As a warrior king, expand your area of influence and consolidate power with an artful mix of diplomacy, commerce and war.

Rule wisely across the campaign map to build your empire’s infrastructure, cities and trade routes, then master the art of diplomacy to disarm enemies, empower allies and gain the favour of the Pope. On the battlefield, conduct siege warfare and lead your armies into epic clashes to bring entire kingdoms to their knees.

• Embark on an empire-building mission of immense scale and ambition as you lead one of 17 factions through five centuries of Total War across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

• Master sophisticated turn-based strategy as you enforce public order, deploy spies and assassins, make peace with your neighbours… or send your armies after them.

• Embroil yourself in heady real-time clashes as you command infantry, cavalry and siege engines. Strategic placement of units, cunning use of geography, and exploitation of enemy weaknesses are key to victory.

• Immerse yourself in the four campaigns of the Kingdoms expansion: colonise or defend in Discovery of the Americas, revolt or quell rebellion in Britannia, wage holy war in Crusades, and fight for Christianity or paganism in the Teutonic Campaign.

• Revel in a classic Total War game rich in features beloved by fans of the series. Initially released in 2006 and containing all additional content, Medieval II: Total War - Collection is excellent value and runs well on older hardware.

• Journey through Dark Ages, from the explosive invention of gunpowder and the spread of the plague to the monumental battles of Hastings and Agincourt.

• Explore a rich medieval world teeming with diverse cultures, from Byzantium, to the Holy Roman Empire, to England, fresh from Norman conquest.