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{{Infobox video game series
| title=Nobunaga's Ambition
| image=Nobunagas ambition gen.jpg
| caption=Cover art for the Sega Genesis version of ''Nobunaga's Ambition''
| developer=[[Koei]]
| publisher=Koei
| genre= [[Grand strategy wargame|Grand strategy]] [[Wargame (video games)|wargame]]<br>[[Simulation video game|Historical simulation]]<br>[[Turn-based strategy|Turn-based]] [[Tactical role-playing game|strategy RPG]]
| creator=
| year of inception = 1983
| first release version = ''Nobunaga no Yabō''
| first release date = March 1983
| latest release version = ''Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence''
| latest release date = 12 December 2013
| platforms= {{collapsible list|
 | title= Platforms
 | titlestyle = background: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;
 |[[MSX]]
 |[[NEC PC-8801]]
 |[[NEC PC-9801]]
 |[[Nintendo Entertainment System]]
 |[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
 |[[Game Boy]]
 |[[Game Boy Color]]
 |[[Game Boy Advance]]
 |[[Sega Mega Drive]]
 |[[DOS]]
 |[[Mac OS]]
 |[[Amiga]]
 |[[3DO Interactive Multiplayer]]
 |[[PC Engine CD|PC Engine Super CD-ROM²]]
 |[[WonderSwan]]
 |[[Virtual Console]]
 |[[Microsoft Windows]]
 |[[Nintendo DS]]
 |[[Nintendo 3DS]]
 |[[Wii]]
 |[[Wii U]]
 |[[PlayStation 2]]
 |[[PlayStation 3]]
 |[[PlayStation 4]]
 |[[PlayStation Portable]]
 |[[PlayStation Vita]]
}}
| platform of origin = 
}}
{{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.<ref>{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=Vestal|title=The History of Console RPGs|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|date= 1998-11-02|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/rpg_hs/nes8.html|accessdate=2011-01-06|ref=gspot_consolehist}}</ref> One of the first games in its genre, it was first released in March 1983 by the [[Japan]]ese video game developer [[Tecmo Koei|Koei]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Koei History|url=http://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/company/history/koei.html|publisher=[[Tecmo Koei]]|accessdate=19 February 2012|archiveurl=http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.koeitecmo.co.jp%2Fcompany%2Fhistory%2Fkoei.html&act=url|archivedate=19 February 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.1up.com/news/nobunaga-ambition-rekindled-ps2 Nobunaga's Ambition Rekindled for PS2], [[1UP.com]]</ref>

Games in the franchise have been released on a variety of gaming platforms, including the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Game Boy]], [[Mega Drive]], [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[PlayStation]], [[Sega Saturn]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Virtual Console]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]], [[Wii]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[PlayStation Vita]] and [[PlayStation 4]]. The title was also released for [[Macintosh computer|Macintosh]] as well as [[MSX]], [[Amiga]] and computers with [[DOS]]-compatibility.

''Nobunaga's Ambition'' takes place during the [[Sengoku period]] of [[History of Japan|feudal Japan]]. As the title suggests, 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 [[daimyo]]s of the time.

==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, such as, 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 (hint: when one has no idea of what to do, train the troops.)"<ref>{{Cite document|first=Evan|last=Brooks|work=[[Computer Gaming World]]|date=September 1988|issue=51|page=48|title=Nobunaga's Ambition|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->&#123;&#123;inconsistent citations&#125;&#125;}}</ref>

==Titles in the series==

===Personal computers and consoles===
* {{nihongo3|"''Nobunaga's Ambition''"|信長の野望|'''Nobunaga no Yabō'''}} is the first title in the series, released March 1983. Written entirely in [[BASIC]], it was compatible with a wide range of Japanese [[personal computer|PCs]]. It has no subtitle. 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 [[Microsoft Windows]] 3.1, [[Sega Saturn]], and [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]. An update of this for Windows 95 was released in 1996.
* {{nihongo|'''''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 on September 1986 for the [[NEC PC-8801|PC-88SR]], then quickly ported for 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|Family Computer]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]], [[Mega Drive]], [[TurboGrafx-16|PC Engine CD-ROM]], PlayStation, mobile phones, Windows, and iOS were made subsequently. The U.S. [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], Sega Genesis and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] 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=http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/cVpQNH660NOKJkP95-_D9BprlwaTXvHg|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=2009-04-27|accessdate=2009-04-27}}</ref> and September 4, 2014 for the [[Wii U]] in North America.
* {{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 Family Computer, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Windows, 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 Family Computer, Super Famicom, Mega Drive, PC Engine, PlayStation, Windows, and mobile phones were made subsequently. The North American NES and SNES releases were 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 Super Famicom, Mega Drive, [[Mega-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 Super Famicom, 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 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 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]] and [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] were made later.
* {{nihongo3|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Records of the Blue Skies|信長の野望・蒼天録|'''Nobunaga no Yabō: Sōtensoku'''}} 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]] and [[Xbox 360]] made later.
* {{nihongo|'''''Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence'''''|信長の野望・創造|''Nobunaga no Yabō: Sozou''|lit. Nobunaga's Ambition: Creation}} is the fourteenth title in the series, released 12 December 2013 for [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation 4]], and Windows. [[PlayStation Vita]] version 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 (software)|Steam]]. It has also been confirmed that the western release will contain both English and Japanese dub.

===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.

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

===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, and PlayStation 3.
* {{nihongo|''Nobunaga no Yabō''|信長の野望}} (2003), a blanket title for a number of 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}}</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]] option. He stated that he "thoroughly enjoyed ''Nobunaga's Ambition''", concluded with a "Highly Recommended" rating,<ref>{{Cite document|first=Evan|last=Brooks|work=[[Computer Gaming World]]|date=September 1988|issue=51|pages=12, 34, 48–9|title=Nobunaga's Ambition|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!|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->&#123;&#123;inconsistent citations&#125;&#125;}}</ref><ref name="brooks199010">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1990&pub=2&id=75 | title=Computer Strategy and Wargames: Pre-20th Century | work=Computer Gaming World | date=October 1990 | accessdate=16 November 2013 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=11}}</ref><ref name="brooks199306">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=107 | title=An Annotated Listing of Pre-20th Century Wargames | work=Computer Gaming World | date=June 1993 | accessdate=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 game play, user interface, and documentation.<ref name="randall198901">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-01-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_104_1989_Jan#page/n91/mode/2up | title=Nobunaga's Ambition | work=Compute! | date=January 1989 | accessdate=10 November 2013 | author=Randall, Neil | pages=94}}</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 news|last= |first= |title=Nobunaga's Ambition|work=[[GamePro]]|issue=58|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=May 1994|page=118}}</ref> They 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 news|last= |first= |title=Nobunaga's Ambition|work=[[GamePro]]|issue=60|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=July 1994|page=126}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Oda Nobunaga]]
*[[Sengoku period]]
*''[[Bandit Kings of Ancient China]]''
*''[[Kessen III]]''

==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] {{en icon}}

{{Koei Tecmo}}

[[Category:Role-playing video games introduced in 1983]]
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[[Category:Amiga games]]
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[[Category:Grand strategy video games]]
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[[Category:Koei games]]
[[Category:MSX games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Sega Genesis games]]
[[Category:Sengoku video games]]
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[[Category:Video games set in the 16th century]]
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