Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake
Released: 10/24/2024
Score Breakdown
73.7
Critic Average
19 reviews
48
Steam User Score
3,635 reviews
73
Metacritic User Score
24 reviews
Disparity Breakdown
74 vs 48
74 vs 73
Average of both sources
Review Disparities
Each point represents a critic review. Hover for details. Positive = critic higher than users. Negative = critic lower.
75
75/100
1/28/2026
Late Review“This is a series that has far more iterations and versions that anyone could possibly imagine. While a huge contributor to the 'grand strategy' genre, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8, even remade and expanded, is too dense with too little payoff to highly recommend to anyone except series fans. General strategy gamers will be put off by the death-by-menu gameplay and lack of interesting things happening for what amounts to playing small hands of poker and shuffling Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.”
50
50/100
3/19/2025
Late Review“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake does a great job as a remake. It stays true to the original while polishing things up enough to feel fresh. But honestly, it’s not for everyone. It’s mainly made for die-hard fans of this kind of game. If you’re not already into the genre, there’s a good chance you might not enjoy it that much.”
70
70/100
11/25/2024
Launch Window“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake successfully revives a beloved classic, offering a compelling blend of military strategy, political drama, and historical depth. With enhanced graphics, a rich soundtrack, and deep strategic systems, the game offers a fresh experience for both veteran players and newcomers alike.”
85
85/100
11/20/2024
Launch Window“As awesome as it was back in the early 2000s, the many improvements made in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake breathe new life into the franchise and help to make it a more enticing affair for fans of the genre and beyond. It still remains a deep and comprehensive experience, but the options to learn and tweak stuff boost the accessibility to a new level, making this trip back to ancient China one well worth taking.”
85
85/100
11/19/2024
Launch Window“An epic of longtime investment, I was pleased to see that I could pick up and play a handful of turns at a time, blow through an hour or so, and then put down the game to come back to the saga another day. It’s engrossing but not consuming, and it weaves a long, exciting tale like the source material. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.”
75
75/100
11/16/2024
Launch Window“If you prefer the story elements of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, then 8 Remake is among the best the franchise has ever produced. This entry doesn't offer the same level of kingdom management that fans might be expecting, but its focus on the drama and your narrative choices make it a bit more accessible for new players. This is a very solid remake that runs well on the Switch and feels like it unlocks the original's full potential.”
80
80/100
11/12/2024
Launch Window“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is a faithful re-imagining of the classic game with several new bells and whistles to make it more interesting for modern audiences. The remake might be faithful to a fault as some of the mechanics can feel dated at this point. The AI for battles could also use some improvement. With more than 1,000 playable officers and a plethora of roles for players to assume, however, ROTK 8 Remake boasts plenty of replayability. If you loved the original or are pining for some classic ROTK gameplay, this is one romance that isn’t bad at all.”
75
75/100
11/6/2024
Launch Window“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is undeniably a labor of love, rich with features that make the story of ancient China’s political turbulence feel personal and dynamic. For those who adore the era’s history and don’t mind a slightly theatrical spin, the game’s “infinite drama” will be an immersive experience. But while the remake is packed with enhancements, it doesn’t entirely transcend its original. The gameplay and story, while deep and engaging, may not fully justify a remake for a game that wasn’t heavily demanded by fans. Instead, it stands as a tribute to a beloved entry – one that celebrates the theater of war and the complex drama of its officers but might have left fans wondering if a truly new Romance of the Three Kingdoms experience would have been the better gift.”
60
60/100
10/28/2024
Launch Window“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 is lovingly remade with much-needed convenience features, making this perhaps the best in the entire series. The worst thing about it is the omission of multiplayer. If you don't mind that, you have a meaty strategy game with over 1,000 playable officers and more scenarios than you can possibly ever want.”
80
80/100
10/28/2024
Launch Window“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is a good strategy game with very functional and intuitive systems, accessible for newcomers and rich for veterans, as well as an excellent use of its setting. The title lives up not only to the original game, but further elevates the entire legacy of the historic franchise to which it belongs.”
80
80/100
10/24/2024
Launch Window“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is a great way to test the waters of Koei Tecmo's long-running historical simulation series. It can be initially overwhelming and a little unwieldy at times, but the remake offers a return to a seminal entry in the series and one of the deepest and most intricate strategy games available on PS5 and PS4 to date.”
70
70/100
10/24/2024
Launch Window“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake brings a beloved classic back to life with impressive updates. Koei Tecmo have worked hard to enhance the visuals, sound, and gameplay mechanics, including a ton of new features like the Tales, Link Forged and Trait systems.”
85
85/100
10/24/2024
Launch Window“Into the wide waters of Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake will not sail. However, I don't know if this production needs it. Loyal fans will be happy with how the remake turned out.”
75
75/100
10/23/2024
Early Review“Nevertheless, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 has a lot going for it. Thanks to the “Tales” feature it’s possibly the most accessible RoTK game to date, easing players in by giving them a clear set of targets to prioritise. Once you’re comfortable with that the depth of strategy and a staggering array of ways to play make for a deep experience with dozens upon dozens of historical play. I still find it odd that Koei Tecmo decided to remake this game, but ultimately I’m glad that it happened.”
80
80/100
10/23/2024
Early Review“With a more personal touch, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is a strategy game that needs to be seen in a different way than others in the genre. Being a much slower experience and with multiple opportunities for those who like to create their own story, it is difficult to recommend the game to those looking for a more traditional strategy experience.”
75
75/100
10/23/2024
Early Review“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake marks the return of one of the best strategic simulation games ever made, with a successful mix of strategy, simulation and role-playing elements.”
70
70/100
10/23/2024
Early Review“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake presents the series at its very peak. Despite turning back the clock more than 20 years, the end product feels like an evolution of ROTK's grand strategy format thanks to smart gameplay upgrades and its beautiful presentation.”
80
80/100
10/23/2024
Early Review“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake very much feels like a 2000s game, which has been respectfully updated with improved presentation. Unfortunately, its gameplay has not withstood the test of time. Built upon an engaging turn-based gameplay loop, this game quickly becomes repetitive—even tedious—because it plays the same scenes over and over. Compared to the variety of events in modern grand strategy games, it's difficult to recommend this one. However, if you're a history enthusiast or a Dynasty Warriors fan curious about the strategy genre, this game may be for you.”
50
50/100
