Knights, castles, Vikings. The Middle Ages have a lot in store for us. And fortunately, we won’t run out of games in this era any time soon: You can look forward to these medieval games in the future.
The Middle Ages invite us to dream. People have known that at least since it was romanticised in the 18th century. But who can resist the idea of noble knights, defiant castles, scheming nobles and wild Vikings? Regardless of whether it comes across as fairytale or dark, the Middle Ages offer themes for every story, no matter how adventurous.
It is precisely this romantic idea of the Middle Ages that lends itself wonderfully to PC games and has produced some of the best titles of all time over the years. Games like Anno 1404, Stronghold or Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
And even though we’re talking about a bygone era here, we’ll at least leave the gaming past alone for now and take a look into the future. In the coming months and years, the Middle Ages will remain a hot topic on the PC. We have picked out the 10 most exciting games that have not yet been released or are in Early Access.
Table of Contents
1. Renown
(Developer: RDBK Studios – Release: 2023 – Genre: Action)
When is this set? Renown is not set in any specific medieval period, but encompasses a whole range of medieval eras with its various technologies.
What is it about? Renown is a kind of medieval survival game in which you build your own fortress and attack those of other players. But since castles and siege weapons and other equipment cannot be created out of thin air, the first thing to do is collect materials and craft.
Special focus is placed on the battles, which follow the easy-to-learn, hard-to-master principle. After all, anyone can slash with a sword. But actually executing the right attacks and counters at the right time is much harder.
Who should look forward to it? If you like first-person castle sieges in the style of a Mount & Blade, but would like to have this gameplay in an open world, then you should take a look at Renown.
I, The Inquisitor
(Developer: The Dust S.A. – Release: 2024 – Genre: Action)
When does the play? I, The Inquisitor is not set in our world, but an alternate timeline, but based on the real 15th century. However, with much stronger influence of religion.
What is it about? I, The Inquisitor is based on the Inquisitor series by author Jacek Piekara and makes you the Inquisitor, who has to investigate numerous crimes on behalf of God and find those who have violated the faith. Above all, your own morals will be tested. For depending on how you proceed, the story will change.
The game is not entirely without fantasy. After all, you have to stop the ultimate evil from another dimension. Nevertheless, you can immerse yourself in the old world and experience the Middle Ages for yourself.
Who should look forward to it? Especially if you are interested in the religion of the Middle Ages and also like solving mysteries, you will get an exciting game with I, The Inquisitor. Since there is no right way, this also promotes the replay value.
3. pentiment
(Developer: Obsidian Entertainment – Release: 2022 – Genre: Adventure)
When is it set? Pentiment sends you to early 16th century Bavaria and spans a full 25 years.
What’s it about? Medieval detective work! The protagonist is an artist who becomes involved in a series of murders and is now the only one able to convict the perpetrators. However, this does not happen in a linear fashion. Every decision you make has consequences. Moreover, the true murderer is never revealed. So there is no right or wrong. Only your own morals. Do you punish who you really think is the killer? Or do you use the case to sue an innocent person because you dislike their behaviour?
Who should look forward to it? If you love games like Disco Elysium, L.A. Noire or Ace Attorney, you’ll get more thrilling investigations at your fingertips here. And the game doesn’t shy away from very serious topics. So it’s not for those who are looking for a rather shallow story. Because things were not exactly squeamish in the Middle Ages.
4. songs of syx
(Developer: Gamatron AB – Release: 2024 – Genre: Building game)
When does the play? Songs of Syx is set in a specially created world inspired by the European Middle Ages and inhabited by a total of six peoples. However, you don’t have to choose one. Your empire attracts inhabitants from all corners of the world.
You only have to decide how to deal with them. And it can get extremely dark in Songs of Syx. It does not shy away from showing the really dark sides of the Middle Ages, such as discrimination, slavery and the like. It is up to you whether you build a tyrannical regime or an idyllic utopia in which every citizen can develop freely.
What’s it about? The game mixes building games such as Rimworld and Dwarf Fortress with the grand strategic aspects of Civilization or the Total War series. You start with just a throne and a few subjects, but over time you build up a massive city-state. On the world map, you eventually conduct politics, move your troops and subjugate other empires.
But be careful: You should not ignore the inner workings of your empire. The noble families in your country have their own interests. And if you don’t comply with them, they might even try to remove you from the throne.
Who should look forward to it? Admittedly, the game is not for those looking for top modern graphics. But what it lacks in looks, Songs of Syx makes up for in its deep game mechanics. From economic cycles to politics, religion and the military, you have to take care of a whole host of aspects. In addition, you can prepare yourself for massive battles: Here, armies with tens of thousands of soldiers clash with each other.
5 Sengoku Dynasty
(Developer: Superkami – Release: 2022 – Genre: RPG)
When is this set? Sengoku Dynasty sends you to a slightly more exotic Middle Ages. Because instead of the old times in Europe, you experience them here in Japan at a time when warlords ruled over the country and everyone wanted to unite it under their banner. Accordingly, there are samurai instead of knights and shrines instead of churches.
What is it about? Sengoku Dynasty is the quasi-successor to Medieval Dynasty, which has been released in the meantime. Accordingly, you can once again expect the familiar mixture of role-playing, building strategy, life simulation and survival. And here, too, you play a simple citizen of the country from a lowly background.
Accordingly, you have to build houses, hunt, forge, cook and possibly even start a family. Little by little you will work your way up to become a legend. This time, however, combat will play a more important role than in Medieval Dynasty. And to the delight of all multiplayer fans, there is even a co-op mode this time!
Who should look forward to it? If you already liked Medieval Dynasty, then Sengoku Dynasty is also something for you. Because the basic ingredients remain the same. Of course, you should have a certain openness for the setting and the foreign culture of the game. Those who are already interested in the faraway land can also keep an eye on the game.
6. Going Medieval
(Developer: Foxy Voxel – Release: 2022 – Genre: Building Game)
When does the take place? Going Medieval is set in an alternate version of the 14th century, after 95 percent of the world’s population has succumbed to the plague. The few survivors now set about building a new civilisation.
The game is not only based on a real era, but even on historical events. However, it changes their course a little to give you enough freedom. Strictly speaking, of course, you get an end-time scenario. In terms of gameplay, however, it feels like the real Middle Ages.
What’s it about? The building aspect is the main focus here. You build your own fortress during this time. To do this, you provide shelter, defend the inhabitants of your land against animals and bandits and deal with other problems in a world in which there are no longer any laws.
Going Medieval gives you a lot of freedom in building castles with simple tools. At first, you only start with simple wooden buildings. But in the course of time, they grow into a stone fortress that can even withstand sieges.
Who should look forward to it? Going Medieval is an alternative for fans of Stronghold and its gameplay is aimed primarily at passionate castle builders. What’s more, you can already play it now. It has been in Early Access since June 2021. The final release will take place in 2022 at the earliest, but it may also take a little longer.
7. Thrive: Heavy Lies The Crown
(Developer: Zugalu Entertainment – Release: – – Genre: Strategy)
When does the play? Thrive: Heavy Lies The Crown, like many games, is based on the real historical Middle Ages including its dark aspects, but it is not set in our world and thus does not commit itself to a specific time period.
What is it about? Thrive: Heavy Lies The Crown combines elements of a 4X strategy game with real-time combat and building gameplay. the focus is above all on survival. And not only in massive battles against enemies of your kingdom, but also against the dangers of nature.
Decisions are particularly important here. Not only do you have to make them quickly, you will also feel their effects just as quickly. Thus you will gradually develop into a ruler who cares about the well-being of the people, or into a tyrant. And you will even recognise this in the design of your city.
Who should look forward to it? Thrive is not just about you building a medieval city, you also have to make bigger strategic decisions. This gives you a stronger sense of being a true ruler than if you were only concerned with building a single settlement but not making any political decisions.
8. Noble’s Life Kingdom Reborn
(Developer: Gentle Griffons – Release: 2023 – Genre: Simulation)
When is this set? Noble’s Life Kingdom Reborn is set in the very uncertain times of the Hundred Years War in Europe and at the same time at the beginning of the outbreak of the plague. At the same time, the church is losing power and Great Britain is on the brink of civil war.
What is it about? The game offers a unique mix of simulation and strategy. You take on the role of a nobleman who goes to war for his king and must make numerous decisions that affect not only the course of the conflict, but also the villages under your control.
You decide for yourself which path you want to take. And depending on this, the gameplay also changes. You can fight on the front lines as a feared warrior or leave the fighting to your soldiers and retreat to your own chambers. There are no clearly defined limits here, however, and you are free to find your very own style.
Who should look forward to it? With Noble’s Life you can really immerse yourself in the Middle Ages. Because you control the game directly from the point of view of a noble and don’t just look at a map from above. This makes it worthwhile for all those who want to experience the life of that time first-hand.
9. Knights of Honor 2: Sovereign
(Developer: Black Sea Games – Release: 2022 – Genre: Strategy)
When does this take place? Knights of Honor 2 also doesn’t commit to any explicit phase of the Middle Ages, but is very clearly set on Earth – with a twist. Basically, Knights of Honor 2 presents us with a fantasy of an endless Middle Ages where technological advancement never leaves the era of castles and longbows.
What’s it about? You are unceremoniously crowned king of your European lands. But even a king cannot do whatever he wants. In Knight of Honor 2, you also have a crown council at your side, which you fill with trusted merchants, diplomats or spies (hopefully your own). From here you can expand your empire, go on crusades or deal with revolts.
Who should look forward to it? Knights of Honor 2 could be the perfect mixture of the highly complex Crusader Kings 3 and the classic Total War. You will experience similarly varied stories as in the strategy colossus from Paradox. At the same time, battles are also fought in real time. Especially those who have been waiting for a new Medieval for 15 years should put Knights of Honor 2 on their list.
10. Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
(Developer: TaleWorlds Entertainment – Release: 2022 – Genre: Roleplaying)
When is this set? Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord is not set on Earth, but on a fictional continent called Calradia. However, there are still people and nations here that are extremely reminiscent of the Earthly Middle Ages. The ruling structures and technologies correspond roughly to the High Middle Ages. There is no magic or other fantasy elements at all.
What is it about? As in the predecessor, strategy is combined with role-playing. In the beginning, you are the leader of a small band and build your own hero. Then you can basically do whatever you want. You travel the world of Calradia, fight battles against robbers or other lords, or you can just build up a trading empire.
Who should be excited about this? Mount & Blade has gathered a very loyal group of players around it. Above all, they appreciate how much freedom they enjoy here. Mount & Blade is one of the best medieval sandboxes in which you can be anything from a king to a robber baron. The price for this is often the technical state and that you have to work your way into the mechanics first.
Mount & Blade, however, also has a very active modding scene, which irons out many problems or crafts huge total conversions such as to Lord of the Rings.
11th Manor Lords
(Developer: Slavic Magic – Release: 2022 – Genre: Building Strategy)
When does the play? Manor Lords roughly covers the period from the 11th to the 15th century. In other words, high to late Middle Ages. However, within this time frame, the game does not commit itself to a specific point, but picks up on various elements. In terms of its setting and degree of realism, however, Manor Lords sets a high bar.
What’s it about? In this one-man project, you have to build various villages on a large map. To do this, you collect resources and trade. Both with your own villages and with those of the other factions.
For a building game, Manor Lords has an astonishingly sophisticated combat system. As in Total War, you command troops from several units and have to flank the enemy. This creates exactly the battlefield feeling that many associate with the Middle Ages.
Who should be looking forward to it? Actually, you shouldn’t expect anything miraculous from Manor Lords. After all, the game is being developed by only one person. But Banished has already shown that building games can nevertheless keep up with much bigger competitors.
12th Senua’s Saga: Hellblade
(Developer: Asobo Studio – Release: 2022 – Genre: Action-Adventure)
When is this set? Hellblade tends to be overlooked when it comes to games set in the Middle Ages. For there is no trace of castles or knights here. In fact, however, it falls into the early Middle Ages. In the first part, Hellblade dealt with the bloody invasion of the Picts, a people from northern Scotland, by Nordic conquerors. This invasion took place towards the end of the 8th century.
What’s it about? Senua’s Saga: Hellblade continues the very personal story of the Celtic warrior Senua. In the first part, the woman plagued by the horrors of the invasion strove to rescue her murdered husband’s soul from hell.
It all sounds pretty supernatural. And Hellblade also features more monsters than you might expect in a historical game. But the trick here is: Senua is haunted by hallucinations. Hellblade thus constantly questions what is really happening and what is only taking place in her own imagination.
Who should be excited about it? All that is really known about Senua’s Saga so far is that the game continues the story of the first part and has impressive graphics. However, there has not been any gameplay to see yet. In the first part, it was a mixture of armed close combat and visual puzzles.
With Hellblade, however, it must always be said: The game can stir you up quite emotionally. Hardly any other game gives you such an intense feeling of suffering from psychological trauma. So make sure you personally don’t reach any pain thresholds.
13. A Plague Tale: Requiem
(Developer: Asobo Studio – Release: 2022 – Genre: Action-Adventure)
When is this set? The first part, A Plague Tale: Innocence, was set in 14th century France. More precisely, in 1348 and thus at the beginning of the spreading plague pandemic that wiped out about a third of the European population at the time by 1353. A Plague Tale: Requiem, on the other hand, seems to take place a few years later, but exactly how many is still unknown.
What is it about? Because the adventure is set at a time when the plague was raging, this plague and above all the flocks of rats that spread it play an important role. Along the way, persecution by the Inquisition and the Anglo-French War are also repeatedly thematised. At the centre are the noble fugitives Amicia and her brother Hugo. The latter even possesses the ability to bend the rat hordes to his will through a blood curse.
Who should look forward to it? A Plague Tale is aimed primarily at friends of classic single-player stories. There is some fighting, but much more often it’s about sneaking or environmental puzzles to make your way through the rats.
The story is told in high-quality cutscenes and provides emotional or dramatic moments with likeable main characters and a strong bond between brother and sister. It has not yet been determined what new gameplay features there will be in Requiem.
