Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

ROME vs Total War

ROME 4.8★ · $9.99 · ⚠ stale 75
Winner ROME
Total War 4.9★ · $14.99 60

ROME is the better choice for players seeking a classic Total War experience on mobile, despite recent update issues, while Total War (Medieval II) struggles more with control and stability.

Full reviews: ROME · Total War

Both ROME and Total War (Medieval II) offer a classic PC strategy game experience on mobile, but ROME generally provides a more stable and enjoyable port despite recent bugs. Total War faces more significant issues with controls, crashes, and a perceived lack of value due to DLC pricing.

Head to head

Features & Content tieR8R14R17R18
ROME ROME is praised for being the 'real game' with everything remembered from the PC version, offering a full campaign experience R8. Users suggest adding naval battles, mod support, and options for playing as SPQR or starting civil wars R14R17R20. Some desire updated graphics and one-on-one fighting R18.
Total War Total War (Medieval II) is also seen as an amazing game with many factions, equal to or greater than its PC counterpart . However, users express frustration over having to pay extra for DLC to unlock the full game or additional campaigns like 'Americas' R67. Many request mod support, more units, and multiplayer options .
Ease of Use & Controls tieR2R4R10R13
ROME ROME's controls are a significant point of contention; many find them hard, not easy, complicated, and tedious, especially for unit movement and camera navigation R2R4R10. The UI is described as abysmal, frustrating, and unpredictable, making battles difficult R13. Recent updates have reportedly worsened unit placement and movement R21.
Total War Total War (Medieval II) also faces criticism for its difficult controls and interface, with users finding it hard to operate on mobile . Specific issues include units not following commands, archers charging instead of shooting, and problems with cavalry charges . Some users report the game not recognizing touch input or trackpad functionality with external keyboards .
Reliability & Performance edge: ROMER1R6R7R8
ROME ROME has frequent reports of crashing, especially during campaigns, siege battles, or after recent updates R1R16R30. Users also experience issues with sound not working, the game not loading past the menu, or becoming unresponsive R6R7R37. The game is noted to drain phone battery R8.
Total War Total War (Medieval II) also suffers from significant crashing issues, often randomly, during large battles (like against Mongols), or after updates . Users report problems with sound, screen resolution glitches, and the game not launching on newer devices .
Price & Value edge: ROMER10R11R17R67
ROME ROME is priced at $9.99 and many users feel it is 'well worth the money' and a 'great game' for the price R11R17. However, some consider it 'relatively expensive disappointment' given mobile playability issues R10.
Total War Total War (Medieval II) costs $14.99, which some users find 'a chunk of your bank account' but 'worth it' . A major point of contention is the additional cost for DLC, with users feeling it's 'greed' to charge extra for content that came with the PC version R67.
Support & Updates tieR1R21R30R37
ROME Recent updates for ROME have introduced new bugs, such as unit placement issues, crashing during siege battles, and broken saves R1R21R30. Some users report the developer responded to issues, but not always effectively R37.
Total War Total War (Medieval II) updates have also caused problems, with users reporting that cheats no longer work and the game crashes more frequently . There are requests for fixes for diplomacy AI and general bug resolution . The lack of simplified Chinese support is a significant issue for some users .
Pick ROME if

You want to play the classic Rome: Total War experience on your mobile device and are willing to navigate some control quirks and potential bugs from recent updates R8R11. You prefer a slightly lower price point and don't want to deal with additional DLC purchases for core content R11R17.

Pick Total War if

You are a dedicated fan of Medieval II: Total War and want to play it on mobile, understanding that it comes with significant challenges in controls, stability, and potentially extra costs for expansions . You are hopeful for future updates to address the numerous bugs and control issues .

Evidence note: Both apps are paid-only, so the reviews reflect the experiences of paying customers. Recent negative reviews for both apps highlight significant stability and control issues, suggesting a decline in performance or introduction of bugs with newer updates or device compatibility.

Frequently asked

Do these games run well on modern mobile devices?
Both ROME and Total War (Medieval II) have users reporting issues with crashing and unresponsiveness on newer devices and iOS versions, particularly after recent updates R1R16R37R43.
Are the controls well-adapted for mobile screens?
Many users for both games find the controls difficult and frustrating on mobile, especially for unit movement and camera navigation, as the games were originally designed for PC with keyboard and mouse R2R4R10R25.
Is there additional content to purchase?
For Total War (Medieval II), users report having to pay additional money to unlock other halves of the game or expansion packages like 'Americas' after the initial $14.99 purchase R67. ROME is a single $9.99 purchase, though some users wish for mod support or additional content R11R17R20.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R8] ROME 5/5 · US 100% of everything you remember: This is the real game and it’s great you could sit here and play it on your phone for 4 hours straight if your battery would let you lol
  2. [R14] ROME 4/5 · US Battle: I would like sea battles
  3. [R17] ROME 5/5 · US Naval battles could be a great thing in this great game: This is a great game, and if you’re thinking of buying it, it’s worth the price, and there’s a reason why it’s still alive after 20 years. Now, for the reason that I wrote this review: naval battles. Actual naval battles where you can control the ships would make this game even greater. Because naval ships are a very important part of this
  4. [R18] ROME 3/5 · US grapick: Upgrade some graphics I think so Now every phone has the ability to play with higher graphics This is an easy mobile game to add One-on-one fighting Like the rome Total War 2020 and above That allows commanders to fight head-to-head In the offline section
  5. [R2] ROME 5/5 · US It’s okay but needs a improvement: It’s fun I like it but it would be cool if there was better controls the game is very fun tho but controls are hard and not ez but cool!
  6. [R4] ROME 2/5 · US Please read: It’s so hard to get the controls down and it is so complicated to start a war. Also when u do start a war u can barely walk. Have to tap were u want to go and as e z as that sounds its not cause the way the u look around is so weird u have to like pinch ur fingers in a weird way. Any ways i DONT recommend this game.
  7. [R10] ROME 1/5 · US Original awesome, this one not so much: This game is not manageable in a fun way: on a mobile sized screen, nor within the spans of attention that I as a mobile player can invest in a round of play. The original game was amazing, this was a relatively expensive disappointment.
  8. [R13] ROME 1/5 · US What a mess: The UI is abysmal, unit integration and behavior is broken. Game is barely playable
  9. [R1] ROME 1/5 · US -+30: Heats up after the update
  10. [R6] ROME 3/5 · US Sound doesn’t work: Would give it 5 stars if the sound worked. Other than that, solid game and run really well
  11. [R7] ROME 1/5 · US Trash: Unable to navigate past the main menu, absolute trash.
  12. [R11] ROME 5/5 · US Best game hands down: Hesitated before but 100% the best thing I ever bought. Well worth the money
  13. [R67] Total War 1/5 · US Waste: So you’re telling me I spent all this money just to have to pay even more money to unlock the other half of the game. What a waste!
  14. [R21] ROME 3/5 · US The new update…: Idk why but the newest update has ruined the unit placing for me, it has bugged it and flips my soldiers for no reason
  15. [R30] ROME 3/5 · US Someone screwed up: This game has been a classic staple for years until the last update. Now it’s full of bugs anytime you’re fighting a siege battle. Please bring back the 5 star version.
  16. [R37] ROME 1/5 · US No longer functional: I used to play this game on an iPad 9, and wanted to play some more on my M2 iPad Pro. However when I go to start it, I get a scything status that stays up for a while followed by a message that suggests I adjust accessibility settings that were never turned on. Then the game keeps loading but is not responsive to screen taps at all. Don’t bother with this version. Update :
  17. [R16] ROME 2/5 · US Keeps crashing: Love the game . Had it on pc back in the day with all the disks and what not . However I’m in the middle of a campaign on my iPhone and each time I hit the same part the game crashes on me it’s happened 4 days in a row I can’t get past it . Could really used a solution, other then that’s its 5 stars
  18. [R43] ROME 1/5 · US Nonfunctional: Recent update would crash and now I can open app but can’t load a game at all on iPad
  19. [R25] ROME 1/5 · US Not for phone: What a joke couldn’t even click and give directions. Screen is way to small and giving directions via attempting to zoom in and out is terrible and near impossible would like my $10 back
  20. [R20] ROME 5/5 · US We need mods: Game great but it needs mod support like android I’m on iOS iPad

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store