It is 190CE and China is in turmoil. The Han Dynasty crumbles before the child-emperor, who is a mere puppet for the tyrant Dong Zhuo. The brutal and oppressive regime’s power grows as the empire slips further into anarchy. Yet hope blossoms in the form of three heroes, sworn to brotherhood in the face of calamity. Warlords of great families follow suit, forming a fragile coalition in a bid to challenge Dong Zhuo’s remorseless rule. The future of China will be shaped by their hands, but personal ambition threatens their already crumbling alliance.

Inspired by the beauty and artistic style of the age, Total War: Three Kingdoms breathes life into the heroes of this fascinating period as they struggle to unite China under a single banner.

The stage is set. The Han Empire crumbles, leaving a fractured China ripe for the picking, and twelve shrewd warlords ready to seize the opportunity. It's now up to you. Who do you choose to rule?

Next month, Total War: Three Kingdoms will set you on the path to unify China. But before you experience its triumphant victories and devastating betrayals, you must first pledge your allegiance to one of the twelve contenders. Luckily, Creative Assembly's latest video is here to help.

Will you mend the country's wounds as the benevolent Liu Bei? Or torch the establishment as the bandit queen, Zheng Jiang? Or maybe you'll turn brother against brother as Cao Cao, the strategic mastermind and master puppeteer? Each warlord is a master of their art...

• Sun Jian, the Tiger of Jiangdong
• Cao Cao, the Puppet Master
• Liu Bei, the Leader of the People
• Zheng Jiang, the Bandit Queen
• Dong Zhuo, the Tyrant
• Gongsun Zan, the Knight
• Yuan Shu, the Pretender
• Kong Rong, the Master Scholar
• Liu Biao, the Aristocrat
• Zhang Yan, the Soldier of Fortune
• Ma Teng, the Loyalist
• Yuan Shao, the Alliance Leader

Whoever you choose, the path to glory is your own.

Total War: Three Kingdoms is scheduled for release on March 23, 2019.