Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition vs Total War: SHOGUN 2
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition wins 6 of 12 head-to-head metrics. Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition is $4.22 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition | Total War: SHOGUN 2 |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Worth It × Worth It | 74 | 77 |
| Quality | 90 | 91 |
| Value | 77 | 68 |
| Popularity | 36 | 74 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $4.49 | $8.71 |
| Steam Review Score | 89.5% positive | 90.1% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 2.0K | 0 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition
Kinguin Cheapest Key marketplace$4.49−78%Buy 
GAMIVO Key marketplace$5.11−74%Buy 
Loaded Authorized reseller$5.39−73%Buy 
Side by side over time
Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive EditionTotal War: SHOGUN 2
Details and requirements
| Item | Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition | Total War: SHOGUN 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | March 4, 2009 | March 15, 2011 |
| Developers | CREATIVE ASSEMBLY, Feral Interactive (Mac) | CREATIVE ASSEMBLY, Feral Interactive (Mac) |
| Publishers | SEGA, Feral Interactive (Mac) | SEGA, Feral Interactive (Mac) |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, MacOs | Linux, Windows, MacOs |
| OS (minimum) | — | Windows 7 / Vista / XP |
| Processor (minimum) | — | 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 processor (or greater), or AMD equivalent |
| Memory (minimum) | — | 2GB RAM (XP), 4GB RAM (Vista / Windows7) |
| Graphics (minimum) | — | AMD Radeon HD 5000 and 6000 series graphics card or equivalent DirectX 11 compatible card |
| DirectX® (minimum) | — | DirectX 9.0c |
| Hard Drive (minimum) | — | 32GB free hard disk space |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition or Total War: SHOGUN 2?
Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition won the comparison against Total War: SHOGUN 2 based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition worth buying over Total War: SHOGUN 2?
Based on the metrics, Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 02:06 PM UTC