Content Warning: This article contains descriptions and depictions of violence
The Medieval era has been fascinating for several period dramas in cinema. The pantheon of video games is no different with several franchises like Assassin's Creed and Age of Empires having prominent installments set in the Middle Ages.
The reason behind this particular period of time being increasingly used in games might be for the general fascination of knights and crusaders in pop culture. While offerings like Kingdom Come try sticking to historical accuracy, other video games, like For Honor, might rely on a fantasy approach as this was also the time where prevalent myths centered around wizards, witches, and magical creatures like dragons.
Mount And Blade Warband
The 2008 strategy game, Mount And Blade, received critical praise but players were still disappointed with low-quality graphics and similar locations. The expansion pack, Mount And Blade Warband, improved upon this considerably by adding a multiplayer mode and focusing on horse-based combat, along with new political factions.
Much like the original sandbox RPG, Warband is focused on a medieval land called Calradia. However, instead of the role-playing elements, the update mainly involves direct combat. The politics of the Middle Ages is quite evident as players (as lords) have the option of building their own factions and taking over towns, while also relying on diplomatic relations through matrimony or feudal alliances.
Besiege
Besiege blends the old with the new as this strategy game's objective is to create medieval-era siege engines with multiple customizations (some of which can include modern components). For this reason, Besiege offers one the option to even create helicopters, tanks, or Pacific Rim.
After building a vehicle, several tasks are to be completed that range from decimating armies to destroying castles or even windmills. The tasks might be pretty straightforward if compared to other strategy games but the diverse customization is what makes the game worth checking out.
Overlord
Overlord is an action RPG in a medieval setting that relies on satirical humor targeting the fantasy genre. Players take up the mantle of an evil, resurrected knight referred to as The Overlord. Along with his army of gremlins (called 'Minions'), the Overlord wages a war against the nobles of the land to reclaim his lordship.
The game involves several real-time strategy missions, with players having the choice to execute 'evil' decisions or 'really evil' ones. In the end, considering the dark humor overtones, these evil tasks end up making the Overlord an unlikely hero.
Chivalry Medieval Warfare
Swords, arrows, catapults, and even boiling oil can be used as weapons to counter enemies in this intense hack-and-slash production. Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is based in a christened Agatha, based on several medieval landscapes.
Players can vouch for first-person as well as third-person modes, while choosing between the Agatha Knights and the Mason Order. The gameplay is self-indulgent in its violence and historical violence, and that's precisely what adds to the thrill of it.
Medieval II: Total War
The sequel to Sega's classic strategy video game Medieval: Total War, this 2006 game makes use of real-time tactics and turn-based strategy elements. With territories spanning across the world, players can set up their own factions and govern their own territories between the 1000s and 1500s. This includes building a government and military, while also maintaining relations involving diplomacy, economy, and religion.
The Middle Ages were a particularly tumultuous period, considering the religious conflicts and economic upheaval. Hence, striking a balance between such issues does simulate the perspective of an official, who needs to handle both ordinary campaigns and sudden battles.
Crusader Kings III
As is the case with other grand strategy games set in the Middle Ages, players can control theocracies and merchant states to exercise their own style of istration. However, in Crusader Kings III, the stakes rise as players don't just rely on state politics but also on the personality traits and lifestyles of their characters.
These traits can be ed on to their future generations, and players can choose their preferred form of governance - whether it is tribal, feudal, or clan. Apart from the grander historical phenomena, Crusader Kings III also examines certain other aspects of medieval society, like religious dogmas and the prevalent gendered bias in the army.
For Honor
Ubisoft's third-person action venture is set in the medieval era, which sees the knights, the Vikings, the Samurai, and the warriors from the Wu-Lin faction fight against each other.
All of these warring groups have their own weapons, culture, languages, and fighting styles. As these factions are pitted against each other, visually stunning fighting-centric gameplay is produced that also boasts of fantasy elements. For Honor is an interesting entry in the action genre, considering that such diverse medieval history is otherwise mostly explored in strategy games.
Age Of Empires II: The Age Of Kings
Largely considered as one of the best strategy games ever made, Age of Empires II takes its players on a trip through four significant eras of Medieval Europe, beginning from the Dark Age to the Imperial Age (the era preceding the Rennaissance).
The players control villagers who are employed to build units like castles and fortresses. The objective is to start a flourishing economy and society from scratch, while also protecting one's territories from invasions of other rulers and the Crusade-era conflict between Frederick I and Saladin.
A Plague Tale: Innocence (2019)
Incorporating themes of horror and adventure, this stealth game is set during the Hundred Years' War. While young Hugo is a noble boy suffering from an unknown disease, his sister Amicia takes it upon herself to find a cure even though the War ravages her family and castle.
The survival puzzle-based gameplay aside, A Plague Tale: Innocence also sums up the alchemy of the 1300s as medicine is in a nascent stage and superstition is on the rice. Amicia doesn't just fight off violent warriors but also superstitious elders.
Assassin's Creed
The game that kicked off the Assassin's Creed franchise is also one of its most memorable installments. The game offered generation-defining characters like the protagonist Altair along with a detailed storyline infused with themes of historical adventure and sci-fi.
Primarily set in the backdrop of the Third Crusade, it involves the 'Assassin' Altair embarking on a quest to find the mind-controlling mythical object known as the Apple of Eden. While his own sect of Assassins seeks the Apple, so do the Knights of Templar, leading to a continuous cat-and-mouse game between the two.