ROME: Total War - BI in IOS

Fight for Rome or destroy it

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

94/100

Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion is an absolute powerhouse of a port. Feral Interactive has done the impossible by bringing the full, uncompromised PC experience to the iPad and iPhone. The scale is staggering—seeing thousands of units clashing on a mobile screen without a hitch is a technical marvel. This expansion adds a much darker, more desperate tone to the original Rome: Total War, focusing on the crumbling empire and the encroaching hordes.

The touch controls are surprisingly intuitive, using gestures for unit formations and movement that actually feel better than a mouse in some scenarios. The 'Horde' mechanic for the barbarian factions adds a whole new layer of strategy; you aren't just defending territory, you're a nation on the move. It’s a deep, complex, and rewarding strategy game that can easily consume hundreds of hours. If you own an iPad, this is arguably the best strategy game you can buy.

Reviewed on: Wed Feb 25 2026
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. Total War is the gold standard for grand strategy, and Barbarian Invasion is arguably the best era for it. The tension of trying to hold together a crumbling empire is far more interesting than just conquering everything in sight. The tactical battles are still impressive to look at, even years later, and the AI is competent enough to give you a real run for your money. It’s a proper, full-fat PC game on your phone.

But let’s talk about that phone screen. Managing thousands of troops with a finger is a chore. While Feral Interactive has done a miracle with the UI, it’s still cramped. I highly recommend playing this on an iPad or a very large phone. Also, the battery drain is significant. It’s an old game, but it’s a demanding one. A must-buy for strategy fans, but be prepared for the technical hurdles of the mobile platform.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Unparalleled strategic and tactical depth
  • Huge variety of factions and units
  • Excellent port of a PC classic
  • Cramped UI on smaller screens
  • Significant battery drain
  • Steep learning curve

Technical Report

Performance: Heats up the device quickly during large battles; best played on recent hardware.

Accessibility:
  • Adjustable Battle Speed
  • Pause During Combat
  • Detailed Tutorials

Audience Fit

Buy if: You want the deepest strategy experience available on mobile.

Skip if: You want a quick game or hate complex micromanagement.

Similar Games:
  • Rome: Total War
  • Civilization VI
  • Company of Heroes

Reviewer Context

  • Reviewer: Dinsun, grand strategy purist
  • Hardware: iPad Pro 11
  • Playtime: 50 hours
  • Status: Won campaign as Western Rome

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad

Version 2.0.1Mon May 19 2025

• Improves the Save/Load interface; saves are now categorised by faction

• Adds Positioning Mode, allowing precise unit positioning, facing and formation depth

• Adds a Group Grid option for quicker selection of groups

• Adds unit auto-deselection options

• Adds Melee Mode toggle for ranged units

• Adds an option to automatically slow down gameplay while complex orders are being given

• Adds Targeting Pins indicating the target of selected units

• Adds incremental Battle Speed controls

• Adds a Camera Pan Speed Slider to the Options menu

• Adds location-based zoom options for camera controls

• Improves the Battle Minimap UI

• Adds the option to make Halt Orders a one-step action

• Adds a Smooth Zoom Curve option; when enabled, the battle camera tilt will curve smoothly when zooming

• Adds a faster “Zoom to Unit” camera option

• Fixes an issue where soldiers could fall and die when crossing the bridge of medium siege towers

• Fixes an issue with unit formations where Generals would mistakenly be placed at the same location as light cavalry

• Fixes an incorrect texture on Spanish Generals’ unit models

• Fixes a number of broken ancillary triggers for Generals

• Fixes an issue with duplicate ancillaries

• Fixes an issue where Italian provinces spawn Greek rebels

• Fixes a number of issues relating to buildings

• Fixes a number of issues relating to character traits

• This patch also addresses many smaller issues, including text alignment, localisation, rare crashes, and issues relating to specific hardware


Menaced by Barbarian hordes, the Roman Empire faces a day of reckoning. As one of 18 factions, take up arms to defend Rome, or spearhead its destruction.

CLASSIC GAMEPLAY IN A NEW SETTING

Engage in turn-based strategy and real-time battles to determine the fate of Rome.

FORMIDABLE BARBARIAN FACTIONS

Invade and dismantle the Roman Empire as a fearsome Barbarian tribe.

CAMPAIGN ON THE MOVE

Form a horde! And capture or sack settlements across the map.

ENORMOUS 3D BATTLES

Lead your armies and outwit your opponents in massive, real-time clashes between thousands of troops.

BUILT FOR MOBILE

Enjoy intuitive touch controls and a user interface designed for mobile gaming, or play with any iPadOS-compatible mouse and keyboard.

===

ROME: Total War requires iOS 16.1 or later. You need 4GB of free space on your device, though we recommend at least double this to avoid initial installation issues.

Supported iPhones:

• iPhone 8/8 Plus and later

• iPhone SE 2nd Generation (2020) and later

Supported iPads:

• iPad mini 5th Generation (2019) and later

• iPad Air 3rd Generation (2019) and later

• iPad 5th Generation (2017) and later

• Any iPad Pro

© 2002–2025 The Creative Assembly Limited. Originally developed by The Creative Assembly Limited. Originally published by SEGA. Creative Assembly, the Creative Assembly logo, Total War, ROME: Total War and the Total War logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of The Creative Assembly Limited. SEGA and the SEGA logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA Corporation. Developed for and published on iOS by Feral Interactive Limited. iOS, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Feral and the Feral logo are trademarks of Feral Interactive Ltd. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.


Requires iOS 16.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Menaced by Barbarian hordes, the Roman Empire faces a day of reckoning. As one of 18 factions, take up arms to defend Rome, or spearhead its destruction.

CLASSIC GAMEPLAY IN A NEW SETTING

Engage in turn-based strategy and real-time battles to determine the fate of Rome.

FORMIDABLE BARBARIAN FACTIONS

Invade and dismantle the Roman Empire as a fearsome Barbarian tribe.

CAMPAIGN ON THE MOVE

Form a horde! And capture or sack settlements across the map.

ENORMOUS 3D BATTLES

Lead your armies and outwit your opponents in massive, real-time clashes between thousands of troops.

BUILT FOR MOBILE

Enjoy intuitive touch controls and a user interface designed for mobile gaming, or play with any iPadOS-compatible mouse and keyboard.

===

ROME: Total War requires iOS 16.1 or later. You need 4GB of free space on your device, though we recommend at least double this to avoid initial installation issues.

Supported iPhones:

• iPhone 8/8 Plus and later

• iPhone SE 2nd Generation (2020) and later

Supported iPads:

• iPad mini 5th Generation (2019) and later

• iPad Air 3rd Generation (2019) and later

• iPad 5th Generation (2017) and later

• Any iPad Pro

© 2002–2025 The Creative Assembly Limited. Originally developed by The Creative Assembly Limited. Originally published by SEGA. Creative Assembly, the Creative Assembly logo, Total War, ROME: Total War and the Total War logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of The Creative Assembly Limited. SEGA and the SEGA logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA Corporation. Developed for and published on iOS by Feral Interactive Limited. iOS, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Feral and the Feral logo are trademarks of Feral Interactive Ltd. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.


Ratings & Reviews

4.8 out of 5 with 4130 Counts
Age Rating 13+

Screenshots

ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 1ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 2ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 3ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 4ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 5ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 6ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 7ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 8ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 9ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 10ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 11ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 12ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 13ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 14ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 15ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 16ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 17ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 18ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 19ROME: Total War - BI screenshot 20

ROME: Total War - Barbarian Invasion is the standalone expansion to the legendary strategy game. Set 300 years after the original campaign, players must navigate the decline of the Roman Empire or lead the Barbarian tribes in their quest to seize Rome. Featuring massive real-time 3D battles, deep turn-based empire management, and new mechanics like religion and 'Horde' factions, it is a definitive historical strategy experience.

Features

1

10 new factions, including the Goths and Huns

2

Massive real-time battles with thousands of units

3

Refined touch controls designed for iPad and iPhone

4

Complex empire management (Religion, Unrest, Taxes)

5

Epic campaign set across Europe and North Africa

Tips

Promotion Videos

Bringing Total War: EMPIRE to iOS (ft. Feral Interactive) - YouTube

Related Videos

Recommended Links

Feral Interactive Official Site

Technical specs and feature lists for the mobile port.

Dev

News on this game

‘Rome: Total War – Alexander’ full version now out on iPhone [U]

The strategy game Rome: Total War – Alexander, already available for iPad, is coming to iPhone and Android on October 24, says Feral...

9to5Mac - Fri Nov 29 2019

[Update: Out now] ROME: Total War – Barbarian Invasion expansion coming to Android this year

The mobile port of the ROME: Total War – Barbarian Invasion expansion landed on the iPad back in 2017, and today Feral Interactive has...

Android Police - Mon Jul 29 2019

Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion expansion to hit iPads in March

Creative Assembly's real-time strategy smash hit Rome: Total War made its debut on iPads last fall. Developed by Feral Interactive, a games...

PhoneArena - Wed Mar 01 2017

[Update: Now available] ROME: Total War - Alexander is coming to Android on October 24, and you can pre-reg right now

It would appear that Feral Interactive has been quite busy with its mobile ports for the ROME: Total War series.

Android Police - Fri Nov 29 2019

Total War: MEDIEVAL II by Feral Interactive Ltd

MEDIEVAL II brings Total War's compelling mix of massive real-time battles and intricate turn-based strategy to iPhone and iPad.

AppAdvice - Fri Apr 29 2022

ROME: Total War - Barbarian Invasion is now available on iPhone

Sega and Feral Interactive have today released an update for the, previously iPad and PC exclusive, standalone expansion to Creative...

Pocket Gamer - Sat Jun 29 2019

Tropico by Feral Interactive Ltd

The humorous building simulator allows players to transform the small island country while playing politics and ruling the residents.

AppAdvice - Fri Sep 29 2023

Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion Arrives for iPhone

The classic strategy game is now available to play on the iPhone 5s or later with a UI specifically designed for the smartphone screen.

AppAdvice - Sat Jun 29 2019

Gameplays

Q&A

No, Barbarian Invasion is a standalone game on the App Store and does not require the original title.

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