Best games to play if you like Shogun

Creative Assembly / Sega

FX Networks is currently conquering the world with Shogun, its masterful adaptation of the book by James Clavell. Taking viewers on a journey to feudal Japan, Shogun explores the politics in a country that has just recently been unified after a brutal civil war, the Sengoku Jidai. Based on the real history of the era, most of the story’s characters have historical counterparts, making their decisions and personalities all the more authentic.

If you find yourself captivated by the thrilling drama and need to dive into the era yourself, then we have just the right tools for you – the best video games to play if you like Shogun.

Total War: Shogun 2

It even has “Shogun” in the title, so it has to be a fit, right? Chronologically, Total War: Shogun 2 takes place during the Sengoku Jidai period – in that time of chaos in which characters like the show’s Toranaga grew up and rose through the ranks to attain the power and glory they hold at the time of the series.

In typical Total War fashion, you choose one of the warring factions and try to make your way to Kyoto through conquest and diplomacy. Occupying and developing regions on the strategic map feeds your war machine, allowing you to recruit additional armies for the series’ real-time battles.

Total War: Shogun 2 features naval battles as well as land battles. You can even recruit a European ship with cannons to help you out. / Creative Assembly / Sega

Though Shogun 2 doesn’t feature the kind of unit variety Rome 2 of the Warhammer trilogy can offer, fans hold the game in very high regard for its polished combat system tailored around the core unit types of melee infantry, ranged infantry, and melee cavalry – mark my words: You will not have known true fear until you’ve charged some Yari Ashigaru head-on. Spear-wielding rice farmers are truly terrifying.

In case you want more guns in your conquest of Japan, the Fall of the Samurai expansion takes place in the Boshin War and features the conflict you know and love from The Last Samurai – including a hefty dose of old-school samurai charges against lines of riflemen.

Europa Universalis 4

Paradox Interactive’s grand strategy epic – which is getting a successor soon – covers a large span of history, including the period portrayed in the show. What’s great about it is that you can play as one of the many Japanese daimyos and try to unite the country before the Europeans show up in the neighborhood or you can get in on that colonization race as a European nation, taking over the role the Portuguese are playing in the show.

The Netherlands: From here Blackthorne sailed all the way to Japan. / Paradox Interactive

Of course, Europa Universalis 4 is not exactly a casual experience – you’ll need to manage all aspects of your empire, from finances and diplomacy to domestic politics and research. If you want to know how much work characters like Toranaga have on their plate every day, this is a good pick.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence

A classic strategy game series, Nobunaga’s Ambition has been around for a long time – and it even inspired an isekai anime in which all the warlords are cute girls. Sphere of Influence is the latest and most modern incarnation of the franchise and, obviously, is set in the Sengoku Jidai period in which titular hero Oda Nobunaga almost succeeded in uniting the country.

Nobunaga’s counterpart in the show is the tyrant Kuroda, the father of Lady Ochiba. Upon his assassination, his trusted ally Toyotomi Hideyoshi rose to the top and finished the job – that’s Shogun’s Taiko, for whose son Toranaga and the Council of Regents are supposed to govern.

Nobunaga's Ambition features empire management as well as battles. / Koei Tecmo

In Nobunaga’s Ambition, the country is far from united, though, and you need to use your wits and armies to bring that about before worrying about your succession.

Sengoku Jidai: Shadows of the Shogun

If you really want to dive into the tactical side of things, then Sengoku Jidai: Shadows of the Shogun is a fantastic choice – I won’t need to tell you in which era this one is set, right?

Based on a set of actual tabletop wargame rules, Sengoku Jidai is pretty easy and intuitive to get into, but provides immense depth. Its visuals, too, are very clean and inspired by art of the time, which helps both the game’s immersion and approachability. 

Don't be deceived by the simple graphics: This ruleset is amazing to play in. / Byzantine Games / Slitherine

Whether you’re fighting to unite Japan or invading Korea after successfully doing so, Sengoku Jidai: Shadows of the Shogun delivers fine turn-based tactics gameplay across several story campaigns and skirmish modes.

Rise of the Ronin

It’s been a lot of strategy games up to this point – I know. What can I say? Feudal Japan is a fantastic setting for those. Unfortunately, the action-packed Ghost of Tsushima isn’t really related to Shogun in any way, as the Mongol invasion it portrays happens a good 400 years before the series.

Likewise, Rise of Ronin is set a couple hundred years after the events of the series during the Boshin War – but there is a connection to Shogun: The Boshin War resulted in the abdication of the last shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, which was first established – you guessed it – during the show’s timeframe. Its founder, Tokugawa Ieyasu, is the historical inspiration for the character of Yoshii Toranaga.

Rise of the Ronin and Ghost of Tsushima are great picks for a bit more action. / Team Ninja / Sony

In Rise of the Ronin, the recently released PS5 exclusive, you can explore this conflict from the perspective of a lone samurai and may decide which side you want to join – do you support the Meiji Restoration and want to modernize Japan, or would you rather keep the Shogunate? As you traverse the open world and tackle satisfying combat challenges, your decisions will shape the outcome of the war.