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{{Short description|Video game series}}
{{about|the video game series|the second game in the series|Nobunaga's Ambition (video game)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox video game series
| title=Nobunaga's Ambition
| image=Nobunagas ambition gen.jpg
| caption=Packaging for the Genesis version
| developer=[[Koei]]
| publisher=Koei<br>[[Koei Tecmo]]
| genre= [[Wargame (video games)|Wargame]], [[turn-based strategy]], [[Tactical role-playing game|tactical role-playing]]
| creator= Kou Shibusawa
| first release version = ''Nobunaga no Yabō''
| first release date = March 1983
| latest release version = ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening''
| latest release date = July 20, 2022
| platforms= {{collapsible list|
 | title= Platforms
 | titlestyle = background: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;
 |[[MSX]]
 |[[NEC PC-8801]]
 |[[NEC PC-9801]]
 |[[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]]
 |[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]
 |[[Game Boy]]
 |[[Game Boy Color]]
 |[[Game Boy Advance]]
 |[[Sega Genesis|Genesis]]
 |[[MS-DOS]]
 |[[Mac OS]]
 |[[Amiga]]
 |[[3DO Interactive Multiplayer]]
 |[[TurboGrafx-16|PC Engine Super CD-ROM²]]
 |[[WonderSwan]]
 |[[Microsoft Windows]]
 |[[Nintendo DS]]
 |[[Nintendo 3DS]]
 |[[Nintendo Switch]]
 |[[Nintendo Switch 2]]
 |[[Wii]]
 |[[Wii U]]
 |[[PlayStation 2]]
 |[[PlayStation 3]]
 |[[PlayStation 4]]
 |[[PlayStation Portable]]
 |[[PlayStation Vita]]
 |[[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]
 |[[Xbox 360]]
 |[[FM Towns]] 
}}
}}
{{nihongo|'''''Nobunaga's Ambition'''''|信長の野望|Nobunaga no Yabō}} is a series of [[Turn-based strategy|turn-based]] [[Grand strategy wargame|grand strategy]] [[Tactical role-playing game|role-playing]] [[simulation video game]]s developed and published by [[Koei]] (now [[Koei Tecmo]]).<ref>{{cite web|first=Andrew |last=Vestal |title=The History of Console RPGs |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=1998-11-02 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/rpg_hs/nes8.html |access-date=2011-01-06 |ref=gspot_consolehist |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608225623/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/rpg_hs/nes8.html |archive-date=June 8, 2009 }}</ref> The original game was one of the first in its genre, being released in March 1983 in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Koei History|url=http://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/company/history/koei.html|publisher=[[Tecmo Koei]]|access-date=19 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215015014/http://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/company/history/koei.html|archive-date=15 February 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/news/nobunaga-ambition-rekindled-ps2|title=Nobunaga's Ambition Rekindled for PS2] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629035202/http://www.1up.com/news/nobunaga-ambition-rekindled-ps2 |archive-date=2011-06-29 |publisher= [[1UP.com]] |website=1up.com|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref> ''Nobunaga's Ambition'' takes place during the [[Sengoku period]] of [[History of Japan|feudal Japan]]. The player is tasked with achieving the ultimate goal of warlord [[Oda Nobunaga]]: the conquest and unification of Japan. Selecting Oda Nobunaga is optional, however, as the player is also able to choose from a variety of other regional ''[[daimyō]]s'' of the time.

Games in the franchise have been released for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[MS-DOS]], the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Game Boy]], [[Sega Genesis]], [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer|3DO]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Nintendo]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Sega Saturn]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]], [[Wii]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[PlayStation Vita]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[Nintendo Switch 2]], [[Macintosh computer|Macintosh]], [[MSX]], and [[Amiga]]. As of March 2018, the series has shipped more than 10 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gematsu.com/2018/03/nobunagas-ambition-series-tops-10-million-shipments|title = Nobunaga's Ambition series tops 10 million shipments|date = 30 March 2018}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
The player may choose from four campaign scenarios, including "Battle for the East" (beginning in 1560), "Daimyo Power Struggles" (1560), "Ambition Untamed" (1571), and "Road Towards Unification" (1582). In each scenario, the player must allocate resources to raise a capable military force, provide a productive economy to support both military and civilian expansion, and support the [[peasant]]s in order to sustain their respect and loyalty. Gameplay is taken in turns, with each turn in the map view corresponding to a season, and each turn during battle corresponding to a day. The player may achieve victory through numerous means, among which are forcing the enemy to retreat, destroying the enemy command unit, outlasting an invading force, or prolonging battle until the opposing force has exhausted its supplies.

The player can make many choices during the campaign. According to Evan Brooks of ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'': "One may transfer soldiers between fiefs, go to war, increase taxes (which causes a decrease in peasant loyalty which may lead to rebellion), transfer rice or gold to another fief, raise the level of flood control (which decreases productivity), make a non-aggression pact or arrange a marriage, cultivate (which increases productivity, but decreases peasant loyalty), use a merchant (to buy/sell rice, borrow funds, or purchase weapons), recruit for the military (soldiers or ninja), train the army (which increases fighting efficiency), spy on a rival, expand a town (which increases taxes collected, but decreases peasant loyalty), give food/rice to peasants/soldiers (to raise morale), steal peasants from rival daimyos, allocate military strength, recuperate (even a daimyo can get sick), turn over a controlled fief to the computer for administration, or pass a turn."{{r|brooks198809}}

==Games==

{{Timeline of release years
| 1983 = ''Nobunaga no Yabō''
| 1986 = ''[[Nobunaga's Ambition (video game)|Nobunaga's Ambition]]''
| 1988 = ''Nobunaga's Ambition II''
| 1990 = ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Lord of Darkness''
| 1992 = ''Nobunaga no Yabō: Haōden''
| 1994 = ''Nobunaga no Yabō: Tenshōki''
| 1997 = ''Nobunaga no Yabō: Shōseiroku''
| 1999 = ''Nobunaga no Yabō: Reppūden''
| 2001 = ''Nobunaga no Yabō: Ranseiki''
| 2002 = ''Nobunaga no Yabō: Sōtenroku''
| 2003 = ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power''
| 2005 = ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle''
| 2009 = ''Nobunaga no Yabō: Tendō''
| 2012 = ''[[Pokémon Conquest]]''
| 2013 = ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence''
| 2017 = ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Taishi''
| 2022 = ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening''
}}
* {{nihongo3|"''Nobunaga's Ambition''"|信長の野望|'''Nobunaga no Yabō'''}} is the first title in the series, released in March 1983. Written entirely in [[BASIC]], it was compatible with a wide range of Japanese [[personal computer|PCs]]. It has no subtitles. A remake of this game titled {{nihongo3|Nobunaga's Ambition Returns|信長の野望 リターンズ|'''Nobunaga no Yabō Returns'''}} was released in 1995 for [[Windows 3.1x|Microsoft Windows 3.1]], [[Sega Saturn]], and [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]. An updated version of this for Windows 95 was released in 1996.
* {{nihongo|'''''[[Nobunaga's Ambition (video game)|Nobunaga's Ambition]]'''''|信長の野望・全国版|''Nobunaga no Yabō: Zenkokuban''|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Country-Wide Edition}} is the second title in the series and the first to be released outside Japan. It was released in September 1986 for the [[NEC PC-8801|PC-88SR]], and then quickly ported to various Japanese PCs. A 50-province mode covering all of Japan was added, as well as revisions to graphics and gameplay. Releases for [[Nintendo Entertainment System|the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)]], [[Sega Genesis]], [[TurboGrafx-16]], PlayStation, mobile phones, Windows, and iOS were made subsequently. The U.S. NES, Genesis, and SNES releases were titled ''Nobunaga's Ambition''; the SNES version was released for [[Virtual Console]] on April 27, 2009, for the [[Wii]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Poker, Planes and Platform Games Fuel Players' Ambition|url=https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/cVpQNH660NOKJkP95-_D9BprlwaTXvHg|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=2009-04-27|access-date=2009-04-27}}</ref> and September 4, 2014, for the [[Wii U]] in North America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/Qe_qlARW9-cDTXawQfyYHnYrE97OYonI|title = Nintendo - Official Site - Video Game Consoles, Games - Nintendo - Official Site}}</ref>
* {{nihongo|'''''Nobunaga's Ambition II'''''|信長の野望・戦国群雄伝|''Nobunaga no Yabō: Sengoku Gun'yūden''|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Tales of the Sengoku Warlords}} is the third title in the series, released December 1988 for PC-88SR, then quickly ported for various Japanese PCs. Taking after the ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms (video game series)|Romance of the Three Kingdoms]]'' series, this game introduces the concept of "generals" to this series. The [[Tōhoku]] and [[Kyūshū]] areas were removed. Releases for NES, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, DOS, and mobile phones were made subsequently. The U.S. Nintendo Entertainment System release was titled ''Nobunaga's Ambition II''.
* {{nihongo|'''''Nobunaga's Ambition: Lord of Darkness'''''|信長の野望・武将風雲録|Nobunaga no Yabō: Bushō Fūunroku|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Records of the Generals}} is the fourth title in the series, released December 1990 for [[NEC PC-9801|PC-98]], then quickly ported for various Japanese PCs (this was the last title in the series supported on 8-bit PCs). The scope was once again expanded to all of Japan, and technology, culture, and tea ceremony mechanics were introduced. Releases for NES, SNES, Genesis, PlayStation, Windows, and mobile phones were made subsequently. The North American SNES release was given the subtitle of ''Lord of Darkness''.
* {{nihongo3|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Tales of the Conquerors|信長の野望・覇王伝|'''Nobunaga no Yabō: Haōden'''}} is the fifth title in the series, released December 1992 for PC-98, then quickly ported for various Japanese PCs. This is the first game with an [[expansion pack]]. Battles were changed from taking provinces to taking castles. Releases for SNES, Genesis, [[Sega CD]], [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer|3DO]], [[Mac OS]], PlayStation, mobile phones, and Windows were made subsequently.
* {{nihongo3|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Chronicles of the Ascension|信長の野望・天翔記|'''Nobunaga no Yabō: Tenshōki'''}} is the sixth title in the series, released December 1994 for PC-98 (the last of the series produced for [[DOS]] variants), with ports for [[FM Towns]], [[DOS/V]], Windows, and Macintosh available later. Commands were executed based on units of power. Releases for SNES, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, [[PlayStation Portable]], and mobile phones were made subsequently.
* {{nihongo3|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Records of the Star Generals|信長の野望・将星録|'''Nobunaga no Yabō: Shōseiroku'''}} is the seventh title in the series, released March 1997 for Windows 95. This game introduces a new map, portraying the entire country on a grid. Releases for Macintosh, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, [[Dreamcast]], [[PlayStation Portable]], and mobile phones were made subsequently.
* {{nihongo3|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Tales of the Storms|信長の野望・烈風伝|'''Nobunaga no Yabō: Reppūden'''}} is the eighth title in the series, released in February 1999 for Windows 95, with ports for Macintosh, PlayStation, Dreamcast, and [[PlayStation Portable]] made later.
* {{nihongo3|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Chronicles of Turbulent Times|信長の野望・嵐世記|'''Nobunaga no Yabō: Ranseiki'''}} is the ninth title in the series, released in February 2001 for Windows 98. This game returned to province-taking battles, and the a system of varying powers was introduced. Ports for [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] and [[PlayStation Portable]] were made later.
* {{nihongo3|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Records of the Blue Skies|信長の野望・蒼天録|'''Nobunaga no Yabō: Sōtenroku'''}} is the tenth title in the series, released June 2002 for Windows 98. This game returned to castle-taking battles. It also became possible to play as a castle lord as well as a daimyō. Ports for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable were made later.
* {{nihongo|'''''Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power'''''|信長の野望・天下創世|''Nobunaga no Yabō: Tenka Sōsei''|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: The Creation of the World}} is the eleventh title in the series, released September 2003 for Windows 98. This game introduced castle towns and unified castle sieges. The administration screens transitioned to full 3D. A port for PlayStation 2 was made later; this was released in the U.S. as ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power'' on February 5, 2008.<ref name="Newtype USA 7 2 118"/>
* {{nihongo|'''''Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle'''''|信長の野望・革新|''Nobunaga no Yabō: Kakushin''|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Innovation}} is the twelfth title in the series, released June 2005 for Windows 98. The map and battles are in real-time, and the map is rendered in 3D. Ports for PlayStation 2 and [[Wii]] were made later; the former was released in the U.S. as ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle''.
* {{nihongo3|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Roads of the Heavens|信長の野望・天道|'''Nobunaga no Yabō: Tendō'''}} is the thirteenth title in the series, released September 2009 for Windows XP, with ports for [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation Vita]] made later.
* {{nihongo|'''''Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence'''''|信長の野望・創造|''Nobunaga no Yabō: Sōzō''|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Creation}} is the fourteenth title in the series, released 12 December 2013 for [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation 4]], and Windows. A [[PlayStation Vita]] version was released in May 2015. A western version of the game had been confirmed as of May 2015 under the title of ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence'', which was released on September 1, 2015, for North America and September 4, 2015, for Europe; It was released in PlayStation 3 as a digital release, in PlayStation 4 as a physical release, and [[Personal computer|PC]] via [[Steam (service)|Steam]]. It has also been confirmed that the western release will contain both English and Japanese dub. The game is a launch game for the [[Nintendo Switch]] in Japan. A sequel titled ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Taishi'' was released on 30 November 2017.
* {{nihongo|'''''Nobunaga's Ambition: Taishi'''''|信長の野望・大志|''Nobunaga no Yabō: Taishi''|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Enormous Ambition}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-04-25/new-nobunaga-ambition-game-revealed-for-switch-ps4-pc/.115297|title=New Nobunaga's Ambition Game Revealed for Switch, PS4, PC|website=Anime News Network|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=May 1, 2021}}</ref> is the fifteenth title in the series and sequel to the 2013 game ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence'', and was released on November 30, 2017, for Microsoft Windows, [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Nintendo Switch]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201704/27131829.html|title=シミュレーションゲーム史に燦然と輝く『信長の野望』シリーズの最新作、『信長の野望・大志』がついに始動 - ファミ通.com|website=ファミ通.com|date=27 April 2017 |access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In6ot6_gxcM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/In6ot6_gxcM |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=PV第1弾『信長の野望･大志』|website=YouTube|date=3 August 2017 |access-date=August 4, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

* {{nihongo|'''''Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening'''''|信長の野望・新生|''Nobunaga no Yabō: Shinsei''}} is the sixteenth title in the series. It was released on July 20, 2022, for Microsoft Windows, [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Nintendo Switch]], and July 20, 2023 for the US.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening - Official Announcement Trailer |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/nobunagas-ambition-awakening-official-announcement-trailer |website=ign.com |date=30 March 2023 |access-date=31 March 2023}}</ref>

===Mobile platforms===
;[[Game Boy]]
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga's Ambition''|信長の野望 ゲームボーイ版|''Nobunaga no Yabō Game Boy Ban''|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Game Boy Version}} (1990), loosely based on ''Nobunaga no Yabō'' and ''Nobunaga's Ambition II''.

;[[WonderSwan]]
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga no Yabō for Wonderswan''|信長の野望 for ワンダースワン}} (1999)

;[[Game Boy Color]]
* {{nihongo3|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition Game Boy Version 2|信長の野望 ゲームボーイ版2|''Nobunaga no Yabō Game Boy Ban 2''}} (1999), primarily based on ''Nobunaga's Ambition''.

;[[Game Boy Advance]]
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga no Yabō''|信長の野望}} (2001), a remake of ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Lord of Darkness''.

;[[Nintendo DS]]
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga no Yabō DS''|信長の野望DS}} (2006), a remake of ''Nobunaga no Yabō: Reppūden''.
* {{nihongo3|lit. ''Province-Taking Brain Battle: Nobunaga's Ambition''|国盗り頭脳バトル 信長の野望|''Kuni-tori Zunō Batoru: Nobunaga no Yabō''}} (2008), containing [[board game]] elements.
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga no Yabō DS 2''|信長の野望DS2}} (2008), a remake of ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Lord of Darkness''.
* {{nihongo|''[[Pokémon Conquest]]''|ポケモン＋ノブナガの野望|Pokemon Purasu Nobunaga no Yabō|''Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition'' in Japan}} (2012), a crossover with the ''[[Pokémon]]'' franchise.

[[PlayStation Portable|'''Sony PlayStation Portable''']]

*  Nobunaga no Yabō: Tenshōki (信長の野望・天翔記, lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Chronicles of the Ascension)
*  Nobunaga no Yabō: Shōseiroku (信長の野望・将星録, lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Records of the Star Generals)
*  Nobunaga no Yabō: Reppūden (信長の野望・烈風伝, lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Tales of the Storms)
*  Nobunaga no Yabō: Ranseiki (信長の野望・嵐世記, lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Chronicles of Turbulent Times)
*  Nobunaga no Yabō: Sōtenroku (信長の野望・蒼天録, lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Records of the Blue Skies)

[[PlayStation Vita|'''Sony PlayStation Vita''']]

These were released in Asia (in traditional Chinese versions), with physical copies for both versions with and without power up kit, on top of the Japanese versions released.

* Nobunaga's Ambition: Tendou (信長の野望・天道) (2012)
* Nobunaga's Ambition: Souzou / ''Nobunaga no Yabou: Souzou'' (信長の野望・創造) (2014)
* Nobunaga's Ambition: Tenshouki with Power Up Kit HD Version / ''Nobunaga no Yabou: Tenshouki with Power Up Kit HD Version'' (信長の野望・天翔記 with パワーアップキット HD Version) (2015)
* Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence English version was seen on various websites such as on [https://www.play-asia.com/nobunagas-ambition-sphere-of-influence-english/13/708ww7 Play Asia], but not released.
* Nobunaga's Ambition: ''Souzou Sengoku Risshiden'' (信長の野望・創造 戦国立志伝) (2016)

;[[Nintendo 3DS]]
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga no Yabō''|信長の野望}} (2013)
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga no Yabō 2''|信長の野望2}} (2015)

===Online games===
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga no Yabō Internet''|信長の野望Internet}} (1998), an online battle simulation game for Windows.
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga no Yabō Online''|信長の野望Online}} (2003), an [[MMORPG]] for PlayStation 2, Windows, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga no Yabō''|信長の野望}} (2003), a blanket title for several mobile phone games.
* {{nihongo3|lit. ''Million-Man Nobunaga's Ambition''|100万人の信長の野望|Hyakuman-nin no Nobunaga no Yabō}} (2010), a [[social network game]] by [[Mobage]].
* {{nihongo|''Samurai Cats''|のぶニャがの野望|NobuNYAga no Yabō|lit. Nobunyaga's Ambition||}} (2011), a [[cat]]-themed browser-based online battle/raising simulation game.

== Reception ==
The ''Nobunaga's Ambition'' series has garnered several awards over the years. According to [[Koei]]'s website, various releases in the series have won ''Log-In'' magazine's "BHS Prize", the "Minister of Post & Telecommunications Prize", Nikkei BP's 12th, 13th, and 14th annual "Best PC Software" awards, and ''CD-ROM Fan'''s "Fan of the Year 2001 Grand Prize".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koei.co.jp/english/html/introduction/intro_03.html|title=KOEI Company Introduction|access-date=2007-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608013826/http://www.koei.co.jp/english/html/introduction/intro_03.html|archive-date=2007-06-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In [[North America]], where it was released five years after its Japanese release, critical reception was also positive. The game was positively reviewed by ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'', where reviewer Evan Brooks gave it four stars out of five. He introduced the game as "a detailed economic / diplomatic / political / military simulation of the unification of Japan in the Sixteenth Century." He praised the graphics for being "among the best that this reviewer has ever seen for the IBM" and the 5x10 [[hex map]] battles, and noted that it used [[Role-playing video game|role-playing game]] elements, including assigning various [[Statistic (role-playing games)|statistics]] to a selected persona, a [[Persistent world|time system]] where each turn represents a year, as the daimyo ages and eventually dies of old age, and a [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] option. He stated that he "thoroughly enjoyed ''Nobunaga's Ambition''", concluded with a "Highly Recommended" rating,<ref name=brooks198809>{{Cite magazine|first=Evan|last=Brooks|magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]]|date=September 1988|issue=51|pages=12, 34, 48–9|title=Nobunaga's Ambition|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1988&pub=2&id=51 | quote=''Nobunaga's Ambition'' is a detailed economic / diplomatic / political / military simulation of the unification of Japan in the Sixteenth Century. ... The graphics for Nobunaga's Ambition are among the best that this reviewer has ever seen for the IBM. While much of the graphics are composed of maps, the small touches reveal the craft that went into this product. Thus, when the daimyo distributes rice to the peasants, a vignette shows the lord throwing sheaves to the peasants who gratefully pick it up; as taxes are increased, the peasants flow with tears. When war begins, the screen changes to a 5x10 hex area for the execution of the battle. Terrain is effectively delineated as hill, mountain, village, river, plain, or castle; deployment is dependent on the route of invasion. ... After deciding upon a daimyo, one must select a persona. Akin to role playing games, characteristics are composed of health, ambition, luck, charm, and IQ. Generally, one should reselect if any single characteristic is under 80 (especially luck and/or IQ; there is nothing worse than a stupid daimyo). ... Each turn (year) is composed of four seasons, during which the daimyo ages (and will eventually die of old age). Each daimyo may accomplish one action each season for each fief he personally controls; these actions often affect other parameters of play. ... This reviewer thoroughly enjoyed Nobunaga's Ambition. ... Koei stresses that Nobunaga's Ambition is both a solitaire and a multi-player game. ... Highly Recommended. This reviewer was glued to his computer for 13 hours, stopping at 3:00 am. Not since ''[[Gunship (video game)|Gunship]]'' has this occurred. The end result is that the computer gamer ''must'' have, at least, one Koei game in his inventory!}}</ref><ref name="brooks199010">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1990&pub=2&id=75 | title=Computer Strategy and Wargames: Pre-20th Century | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=October 1990 | access-date=16 November 2013 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=11}}</ref><ref name="brooks199306">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=107 | title=An Annotated Listing of Pre-20th Century Wargames | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=June 1993 | access-date=7 July 2014 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=136}}</ref> ''[[Compute!]]'' similarly praised the IBM PC version, calling it "one of the best strategic war games ever designed for a personal computer" and citing the gameplay, user interface, and documentation.<ref name="randall198901">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-01-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_104_1989_Jan#page/n91/mode/2up | title=Nobunaga's Ambition | magazine=Compute! | date=January 1989 | access-date=10 November 2013 | author=Randall, Neil | pages=94}}</ref> In the May 1990 edition of ''[[Games International]]'', John Scott called this program "One of the best strategy games around." He gave the game a perfect rating of 10 out of 10 for gameplay.<ref name=gi>{{cite magazine|last=Scott|first=John| date=May 1990 |title=Nounaga's Ambition|journal=[[Games International]]| issue=14|pages=49}}</ref>

The console versions had a more lukewarm reception. Reviewing the SNES version, ''[[GamePro]]'' praised the control interface and combat system but opined that the game essentially offers nothing to set it apart from Koei's previous historical simulators.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Nobunaga's Ambition|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=58|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=May 1994|page=118}}</ref> The magazine rated the Genesis version similarly, saying that "Like all Koei games, Nobunaga has an easy-to-use but detailed menu-driven interface that activates a load of complex commands."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Nobunaga's Ambition|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=60|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=July 1994|page=126}}</ref>

In 1996, ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' listed the series collectively as number 34 on their "Top 100 Games of All Time", commenting that, "Lead designer Shou Kibasawa is a tactical genius who realizes that domestic and military strategies are interconnected, and that fielding armies can only be accomplished after building an infrastructure to support them. As a result, ''Nobunaga's Ambition'' boasts a level of strategic complexity few other series can come close to matching."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Games of All Time |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=21 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=September 1996|pages=59}}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Bandit Kings of Ancient China]]''
*''[[Kessen III]]''
* ''[[Gihren's Greed]]''
* ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms (video game series)]]''

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Newtype USA 7 2 118">Gifford, Kevin. "Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power". ''Newtype USA''. '''7''' (2) p. 118. {{#time:F Y|2008-02}}. {{ISSN|1541-4817}}.</ref>
}}

==External links==
*{{moby game|id=/nobunagas-ambition|name=''Nobunaga's Ambition''}}
*{{moby game|id=-group/nobunagas-ambition-series|name=The ''Nobunaga's Ambition'' series}}
*[http://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/sphereofinfluence/index.html ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence'' official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901230426/http://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/sphereofinfluence/index.html |date=2015-09-01 }} {{in lang|en}}
*[http://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/ascension/index.html ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension'' official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417071614/http://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/ascension/index.html |date=2017-04-17 }} {{in lang|en}}

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