<header class="guide-hero"> <h1>Editions & DLC</h1> <p class="lede"> Napoleon: Total War shipped in 2010 and has since been repackaged. Here is exactly what each edition contains so you buy the right one — and don’t pay twice for DLC. </p></header><section> <h2>The base game</h2> <p> Released 25 February 2010 (NA) / 26 February 2010 (EU) by Creative Assembly and SEGA, Napoleon: Total War covers two decades of the Napoleonic Wars, from the Italian campaign to Waterloo. The vanilla game includes three campaigns — <strong>Italy</strong>, <strong>Egypt</strong> and <strong>Mastery of Europe</strong> — plus twelve historical battles and a cutting-edge (for 2010) multiplayer suite. It holds a Metacritic score of <strong>81</strong> and 71 Steam achievements in its current build. </p></section><section> <h2>Downloadable content (DLC)</h2> <p>There are four official DLC packs, all available on Steam:</p> <div class="table-scroll"> <table class="data-table"> <thead> <tr><th>Pack</th><th>What it adds</th></tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr><td>Heroes of the Napoleonic Wars</td><td>Over 20 legendary and elite new units for the major factions.</td></tr> <tr><td>Imperial Eagle Pack</td><td>Elite units and regiment variety (also listed as the Imperial Guard Pack in some stores).</td></tr> <tr><td>Coalition Battle Pack</td><td>Adds the <strong>Battle of Friedland</strong> historical battle and a new scenario.</td></tr> <tr><td>The Peninsular Campaign</td><td>An independent 1811–1814 campaign. Play France, Great Britain or Spain across 32 new regions, with guerrilla warfare and new agents.</td></tr> </tbody> </table> </div></section><section> <h2>Gold Edition vs Definitive Edition</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Gold Edition</strong> = base game + all unit packs + the Peninsular Campaign. The classic “everything on a disc” bundle.</li> <li><strong>Total War: NAPOLEON – Definitive Edition</strong> = the current Steam version. It includes the base game and <strong>all four DLC packs</strong> plus feature updates since release. Existing owners were upgraded to it for free.</li> </ul> <p> Practically: on Steam today you just buy the <strong>Definitive Edition</strong> and you have everything — there is no separate “complete edition” to chase. If you already own the base game, the DLC is included in the Definitive upgrade at no extra cost. </p></section><section> <h2>What each campaign actually is</h2> <p> The bundled campaigns are the real value. Italy is the short tutorial-style opening covering Napoleon's early Italian victories; Egypt follows the French expedition and the Battle of the Pyramids; Mastery of Europe is the grand sandbox where you take a faction from 1790s to 1815. The Peninsular Campaign DLC is distinct — a focused 1811 to 1814 guerrilla war with its own agents and political mechanics. If you only ever play one, Mastery of Europe is the full experience; the others are tighter, story-led introductions. </p></section><section> <h2>Platform and system notes</h2> <p> Napoleon is a Windows game requiring Steam; the macOS port arrived later via Feral Interactive. It is light by modern standards — the original minimum was around 21 GB of disk and a modest CPU — but it is a 2010 title, so it can hit the graphics-locked-on-Medium and newer-CPU launch issues covered in the <a href="/guides/troubleshooting">troubleshooting guide</a>. None of that affects which edition you buy; it only affects how you set it up once installed. </p></section><section> <h2>Which should you buy?</h2> <p> Buy the <strong>Definitive Edition</strong>. It is the complete, patched build with all DLC and achievements, and it is the only version Steam actively sells. The Peninsular Campaign alone is worth it for the guerrilla-warfare mechanic and the third playable faction set. If you are coming from a different Total War game, our <a href="/guides/empire-vs-napoleon">Empire vs Napoleon</a> comparison helps you decide whether this is even the right title for you. </p></section><section> <h2>If you own an old copy</h2> <p> Players who bought Napoleon years ago on disc or as the base game often ask whether the Definitive Edition is worth paying for again. The answer hinges on the DLC: the old base game is missing the Peninsular Campaign, the Coalition Battle Pack (Friedland), and the elite unit packs, all of which the Definitive Edition includes. If you already own the base game on Steam, you were upgraded to the Definitive Edition for free, so there is nothing to buy. If you own a disc copy tied to an old Steam key, redeeming that key today grants the Definitive Edition as well. The only people who need to spend money are those buying fresh or holding a non-Steam disc they never activated. </p></section><section> <h2>What you actually miss without the DLC</h2> <p> The DLC is not cosmetic. The Peninsular Campaign is a full third playable theatre with its own agents and mechanics, and it is the only way to play Spain or experience guerrilla warfare in the game. The Coalition Battle Pack adds the Battle of Friedland, one of the twelve historical battles, so without it your historical-battles set is incomplete. The unit packs add elite regiments that change army composition for the major factions. None of this breaks the base game, but a buyer choosing between editions is really choosing between a complete game and a partial one — and the complete one is the Definitive Edition at no real premium. </p> <p> One practical note for buyers: the Definitive Edition goes on sale frequently on Steam, often dropping to a fraction of its list price during seasonal events, so waiting for a sale rather than buying at full price is usually worthwhile. Regional pricing also varies, so check your local storefront. Either way, the version to own is unambiguous — it is the Definitive Edition, and everything else is a stepping stone to it. </p></section><section class="related"> <h2>Related</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/guides/historical-battles/">Historical Battles</a> — the twelve standalone scenarios (Friedland is DLC)</li> <li><a href="/guides/best-mods/">Best Mods</a> — DarthMod, NTW3 and LME for even more content</li> <li><a href="/guides/troubleshooting/">Troubleshooting</a> — install and performance fixes</li> </ul></section>