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Why are so many Chinese, Korean, and Japanese strategy games based on the Three Kingdoms
period in Chinese history?

The Three Kingdoms Era in China was a period of chaos and disaster that lasted 60 years (AD 220-280).
During that time the land was divided into three regions: Cao Wei, ruled by Cao Cao, Shu Han under
Liu Bei's command, and Dong Wu, controlled by Sun Quan. Like other warfare eras, the Three
Kingdoms period became very popular and has served as inspiration for games and simulations; but
unlike other times of hardship the number of strategy games based on the Three Kingdoms era is much
larger. What triggered this could be determined by a few select characteristics that make this war unlike
any other in history.

One of the most popular games is initial PC game Romance of the Three Kingdoms, developed by KOEI
in Japan, currently running its thirteenth instalment. This game was based off an even more popular
Chinese historical novel under the same name, attributed to Luo Guanzhong, which offers fascinating
information and detailed biographies for this era, allowing a rich, in-depth story and immense character
development. Having so much data on characters means giving each army its own strengths and
weaknesses, demanding the player to consider in his or her tactical approach personality rather than
nationality in order to do well in the game. As stated by Guanzhong himself: Three reeking tanners (are
enough to) overcome one Zhuge Liang. Due to the fact that the three kingdoms were part of the same
ethos, it gives no strategic or diplomatic advantage and erases all significant cultural and political
barriers, making it a balanced military situation where winning becomes a realistic free-for-all option, an
attractive characteristic for any strategy-based diplomacy game.

For these reasons the Three Kingdoms era is one of the periods in history with more games than any
other (including WWII and the American Civil War). Although it didnt last long, it was a time of feudal
chaos, making it a great military and historical lesson for all Asia.

Bibliography

Editors of Online Britannica. "Three Kingdoms." Three Kingdoms | Ancient Kingdoms, China.
Britannica Online. Accessed January 26, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/event/Three-Kingdomsancient-kingdoms-China.
Lam, Lai Sing. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Mao's Global Order of Tripolarity. Bern: Peter
Lang, 2011.
Luo, Guanzhong, and C. H. Brewitt-Taylor. Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Boston: Tuttle Pub.,
2002.
"Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI | Official Site | KOEI." Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI |
Official Site | KOEI. Accessed January 28, 2016. http://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/rtkxipc/.