Warhammer World: Do You Need Total War: Warhammer 1 to Play 2?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The short answer is: No, you do not need Total War: Warhammer 1 to play Total War: Warhammer 2. They are standalone games. However, owning both opens up a wealth of expanded content and strategic possibilities through the Mortal Empires campaign. This monumental mode combines the maps and factions of both games into one enormous, sprawling campaign.
Essentially, think of Total War: Warhammer 2 as its own complete experience. You can absolutely dive in, explore the continents of Ulthuan, Naggaroth, Lustria, and the Southlands, and enjoy the game to its fullest. The base game offers diverse factions, engaging campaigns, and the signature Total War blend of real-time battles and turn-based strategy. However, owning Total War: Warhammer 1 and any associated DLC is like getting the key to an entirely new wing of a massive castle. It significantly enhances and expands the Total War: Warhammer 2 experience. Let’s delve deeper into why!
The Allure of Mortal Empires
The Mortal Empires campaign is the driving force behind the frequent question of whether you need Total War: Warhammer 1. This campaign is essentially the “mega-campaign” mode for Total War: Warhammer 2, merging the maps, factions, and features of both games into one colossal strategic playground.
Imagine commanding the mighty Empire of Karl Franz from Total War: Warhammer 1, expanding your territories across the Old World, and then facing off against the Lizardmen of Lustria, newly introduced in Total War: Warhammer 2. Or perhaps leading the Vampire Counts from Sylvania against the High Elves on Ulthuan. The possibilities are almost endless.
The core of Mortal Empires is about choice and content. By owning both games, you unlock all the factions from Total War: Warhammer 1 within Total War: Warhammer 2’s game engine. This means updated mechanics, improvements to old factions, and, of course, a much larger, more diverse campaign map. This combined content dramatically increases replayability, allowing for a different strategic experience with each new campaign.
What You Gain with Total War: Warhammer 1
- Factions: Access to all playable factions from Total War: Warhammer 1, including the Empire, Dwarfs, Vampire Counts, Greenskins, and Bretonnia.
- Legendary Lords: Control iconic characters like Karl Franz, Thorgrim Grudgebearer, Mannfred von Carstein, Grimgor Ironhide, and King Louen Leoncoeur.
- Campaign Map Expansion: The Mortal Empires campaign merges the Old World map from Total War: Warhammer 1 with the new continents introduced in Total War: Warhammer 2.
- Strategic Depth: The vastly expanded map and faction roster creates a richer, more complex strategic environment.
Ultimately, while Total War: Warhammer 2 is a complete game on its own, owning Total War: Warhammer 1 adds incredible value and turns it into a truly expansive and unforgettable experience.
FAQ: Your Total War: Warhammer Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the relationship between Total War: Warhammer 1, 2, and 3, and how they interact with each other:
1. Do I Need to Install Total War: Warhammer 1 to Play Mortal Empires in Total War: Warhammer 2?
No, you do not need to have Total War: Warhammer 1 installed. You only need to own it on the same platform (e.g., Steam) as Total War: Warhammer 2. As long as it is in your library, Mortal Empires will be unlocked.
2. Will My Total War: Warhammer 1 DLC Carry Over to Total War: Warhammer 2’s Mortal Empires Campaign?
Yes, absolutely. All your DLC from Total War: Warhammer 1 will seamlessly integrate into Mortal Empires, allowing you to play as the associated factions and lords in the combined campaign. Only exception being blood and gore that works as usual anywhere.
3. Can I Play Total War: Warhammer 1 Factions in Total War: Warhammer 2 Without Mortal Empires?
No, you cannot play Total War: Warhammer 1 factions in Total War: Warhammer 2’s Vortex campaign (the default campaign) without owning Total War: Warhammer 1 and using the Mortal Empires campaign. The Vortex campaign is specific to the factions and setting introduced in Total War: Warhammer 2.
4. Is Total War: Warhammer 2 Beginner Friendly?
Total War: Warhammer 2 can be challenging for newcomers, especially when playing on higher difficulties or with certain factions. However, it offers a rewarding and engaging strategic experience. The game is not necessarily beginner-friendly. Single player can be very rough depending how adamant you are on playing a certain faction/lord or difficulty. You can always start on easier difficulties and gradually increase the challenge as you become more comfortable with the mechanics.
5. Do I Need Total War: Warhammer 1 and 2 to Play Immortal Empires in Total War: Warhammer 3?
No, you only need to own Total War: Warhammer 3 to play the Immortal Empires campaign. However, owning Total War: Warhammer 1 and 2 will unlock all the factions and content from those games within the Immortal Empires campaign of Total War: Warhammer 3. Think of it like DLC for Warhammer 3.
6. Can I Uninstall Total War: Warhammer 1 and 2 After Moving to Total War: Warhammer 3?
Yes, you can uninstall Total War: Warhammer 1 and 2 once you’ve verified that their content has been successfully integrated into Total War: Warhammer 3’s Immortal Empires campaign. The files for the previous games are not needed once the game recognizes your ownership.
7. If I Buy Total War: Warhammer 1 and 2 After Owning Total War: Warhammer 3, Will I Immediately Get Access to Their Content?
Yes, as soon as the games are added to your library on the same platform as Total War: Warhammer 3, the additional factions and content will be unlocked in Immortal Empires.
8. What is the Difference Between Mortal Empires and Immortal Empires?
Mortal Empires is the combined campaign map for Total War: Warhammer 2, integrating content from Total War: Warhammer 1. Immortal Empires is the combined campaign map for Total War: Warhammer 3, integrating content from Total War: Warhammer 1 and 2. Immortal Empires features an even larger map and includes factions and features from all three games.
9. Does Total War: Warhammer 1 Have a Co-op Campaign?
Yes, Total War: Warhammer 1 allows two players to play the campaign mode cooperatively.
10. What Happens If I Only Own Some DLC from Total War: Warhammer 1?
Only the content you own will carry over. For example, if you own the “King and the Warlord” DLC, you will be able to play as Belegar Ironhammer or Skarsnik in Mortal Empires/Immortal Empires, but only if you also own the base game Total War: Warhammer 1.
11. Where Can I Learn More About Game Design and the Educational Potential of Games?
A fantastic resource is the Games Learning Society, a community of researchers, educators, and game developers exploring the intersection of games and learning. You can find out more at GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society promotes understanding of games in education.
12. Is Total War a AAA Game Franchise?
Yes, Total War is a multi-award-winning AAA games franchise, developed by Creative Assembly. It’s known for its large-scale battles and strategic depth.
13. What Is the Best Total War Game to Start With?
While individual preferences vary, many recommend Shogun 2: Total War or Rome 2: Total War as good starting points for the Total War series due to their refined mechanics and relatively accessible gameplay. However, if you are interested in fantasy instead of historical settings, starting with Total War: Warhammer 2 or Total War: Warhammer 3 may be a better choice. The second Total War game has the best tutorial and campaign for beginners, making it a great starting point for new players.
14. What Makes Total War: Warhammer Different from Other Total War Games?
Total War: Warhammer diverges from the historical settings of previous Total War titles by embracing the fantasy world of Warhammer. This introduces fantastical units like monsters, magic, and heroes, adding new strategic layers to the gameplay.
15. Can I Play Mortal Empires Without Warhammer 1 Installed? Is it Possible to Play Mortal Empires in Warhammer 2 Without Having Warhammer 1?
You can play Mortal Empires even if you don’t have WH1 installed, but you need to own WH1 in your steam library.
In conclusion, Total War: Warhammer 2 is a fantastic game in its own right. However, owning Total War: Warhammer 1 significantly enriches the experience by unlocking the expansive Mortal Empires campaign and allowing you to command a vast array of factions and legendary lords from the first game.