Rome: Total War Barbarian Invasion

 PC
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 127 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 100 out of 127
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 127
  3. Negative: 3 out of 127
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  1. JonasH.
    Apr 22, 2007
    10
    Great game, loads of fun. It's incredibly amusing playing as your nationality's roots and beat down The Romans. Or pwn them as Carthage with Amoured Elephants. Probably the best strategy game I've ever played.
  2. JoshM.
    Jul 16, 2007
    9
    Not much change is put into the expansion for gameplay yet it still proves a worthwhile expansion to the Rome series. I allows u to experience the harships of the western and eastern empires as they struggle to keep power and allows u to experience the military might it takes to push back the barbarians at the borders. All in all its a pretty good expansion to Rome: Total War.
  3. StuartR.
    Sep 9, 2005
    10
    i have played the original and i have to admit that in rome total war the title speaks for itself just as i am sure the sequel will do also......Let war commence AGAIN!!!!!!
  4. kane148
    Aug 1, 2012
    6
    I was rather disappointed with this expansion. Provinces have been redrawn so that they are now much bigger, but still only have one main city each--which means that the action is far more spaced out than before, and hence less exciting. I tried playing through the campaign but after a couple hours found that most of my neighbors were too powerful or far away to fight, and the barbarianI was rather disappointed with this expansion. Provinces have been redrawn so that they are now much bigger, but still only have one main city each--which means that the action is far more spaced out than before, and hence less exciting. I tried playing through the campaign but after a couple hours found that most of my neighbors were too powerful or far away to fight, and the barbarian hordes which give the game its name were mindlessly wandering far to the north. Given some of the changes (such as national religions), this could have been a good expansion, but its let down by the lousy AI and lack of action.… Expand
  5. Alchemik
    Apr 25, 2013
    9
    A very nice addition to Rome. New factions are pretty well balanced and enjoyable to play (especially East Rome and some barbarian factions, like Francs), new units are interesting and some minor gameplay elements were improved (for example mercenaries finally being more expensive than regular troops).

    The most disappointing thing probably are barbarian hordes themselves, which are    A very nice addition to Rome. New factions are pretty well balanced and enjoyable to play (especially East Rome and some barbarian factions, like Francs), new units are interesting and some minor gameplay elements were improved (for example mercenaries finally being more expensive than regular troops).

    The most disappointing thing probably are barbarian hordes themselves, which are pretty weak and suffers from poor A.I., but at the same time make barbarian factions ridiculously hard to eliminate often they just relocate after you massacre then for fourth fifth time, spawning new armies every time they loose their last city. Other then that it's very enjoyable experience, especially if you enjoy the setting and really look forward to rebuilding the power of Roman Empire, or being the one to it deal the final blow.    … Expand
  6. PvtJackson
    Jan 1, 2014
    9
    Equally exciting and challenging as the original Rome Total War, Barbarian Invasion brings you to another stage of history: the downfall of the great Roman Empire, which is, to me, as interesting as the rise of Rome portrayed in the Vanilla. Still the same world and map you'll be fighting in, but there are totally new factions that never appeared in Rome: Total War, and along with them, ofEqually exciting and challenging as the original Rome Total War, Barbarian Invasion brings you to another stage of history: the downfall of the great Roman Empire, which is, to me, as interesting as the rise of Rome portrayed in the Vanilla. Still the same world and map you'll be fighting in, but there are totally new factions that never appeared in Rome: Total War, and along with them, of course, are new threats. Really tough, and also extremely breathtaking.… Expand
  7. JimCorbett
    Sep 3, 2012
    7
    It's okay, but when you take an enemies final city and utterly destroy all of their population, they will still spawn a massive roaming army that can easily take just about any city. It makes destroying civilizations much more difficult and ruins the gameplay.
  8. BenHazelden
    Oct 13, 2014
    6
    As much as I enjoyed Rome Total War, i cannot say I found Barbarian Invasion enjoyable. Exactly the same but with fewer likable factions.
    6/10 - Ben Hazelden
  9. Cormac
    Oct 7, 2005
    9
    Although not a huge change it is challenging and different enough to whet the appetite.
  10. caligula_king
    Oct 3, 2015
    10
    La expansion de Rome total war siguió mostrando lo bueno que fue Rome Total War , las mejoras como las antorchas en los combates nocturnos fue bastante innovador (tambien el modo hordas y saqueo ) y lo poco negativo que tiene no tiene mucha variedad de unidades barbaras mas o menos todas son iguales . Mi opinión mi expansión favorita de la saga
  11. JustSomeGamer
    Jun 30, 2016
    8
    Great strategy game for its time. It is still a good game to this day, but it has clearly aged. The management of your cities for example can be incredibly painful when you have a lot of cities.
  12. Zodiac_A
    Dec 13, 2020
    9
    This add-on brings some game-engine improvements, new tactic against hordes of barbarians, religion level of each territory, you may conquer the banner of some legion & you will be the target of the other roman legions for some turns. Some of unofficial DLS are still updated. Try it, enjoy it, have fun.
  13. erdogfu96
    Feb 9, 2020
    8
    Nor more fun than main edition but still well game. But after atilla total war its not important to play.
    Graphics:9/10
    Sounds: 10/10
    Gameplay: 7/10
    Fun: 7/10
  14. erfunfazli
    Jul 21, 2023
    10
    One of the best strategic games of all time.
    awesome soundtrack, gameplay and lots of great details in the game make it a masterpiece.
    It's best Total War game according to its release time.
    I think because of its Faction variety Barbarian invasion is even better than Rome total war.
    If you like Grand Strategy games, you must experience this even in 2023.

Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Best PC Game of 2005
74
#74 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. Games Radar
    91
    Barbarian Invasion is tweak-packed and jammed with choices, meaning that even expert Generals will be kept busy for ages. A must for fans of Rome Total War. [PC Gamer UK]
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  2. Computer and Video Games
    88
    So while we're disappointed with the misplaced innovation and the lack of advancement, we still can't deny that it's Rome, that it's raised our bloodlust and our hackles in equal measure, and that it refreshes those parts that other strategy games just won't reach. [PC Zone]
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  3. IGN
    88
    It offers more factions, more units and a couple of cosmetic touches that will be sure to have you falling in love all over again... What is less easy to look past is the relatively homogenous nature of the barbarian factions.
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