Napoleon Bonaparte is marching onto mobile devices. Total War Napoleon, the beloved 2010 strategy game that refined and polished everything players loved about Total War Empire, launches on iOS and Android December 2, 2025. Developer Feral Interactive announced the release with all desktop DLC included plus exclusive content that PC players never received. If you’ve been following Feral’s mobile Total War ports, you know this one is going to be special.
What You Get for $15
Total War Napoleon hits app stores December 2 with a $14.99 USD price tag (£9.99, €12.49, with regional variations). That one-time purchase unlocks the complete game with no subscriptions, no microtransactions, and no additional DLC to buy separately. Everything that originally cost extra on PC comes standard in the mobile version.
The Peninsular Campaign DLC, which focused on the conflict in Iberia during the Napoleonic Wars, is included from day one. Players can fight to hold or liberate Spain and Portugal in this theater-specific campaign that added significant strategic depth to the original game. The Battle of Friedland DLC, recreating the 1807 clash in Prussia, also comes bundled with the base purchase.
You also get 27 additional unit types that were sold separately on PC. These expand army compositions across all factions, adding variety to both campaign and battle modes. For comparison, when Total War Napoleon originally released on Steam, players needed to purchase the game plus multiple DLC packs to access everything. Mobile users get it all upfront for less than the cost of a couple fancy coffees.
Exclusive Mobile Content
Here’s where things get interesting. Feral Interactive added four nations as playable factions exclusively for mobile – Spain, Portugal, Denmark, and the Ottoman Empire. These countries appeared in the original game as AI-controlled powers, but players on PC could never actually command them without mods. Mobile users get official implementations with proper mechanics, units, and campaign objectives.
This continues Feral’s pattern of enhancing mobile ports beyond straight conversions. Their Total War Empire mobile release received the A New World expansion in September 2025, which unlocked 44 previously unplayable factions, two new campaigns, and 14 additional naval units. The expansion transformed Empire mobile into a more complete experience than the base PC version in some ways.
Campaigns and Battles Included
Total War Napoleon structures its content around two main campaign types. The Campaigns of the Coalition let players choose sides in the Napoleonic Wars as European great powers collide to determine the continent’s fate. France under Napoleon attempts to dominate Europe while coalitions of rival nations try to contain or destroy his ambitions. Players can guide Napoleon to even greater glory or lead Britain, Austria, Prussia, or Russia to defeat him.
Napoleon’s Battles mode recreates or lets players rewrite specific historical engagements. Famous conflicts like Austerlitz and Waterloo become playable scenarios with period-accurate armies and battlefield conditions. These battles typically last 20 to 40 minutes and offer tightly focused tactical challenges compared to the sprawling strategic layer of campaign modes.
The Peninsular Campaign deserves special mention as one of the most interesting additions. This focused campaign examines the often-overlooked Iberian theater where French forces attempted to control Spain and Portugal while facing fierce local resistance supported by British intervention. The guerrilla warfare mechanics and unique geographical challenges make it play differently from the main campaigns.
Why Napoleon Over Empire
Total War Empire and Napoleon use the same engine and cover similar time periods, so why release both on mobile? Reddit’s Total War community consistently describes Napoleon as the more polished, refined version. Empire was ambitious with its global scope stretching from Europe to India to the Americas, but that ambition came with bugs, AI issues, and mechanical problems that frustrated players.
Napoleon narrowed the scope to Europe and the Middle East while tightening everything that felt loose in Empire. The campaign AI makes smarter decisions. Battle AI handles formations and unit positioning more intelligently. Graphics received a noticeable upgrade with improved particle effects that make cannon fire and musket volleys more spectacular. The shorter time frame (roughly 1805 to 1815 instead of Empire’s multi-generational span) means technological progression feels more coherent.
Regional detail improved dramatically. In Empire, you might conquer France by taking Paris. In Napoleon, France is divided into multiple provinces that must be secured individually. This creates more strategic depth and makes holding territory feel more substantial. Mechanics like attrition and automatic unit replenishment, which later Total War games adopted as standard features, debuted in Napoleon.
Feral’s Mobile Magic
Feral Interactive has ported Total War Rome, Medieval 2, and Empire to mobile with consistent success. Each release includes redesigned user interfaces optimized for touchscreens, quality-of-life improvements that modernize older games, and full keyboard and mouse support for players who want traditional controls.
The touch controls deserve special praise. Strategy games typically struggle on mobile because they were designed for precise mouse input. Feral’s interface redesigns make commanding armies and managing empires feel natural with finger taps and gestures. Context-sensitive menus reduce screen clutter while keeping important information accessible. Tutorials guide newcomers through complex systems without overwhelming them.
Performance optimization is another strength. These games require significant processing power even on PC, yet Feral consistently delivers smooth performance on mid-range mobile devices. Total War Napoleon requires Android 12 or iOS equivalents with 12GB free space (though Feral recommends 24GB to avoid installation issues). That’s substantial but manageable for modern phones and tablets.
The visual upgrades shouldn’t be overlooked either. Feral describes Napoleon as the most explosive and visually impressive mobile Total War to date thanks to enhanced particle effects and modernized firepower graphics. Cannon barrages, musket volleys, and cavalry charges look spectacular on high-resolution mobile displays.
The Perfect Travel Companion
Mobile Total War games excel at providing substantial strategy experiences in portable form. A single campaign can last dozens of hours as you conquer territories, manage economies, conduct diplomacy, and fight battles. The turn-based strategic layer means you can save between turns and pick up exactly where you left off without losing momentum.
Real-time battles require more continuous attention but typically conclude within 30 to 45 minutes. You can auto-resolve battles if you don’t have time for tactical command, though that removes much of the game’s appeal. The combination of strategic depth and tactical combat creates a rewarding loop where long-term planning meets moment-to-moment decision making.
The standalone pricing model matters more than many players realize. No energy systems. No timed progression gates. No premium currencies or gacha mechanics. You buy the game once and own everything forever. This feels increasingly rare in mobile gaming where free-to-play monetization dominates. Fifteen dollars might seem expensive compared to free alternatives, but the value proposition is completely different.
Community Reactions
The Total War subreddit responded enthusiastically to the announcement. Veterans who played Napoleon when it launched in 2010 expressed excitement about revisiting the game on mobile. Younger players who missed the original PC release see it as an opportunity to experience a classic without needing to dig through Steam’s back catalog.
Some PC players expressed frustration that mobile versions now include content and improvements unavailable on desktop. The four exclusive playable nations and various quality-of-life enhancements remain mobile-only for now. Feral has hinted that strong mobile sales could influence decisions about remastering older Total War titles for modern PCs, but nothing concrete has been announced.
Total War Empire mobile’s A New World expansion demonstrated Feral’s willingness to create substantial new content rather than simple ports. That expansion added so much material that some players described it as getting both Napoleon and Empire in one package. Napoleon starting with all DLC included plus exclusive nations suggests Feral is committed to making mobile the definitive way to experience these classic games.
What to Expect
If you’ve never played a Total War game, Napoleon on mobile offers an excellent entry point. The narrower scope compared to titles like Rome makes it less overwhelming for newcomers. The Napoleonic era’s historical familiarity helps players understand faction relationships and strategic objectives without needing deep knowledge of ancient civilizations or medieval politics.
Existing Total War fans can expect the core experience they remember with modern conveniences. The strategic campaign map uses turn-based mechanics where you build structures, recruit units, manage finances, conduct diplomacy, and position armies. When armies meet on the battlefield, the game switches to real-time tactical combat where positioning, terrain, morale, and unit composition determine victory.
The learning curve is real but manageable. Total War games involve numerous interconnected systems that take time to master. Tax rates affect public order which influences recruitment which impacts military strength which determines diplomatic leverage. Feral’s improved tutorials and redesigned interfaces ease the learning process compared to the sometimes obtuse PC versions.
FAQs
When does Total War Napoleon release on mobile?
Total War Napoleon launches on iOS and Android December 2, 2025.
How much does Total War Napoleon cost?
The game costs $14.99 USD, £9.99 GBP, or €12.49 EUR with regional pricing variations. This one-time purchase includes all content with no additional DLC or microtransactions.
What DLC is included in the mobile version?
All PC DLC comes standard including The Peninsular Campaign, Battle of Friedland, and 27 additional unit types. Mobile also adds four exclusive playable nations – Spain, Portugal, Denmark, and the Ottoman Empire.
What devices can run Total War Napoleon?
The game requires Android 12 or later with 12GB free storage (24GB recommended). iOS requirements haven’t been specified but likely mirror Android specifications. Check the App Store or Google Play for device compatibility.
Does Total War Napoleon support controllers?
Yes, the game includes full keyboard and mouse support for players who prefer traditional controls alongside optimized touchscreen interfaces.
Can I play Total War Napoleon offline?
Yes, Total War Napoleon is a premium standalone game that doesn’t require internet connectivity after initial download.
How does Napoleon compare to Empire?
Napoleon is widely considered more polished with better AI, improved graphics, refined mechanics, and greater regional detail. Empire offers broader geographical scope while Napoleon provides tighter, more focused gameplay.
Who is developing the mobile version?
Feral Interactive is handling the mobile port. They previously brought Total War Rome, Medieval 2, and Empire to mobile with excellent results.
Will there be additional content after launch?
Nothing has been announced yet, but Feral released the substantial A New World expansion for Total War Empire mobile in September 2025, suggesting they support games post-launch when sales justify it.
Conclusion
Total War Napoleon represents strategy gaming’s continued evolution on mobile platforms. Feral Interactive has proven repeatedly that complex PC strategy games can not only function on phones and tablets but thrive there with proper adaptation. Including all DLC plus exclusive playable nations makes the mobile version arguably superior to the desktop original in terms of content value.
December 2 can’t come soon enough for strategy fans who want substantial gaming experiences on the go. Whether you’re commanding Napoleon’s Grande Armée to crush the coalitions arrayed against France or leading Britain’s forces to finally defeat the Corsican upstart at Waterloo, Total War Napoleon on mobile promises dozens of hours of tactical depth and strategic challenge. For fifteen dollars, you’re getting one of strategy gaming’s most polished entries optimized for modern mobile devices. That’s a conquest worth pursuing.