Medieval: Total War is a computer strategy game where the player builds a dynastic empire in medieval Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Gameplay is both strategic and tactical, with grand strategy played out in turn-based fashion on a province-by-province level, somewhat like the 1980 board game Empires of the Middle Ages, while military units of varying types and capabilities fight against each other in real time on a tactical map.
MTW was the second game in the Total War series from The Creative Assembly, which includes Shogun: Total War, Rome: Total War and Medieval II: Total War. MTW was followed by an expansion pack called Viking Invasion.
An indirect sequel, Medieval II: Total War, was announced on January 20, 2006 and released in mid-November 2006.