PC Gamer UK March issue: Total War: Three Kingdoms

Features
By published

Also: Rage 2, Anno 1800, a chat with Charlie Brooker, and more!

The Creative Assembly has had to rebuild whole systems to make Total War: Three Kingdoms complex multi-layered diplomacy work. There are still plenty of battles, but the reasons behind them have never been so nuanced. This month we stepped into the role of the legendary tyrant Dong Zhuo to explore CA's gorgeous rendition of ancient China in our exclusive-access cover feature.

Speaking of playing games that aren't quite released yet, we also rounded up a bunch of the early access games we're most excited about right now. Then we look back 11 years to 1998 as Phil Iwaniuk builds an old school beige banger PC to play Half-Life. Sweet memories.

Also this month: Andy Kelly sits down with Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker to talk about gaming, and the interactive Netflix show Bandersnatch. "some people have said they're shit at it, which is odd," is one of many fun quotes.

There's loads more inside, including a fascinating insight into game sound recording in the field, an ode to hidden object games, and the last They're Back section from auspicious PC Gamer alumnus Chris Thursten. Happy trails!

This month

  • Tom tries to tyrannise ancient China with the warlord Dong Zhuo in our cover feature.
  • We highlight some of the most exciting games in early access.
  • Andy talks to Charlie Brooker about games and his interactive drama, Bandersnatch.
  • We build a 1998 spec PC to play Half-Life.
  • Learn about the art of sound capture from sound designer and field recordist Watson Wu.
  • Explore the joys of hidden object games.
  • We preview Rage 2, The Sinking City, The Stillness of the Wind, Observation, Anno 1800 and more.
  • Resident Evil 2, Gris, Dusk, Ashen, DayZ, Ace Combat 7, Onimusha Warlords and more reviewed.
  • Our gaming headset group test and latest hardware recommendations.
PC Gamer
PC Gamer

The collective PC Gamer editorial team worked together to write this article. PC Gamer is the global authority on PC games—starting in 1993 with the magazine, and then in 2010 with this website you're currently reading. We have writers across the US, UK and Australia, who you can read about here.