A simulator of medieval battles. Pc strategy games about the middle ages

The recently released Kingdom Come: Deliverance recreates the late Middle Ages as faithfully as possible. There are no dragons, magic and other nods to fantasy - only villages, fortresses and the harsh life of the early 15th century. And if you have already passed Deliverance, but are not in a hurry to leave the era of chivalry and royal squabbles, then take a look at the games from this article. And don't be surprised that there is neither Gothic, nor The Elder Scrolls, nor Dark Souls, nor The Witcher. It will be about games in which there is no magic, elves, gnomes and any ancient prophecies. True, we did make one exception.

One of the main urban planning strategies about the Middle Ages is not about castles and the defense of fortresses, not about showdowns on the global map, but about the development of small European cities at the beginning of the 15th century. True, war and politics also have to be dealt with, but the main thing is the construction of lovely houses, impressive cathedrals and lively squares with their beauty.

It is even more important to please the residents. They will ask for, say, books, and it will begin: for books, of course, you need paper, and for making paper - a special factory. A building, of course, cannot be built just like that - you need wood, and so on. Then the game poses more difficult tasks, there are eastern islands, new types of goods, trade, battles, colonization of new territories.

Despite the fact that the story campaign of Anno 1404 is about fictional events, it reproduces all the key elements of the late Middle Ages. Here you will find the very cathedrals, and the Crusades, and the Hanseatic League, and much more.

This is also a strategy, but about something completely different. If you played Kingdom Come and now sincerely think that you could handle the kingdom of Bohemia much better than the weak-willed Wenceslas IV, then Crusader Kings 2 is a great opportunity to prove it. Yes, and his brother Sigismund - well, or at least Hungary - can also be avenged in this game.

Essentially, Crusader Kings 2 is a medieval politician simulator. First of all, you have to monitor dozens of various parameters, weave intrigues, enter into marriages that are beneficial for your state, fight for influence over the Pope, and only then fight. However, if everything is done correctly, then it is possible not to fight.

The main version of the game covers the time period from 1066 to 1453, but with the help of the expansion it can be increased, and then the campaign will begin from 769. In addition, all the key monarchs and states of Europe are available in the original, and DLCs add Muslim dynasties, Mongolia, pagans and many other factions.

The main role-playing game in the open world before the release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance (for some - and after). The difference between them, of course, is huge, but the key elements are similar - in Mount & Blade you also have to fight a lot with swords, carry out a variety of assignments, communicate with representatives of the nobility and ride horses.

Otherwise, however, Mount & Blade is an interesting game in its own way. There is no place for the plot in it, the main character has no specific goal either. Once in a fictional medieval world, the kingdom of Calradia, the character immediately begins to do what, in general, should be done in an open-world role-playing game without a plot. That is, to complete quests, communicate with lords, explore cities and fight. You can even unleash a war and overthrow some monarch.

TaleWorlds studio, the developers of Mount & Blade, have already released two add-ons, Warband and With Fire & Sword, adding multiplayer, additional factions and quests, and now they are creating a second part - Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord.

And again, a strategy that no top games about the Middle Ages can do without. Medieval II: Total War is dedicated to both making the most important political decisions on the global map, and large-scale military actions with huge armies in real time. The global part, however, is not as developed as in the same Crusader Kings 2, but this is not necessary here - the dynamics are completely different.

Medieval II: Total War campaigns span the 11th to 15th centuries. During this time, England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, the Venetian Republic or Spain can be won to victory, and then several more factions can be opened, including Egypt, and the Kingdom of Denmark, and Hungary, and even Russia.

The most important thing is that in Medieval II: Total War there was a place for multiplayer, so if you wish, you can play any historical plot here: from the Hundred Years War to the wars of the Scarlet and White Rose.

Also a strategy, but nothing can be done - it just so happened that sensible games about the Middle Ages are most often created in this genre. Those, by the way, are more valuable than Kingdom Come: Deliverance, but this is not about it. Age of Empires II HD is a remaster of the legendary second part of the Age of Empires, a strategy game with almost the best 2D graphics.

Otherwise, Age of Empires II hasn't changed a bit. It is still quite simple in its design, but at the same time an incredibly addicting RTS. You build buildings, collect four types of resources (wood, food, gold and stone), build more buildings and train troops, and then arrange wall-to-wall battles.

In the story campaigns, you can play as Zhanna D'Arc, Saladin, Genghis Khan and other cult figures. The remaster includes all content from The Conquerors add-on, so four more main scenarios were added to the five main scenarios in the HD version, including the conquests of Attila, El Cid and Montezuma II.

In October 2012, two online action games about the Middle Ages were released at once - War of the Roses, dedicated to the real war of the Scarlet and White Rose, and Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, which takes place in a fictional world. True, the "War of the Roses" servers were closed at the beginning of last year, and the game itself was removed from Steam, so if there is anything to advise, then Chivalry: Medieval Warfare.

This game seems to be specially created for those who do not care about the plot of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, quarrels of kings, an open world and a difficult combat system, which should be mastered for more than one hour of real time. In Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, everything is extremely simple: there is a battlefield, on which there are only friends and foes, and a simple arcade combat game using swords, axes, pikes and other medieval weapons.

Nevertheless, Chivalry does not turn into a senseless mess. On each map, teams have objectives and goals that will make it easier to win. In addition, there was even a place for tactics - well, quite simple, but still. You can choose from four classes and play your role on the battlefield. So, the Vanguard is the very place in the very center of the battle, and the shooters - on the contrary, somewhere farther away. There are also fast and agile infantrymen and armored knights - the most balanced classes.

The very exception. It is clear that Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is full of fantasy elements, but at the same time it is one of the coolest sword fighting and adventure games in a medieval, albeit magical, world. And yes, the events of the "Dark Messiah", if you suddenly did not know, take place in the universe of Heroes of Might and Magic V - both games are dedicated to the confrontation of good in the person of valiant knights and evil, which is personified by the magician Arantir.

But all this is not so important. The combat system is much more important. Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is a linear first-person action game in which the main character cleverly cuts with a sword, shoots a bow and casts. The game was created in 2006 by Arkane Studios, she will then transfer this combat system to Dishonored and deprive it of several interesting elements (and complement others, but that's another story).

In Dark Messiah, for example, you can use magic to cover the floor with ice, on which enemies will certainly slip. If the battle takes place somewhere near the cliff, then the battle will instantly turn into a great attraction. You can also set fire to enemies, cut off their limbs and, the coolest, use traps. The game is powered by the Source engine, so a box on a rope here will dangle according to the laws of physics, knocking down everyone who is not lucky enough to be nearby. In general, the best action game about the fake Middle Ages.

What's your favorite medieval game?

It just so happens that strategies about the Middle Ages are the most popular compared to games featuring later historical periods. It is difficult to say what this is connected with. Perhaps the reason for the popularity of strategies on the subject of the Middle Ages lies corny in the richness of choice. Let's talk about the most interesting representatives of this genre.

Stronhgold

Stronghold is a highly popular series of real-time strategy games. At the moment it has as many as eight parts (Stronhgold, Stronhgold Crusader, Stronhgold Crusader Extreme, Stronhgold 2, Stronhgold Legends, Stronhgold Kingdoms, Stronhgold 3, Stronhgold Crusader 2)
Despite the fact that the first part was released back in 2001, it is still very popular. Events here take place in medieval England. According to the storyline, the player needs to free the captured king and reclaim the previously lost possessions.

The player can choose from various modes. The economic regime is suitable for those who like to create and develop, while not entering wars. For hotheads, thirsty for blood and battles, there is a siege or defense mode. Everything is extremely simple here: you either capture the opponent's territory, or try to protect your possessions from enemy attacks. The third option is the storyline. In this case, the player will have to deal with both the economy and wars.
When defending, thick walls can be built in combination with tall towers, on which archers or catapults can be placed. The walls themselves can be surrounded by palisades or ditches with water and even tar, which can be set on fire during defense.
In the case of an attack on the castle, you can try to break through the main gate, or try to shoot the castle walls with catapults and send your troops into the gap. You can act in more sophisticated ways and before the siege try to undermine the economy of your opponent.

Stronghold 3

The third part of the popular series was released in 2011. The concept of the game has not changed by itself in comparison with the first and second parts, but a number of significant differences have appeared. For example, there is a change of day and night. Moreover, this gives the game not only beauty, but also adds zest to the gameplay, for example, at night you can make sudden raids on the enemy, because at night it is quite difficult to monitor the movement of small detachments.

In addition to the change in time, there was also a change in weather conditions, so that compared to its predecessors, Stronghold 3 has become much more diverse. The differences affected not only the weather and time of day, but also the construction of buildings. For example, if you start to erect a building too far from the castle, then the construction process will be delayed and you will have to wait a long time. The closer the building is to the center, the faster it will be built and will bring more profit.

Settlers: Heritage of Kings

The Settlers series of games is very popular and has about a dozen parts. Heritage of kings is the fifth series released in 2005. In fact, any version of Settlers is primarily an economic strategy.
Of course, there is no escape from the battles, but first of all the player will equip his state, and this is a very rich field of activity.

We'll have to develop infrastructure, extract resources, food, take care of citizens, in general there will be a lot of things to do. Settlers are perfect for those who like thoughtfully and leisurely develop and expand their property.

Settlers: Rise of an Empire

Settlers: Rise of an Empire also features a popular series of economic strategies. Just as in the fifth part, the player will have to equip and develop his settlement in every possible way. It is necessary to build various buildings and structures, take care of transport links between them, connecting everything with a network of roads, of course, you will have to extract resources and provide the population with food.

Also, do not forget about defense and allocate funds for the fortress walls. Moreover, if the people are protected and well-fed, this does not mean that they will love and respect you. In addition to food, people have many other needs that must not be forgotten, otherwise it is fraught with strikes and population decline.

Siege Online

Siege Online gives the player the opportunity to plunge into the Middle Ages, where exciting adventures, sieges of castles, bloody battles both with computer rivals and with real people will not be long in coming. The name seems to hint that the basis of the gameplay is the siege of castles.

Battles are essentially a duel between castle owners. The winner is the one who destroys the enemy's castle first. It is necessary to correctly distribute your troops, since the number of soldiers you have is limited. Someone should go on the attack, someone - sit out in defense. In general, everything will depend on how correct you have chosen the strategy and how skillfully you will manage different types of units, each of which has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Age of empires 3

Age of Empires 3 is a classic real-time strategy (RTS) game. The control panel in this game is somewhat reminiscent of Warcraft 3. The basis of any strategy is the collection of resources. You will need to get food, gold and wood in order to rebuild and develop your settlement in every possible way. At the same time, as you develop, you will move into new eras of development and gain access to new types of buildings and weapons.

The player is invited to become the leader of one of the European countries that existed from the 11th to the 15th centuries. You will develop your country, establish diplomatic relations, enter into trade alliances and alliances, declare wars and fight opposition. Moreover, it is the diplomatic ways of solving problems and conflicts that are more effective and priority than conventional war. Crusader Kings will definitely appeal to people who like thoughtfully and leisurely to make the most prudent decisions.

Kings Crusade. Lion Heart

Kings Crusade will give you the opportunity to surpass the successes of King Richard, nicknamed the Lionheart. You will be able to capture Jerusalem with your own hands, and then all the Holy Lands. Kings Crusade is a real-time strategy game that incorporates some RPG elements. Your hero will wander around the world map, engaging in a lot of battles.

There are several campaigns to choose from. For example, in the campaign for the crusaders, your task is to conquer the entire Middle East. In another company, you will side with Sultan Saladin and try to regain the previously lost Holy Lands.

East India Company

East India Company - invites you to stand at the head of one of the parties fighting for influence in the Indian Ocean. Moreover, colonies in Africa and Asia are at stake. As the head of state, the player will have to take a direct part in solving global problems, such as: the development of science, construction, building a strong political and economic system, diplomacy, creating powerful economic alliances, trade routes, and so on.

In addition to the economy, it is necessary to strengthen the army and, first of all, the navy. A power that controls important sea trade routes becomes very wealthy and has a colossal advantage over its opponents. The player can personally direct sea battles, and you can stand at the head of a separate ship, or control an entire squadron.

Anno 1404

The number in the title, as you probably already guessed, means the year in which the main events in this game will take place. Anno is an economic strategy about the middle ages, which is based on urban planning. The combination of great graphics and very interesting and thoughtful gameplay is great for creativity.

It is the construction and development of the settlement, which in the beginning consists almost of huts, that is the main goal. Your town must grow and become a large and economically powerful state. The game has a huge variety of buildings and structures and a fairly large production chain for which you will need to extract resources. Fans of complex economic strategies should appreciate this project.

Grand Ages: Medieval

Grand Ages: Medieval is an RTS released in 2015. You are invited to stand at the head of a small settlement in order to turn it into a large and economically developed city in the future. You will explore a vast world, gather resources, make contacts with other peoples and conduct diplomatic relations to strengthen and enrich your country.

There are two modes to choose from. The first mode is step by step. Here on the global map of the world, you will control your troops, delve into diplomatic relations and spy on your neighbors. The second mode is the battle mode. It turns on after the territory for the attack has been selected and here you will have to take control of the troops. There is also a storyline in the game, offering to take part in the battles of those times.

Medieval II: Total War

Medieval II: Total War is a very successful continuation of the first part of the series. It was published in 2006 and tells us about the events of 1080-1530. The battles will take place on the already familiar to us from the previous part of the lands of Europe, North Africa and the Far East, plus the territories of Central America were added.

Europa Universalis 4 is quite difficult to master, as it touches upon all the most complex aspects of government. We need to deal with diplomacy, culture, economics, trade development, military affairs, and so on. Becoming the prince of one small province, in the future, you will be able to expand your influence throughout the world.

Citadels

Citadels is an RTS released in 2013. You are transported to the heyday of Britain. King Arthur fell on the battlefield fighting the Saxon aggressors. After the death of the king, you have to continue his work.

As for the gameplay, here, as they say, is a classic of the genre. We are developing our settlement, we are engaged in the extraction of minerals, as well as food, we are engaged in research and train the troops. Once your base is ready and sufficiently defended, you can turn your gaze on enemy territory and try to capture them.

BROWSER STRATEGIES

Alliance warfare

Alliance Warfare presents the player with the chance to build their own city or destroy someone else's. You can also join various alliances and participate in epic battles. The economic component forces you to think carefully about all your actions in advance.

At the very beginning, in front of you there will be a virtually empty field with a minimum number of buildings. The main task is to rebuild a fairly large and economically developed settlement with its own markets, hospitals, barracks, and so on. For construction, of course, you need resources (wood, iron, stone), which will be mined in mines and sawmills. Also, resources can be obtained by plundering your neighbors.

Tribal Wars 2

Tribal Wars 2 is a browser-based online game in a medieval style. In these turbulent times, you are the owner of the castle. So in the territories adjacent to you, internecine wars are constantly going on, you can only dream of a peaceful sleep.

The player will have to plunge into politics, economics and, of course, military affairs. Battles in Tribal Wars 2 are in auto mode. Whether you win or lose in a battle is influenced by the characteristics of your units. Everything is quite simple here: the larger the number of troops, the higher the discipline and the better equipment, the more chances of victory.

Goodgame empire

Goodgame Empire is an excellent browser strategy that fans of the Middle Ages will surely like. The player rebuilds his own castle, trades with neighbors, researches and completes various quests.

The player starts out with tiny holdings. In order to "grow fat", expand territories and become richer, it will be necessary, first of all, to provide a resource base. You will mine wood, stone and gold. As soon as you achieve some success in economic development, the possibility of cooperation with other players will open up. You can enter into large alliances and participate in large-scale conflicts.

Imperia Online 2

Imperia Online 2 is an excellent sequel to the first part. The player will become the ruler of a tiny village, which over time may become a large city, or even a state. Develop your economy, increase the extraction of resources and, of course, do not forget about defense. Without it, you risk being plundered by envious neighbors.

At first glance, 1100AD is rather complicated, there are a lot of different buildings, the functions of which should be familiarized. Having dealt with the economy, you can try to stick your nose outside the castle and try to get rich at the expense of new territories. However, before attacking a neighboring player, you should make sure that he is not in a powerful alliance that can not only protect him, but also put you in your place ...

Looking for good online games? Check out our top.

The medieval era is a difficult and contradictory time in the minds of the current generation. For some, it is dirty and disgusting, full of dark superstitions and prejudices, cruelty, injustice and oppression. And for others it is a glorious time, fanned by the romance of knightly adventures and exploits.

Can computer games give the final answer to what the Middle Ages was like? Absolutely not. But they can amuse us great, giving us the opportunity, albeit very conditional, to get away from the routine of gray everyday life and feel the taste of the mysterious past with its noble knights, powerful kings, greedy merchants, beautiful ladies, endless battles and uprisings, strict religious dogmatism and other extraordinary fascinating things.

1. MORDHAU

Online action game with unusually realistic and bloody medieval battles of various formations: massive massacres in an open field, sieges of castles, cavalry attacks, noble duels, and so on. Here you can even try to shoot from some siege weapon of that time. The maximum number of players involved in one battle can be up to 64 people.

At the same time, as already noted, the developers tried to make the battles as exciting and spectacular as possible on the one hand, and realistic on the other. Sharp attacks and wide swings of blades, severed limbs and blood gushing in all directions - no censorship and indulgence, everything is naturalistic and cruel. I am very pleased with the flexible customization system, as well as the abundance of weapons, armor and other military equipment.

2. Mount & Blade: Warband

A wonderful RPG with a realistic medieval setting, addicting versatile gameplay and a powerful atmosphere, which no other similar game has yet managed to surpass. And this despite the fact that the release of Mount & Blade: Warband took place in 2010.

In addition to the single-player freeplay mode, Mount & Blade: Warband also has a multiplayer mode (or rather, several such modes), which allows dozens of players to converge on the battlefield.

In fact, Mount & Blade: Warband can be called the most ideal medieval simulator at the moment, every element of the gameplay in which is thought out and perfected to the smallest detail. Moreover, other games in the Mount & Blade series also deserve attention, because in fact they are variations of one game with some differences in gameplay and setting caused by the fact that they are dedicated to different time periods of the Middle Ages. It is also known that Mount & Blade 2 is in development, but even the approximate release date remains unknown at the moment.

3. Chivalry: Medieval Warfare

Brutal multiplayer first-person action game designed for team battles in various modes and in various arenas. A good selection of game classes and weapons, the ability to customize characters, a good level of graphics and arena design, and most importantly - a simple and at the same time fascinating combat system made Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, if not the most popular, then a highly demanded game among multiplayer medieval action games ...

4. Life is Feudal: Your Own

One of the best survival games with RPG elements in our top games about the Middle Ages, combining all the best features and developments from sandbox games (a large open world, free building and terraforming, an abundance of crafts and recipes for crafting, etc.) with an atmosphere of the true Middle Ages !

Those who prefer robbery and battles to peaceful labor will be impressed by the local dynamic combat system based on non-targeting and the possibility of simultaneous participation in the battle of 64 people - this is exactly the number of players that the servers in Life is Feudal: Your Own are designed for. And whoever wants even more epic battles can try their hand and their ability to survive in Life is Feudal: MMO - a more global variation of the game, arranged according to the principle of MMORPG.

5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Role-playing project of 2018, until its release, stubbornly positioned by its creators as "The best game about the Middle Ages on the PC among RPGs." However, after the release, it turned out to be more than controversial due to its dampness, numerous flaws and unfulfilled promises.

Fortunately, at the moment, after a significant time after the release, the developers have managed to bring Kingdom Come: Deliverance into a more or less playable form through numerous patches. Of the unambiguous advantages of this game, it is worth noting the very good graphics and design of the world, a solid non-linear storyline based on real events (albeit with some loose interpretations on the part of the creators) and a classless character development system.

The combat system in Kingdom Come: Deliverance turned out to be hardcore, as promised, but there are strong doubts about its fascination and historical reliability - it all looks too clumsy and ridiculous, and the behavior of opponents sometimes causes unpleasant amazement. In general, the AI ​​of the inhabitants of Kingdom Come is lame in all limbs, plus the impression is exacerbated by the so far completely unresolved bugs.

6. Gloria Victis

MMORPG with a huge open medieval world and a little bit of fantasy that does not spoil the overall experience of the game and does not violate the clear aspiration of Gloria Victis for realism.

Gloria Victis has all the characteristic features of a massive multiplayer game: a large and diverse world, several warring factions, various NPCs and other live players, exciting PvP and PvE battles, the possibility of cooperation with other users, and many other elements that form the basis of the gameplay.

At the same time, there are some features related specifically to the medieval setting of the game: a more realistic non-target combat system, a large number of medieval crafts, a reputation system, an impressive number of authentically reconstructed types of weapons and armor, climate and relief that recreate the territory of the western, central and eastern Europe.

7. For Honor

A well-known multiplayer game on PC, offering a kind of medieval crossover, allowing warriors of completely different civilizations and historical eras to come together in battle: Vikings, knights and samurai.

Moreover, each faction has its own story-based story (in addition to multiplayer modes, For Honor also has a pretty good training campaign with a scenario that reveals the features of all three sides) and unique classes. The hero of each class has a unique appearance and tactics of the game, determined by the weapons and skills of the character.

The ART OF BATTLE combat system itself is also innovative in For Honor, at first it seems quite difficult to learn, for which many players actively scolded (and continue to scold) the game, preferring simpler and more understandable network action games on the theme of the Middle Ages to it. We admit that the threshold for entering For Honor is really high, and it will be very difficult for newcomers in the early stages. But if you still endure and master all the intricacies of the combat system, in the future the game will be able to give a lot of vivid emotions and impressions of breathtaking battles in various modes.

8. The Cursed Crusade

9. The Black Death

The Black Death is a multiplayer survival game set in the medieval setting, which can hardly be called the best in the chosen category, but, despite this, it definitely stands out for its originality in its concept.

The fact is that the action of The Black Death takes place during a plague epidemic that decimated almost half of the population of medieval Europe and was nicknamed the "Black Death" for this. It is this dark feature, skillfully conveyed by developers from Syrin Studios and Small Impact Games in the style and atmosphere of the game, that makes The Black Death so curious.

Otherwise, The Black Death is a completely standard multiplayer survival with an open world, the essence of the gameplay of which is exploring the environment, building, mining and crafting, as well as battles (or other ways of interaction, for example, exchange or cooperation) with other unfortunate inhabitants of Europe in dark times. But since the game is in the early access stage, there is a clear flaw in many of the mechanics and ideas, which should certainly be taken into account by everyone who wants to plunge into the world of The Black Death.

10. Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc

The next project on our list of the best medieval games on PC is even more significant in age, as it was released on PC already in 2004. Despite this, fans of realistic historical games Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc will certainly like its elaborate and reliable setting, as well as the plot, which is based on the famous "Hundred Years War" that unfolded in the XIV-XV centuries between the French and the British.

In terms of gameplay, Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc is a simple third-person action game dedicated to battles with swords and other types of cutting / thrusting weapons, the main character of which is the greatest warrior and national heroine of France, Jeanne D'Arc. All story missions (in Wars and Warriors only a single scenario is available) are as close as possible to the real events of the Hundred Years War, and in addition to Jeanne, players will be able to contemplate many other historical figures of that time. There was also a place in the game for typical RPG elements: the heroine gradually gains experience and grows in level, pumps parameters, can use inventory, change weapons and equipment.

Also in Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc there is a very unusual element of real-time strategy, which sets a significant proportion of the game atmosphere: along with Jeanne, other commanders participate in battles along with their squads, and some of the commanders can be taken under your direct control. Together with epic battle music and characteristic medieval scenery, this massiveness greatly affects the immersion in the gameplay and evokes a natural feeling of participation in one of the greatest wars of the Middle Ages.

11. Age of Chivalry

Age of Chivalry is a multiplayer modification for Half-Life 2, developed and released by the amateur studio Team Chivalry back in 2007, but has not lost its relevance in our time.

Although in visual terms Age of Chivalry is inferior to modern games about the Middle Ages, this does not interfere with immersion in the local wonderful world of medieval battles and castle sieges. Players expect a first-person view and three different warrior classes: knight, archer and scout, for each of which a wide selection of weapons is available. The combat system of Age of Chivalry stands out for its hardcore and realism, however, here it is worth considering the considerable age of the engine. In addition to sieges and group battles, you can also take part in plot battles that mimic those of real medieval history.

Finally, the undeniable advantage of Age of Chivalry over most medieval games is that it is completely free to download and play! True, to do this, you must have any game with the engine on your Steam account: Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source, and so on.

12. Legends of Eisenwald

Legends of Eisenwald is a knight wandering simulator that takes the player on an exciting adventure across the lands of old Germany. The local setting is a cross between the real Middle Ages and fantasy. There are no fictional races here, however, one should not expect strict adherence to history textbooks, because all events, characters and geography are fictional. There is also magic in the game.

The gameplay of Legends of Eisenwald is a successful combination of RPG and turn-based strategy with very unusual combat mechanics. The player leads a small army, into which he selects knights at his discretion, pumps and equips. Moving around the map is free, without being tied to the plot, and the campaign itself has a non-linear development.

13. Reign Of Kings

14. Assassin's Creed

The first part of the famous series of adventure games dedicated to the confrontation between two secret organizations - the Order of the Templars and the Assassins. The game takes place in 1191, during the Third Crusade. The main character is the assassin Altair ibn La-Ahad, who arrived in the Holy Land with a whole list of important tasks, the overall goal of which is to prevent the Templars from getting to one very important artifact.

In addition to the magnificently recreated surroundings of that time, an eventful plot and the ability to freely explore the Holy Land "in miniature", Assassin's Creed gained recognition from millions of players thanks to a dynamic and unusual combat system for its time, as well as parkour and stealth, which also occupy an important place in the gameplay. ...

15. Knights of the Temple series

Role-playing action games with a third-person view (you can include a view from the eyes), dedicated to the Templar Knight Paul De Rac, traveling through medieval Europe and trying to stop the invasion of Darkness into the human world. To do this, he has to explore linear locations filled with a variety of enemies, including bosses, complete story missions, collect artifacts and solve simple puzzles.

The role-playing element in Knights of the Temple is represented by the ability to increase the effectiveness of the skills and actions available to the hero, implemented according to the same principle that was used in Morrowind: the more often the hero does something, the better he gets it.

Where can I buy: the game could not be found in official digital services.

16. Medieval Engineers

A sandbox game about cheerful medieval engineers and architects who make and build something every hour under the close control of the player. A true constructor set in medieval settings, where you can build amazingly complex architectural ensembles and create cunning machines. And all this is taking into account the laws of physics.

17. Graveyard Keeper

A funny game with black humor, introducing the player to the everyday life of a caretaker of a medieval cemetery. Pixel graphics and a funny storyline with numerous references to all sorts of outstanding fantasy works and RPGs are successfully combined with a deep crafting system and a well-thought-out economy. A great way to take a break from more serious medieval games.

18. The First Templar

Slasher from Haemimont Games, dedicated to the adventures of an unusual pair of heroes - a knight of the Templar Order and his beautiful companion Marie d'Ibelin, who was saved by him from the Inquisition. According to the plot, which takes place in the 13th century, the heroes are trying to uncover a conspiracy against the Order, and at the same time find the Holy Grail. In this noble deed, they are trying with all their might to prevent numerous and very powerful enemies, including the servants of the Inquisition, the Saracens, and even the French king Philip IV.

19. Series The Guild

The Guild is a series of very unusual games that can be described as a realistic simulator of life in the Middle Ages, in the gameplay of which the characteristic features of many genres can be traced: economic strategy, RPG, manager and some others. The player finds himself in a real medieval city, where he decides his further destiny: he can become a farmer or artisan, join a trade guild, lead a gang of robbers, or try his hand at the political arena.

20. Foundation

A city-building simulator in which the player gets a huge toolbox and unlimited freedom for creativity, with the help of which you can create a real medieval city of dreams and then start managing it. Here you can even develop the designs of buildings yourself, and then integrate your creations into the gameplay.

21. Besiege

A fun interactive constructor that allows you to create medieval siege machines and weapons, and then test their effectiveness in action, directing their power against random villages, majestic castles, armored knights and other targets. By the way, you can create not only real historical machines, but also something truly fantastic and unimaginable, for example, a trebuchet floating in the air.

22. A Plague Tale: Innocence

23. Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth

An exciting visual novel and quest adventure game with point and click mechanics, based on the popular book "The Pillars of the Earth" by British writer Ken Follett. The game takes place in a small English town of the 12th century, the fate of the inhabitants of which intertwined with each other in an amazing and tragic story, unfolding against the backdrop of the construction of one of the most grandiose cathedrals of that time. In addition to a fascinating plot taken from the book and adapted for a computer game, Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth is a great pleasure with its highly artistic 2D design of locations and characters, good acting voice and powerful orchestral soundtrack.

24. Exanima

The only game on our list with a medieval setting that contains essential elements of dark fantasy. Despite this, Exanima differs from all other fantasy Action / RPGs and feels more like an isometric survival game in the Middle Ages, with a detailed and highly interactive environment, hardcore battles with original controls, a dark atmosphere and a low level of fantasy. The developers from Bare Mettle Entertainment strongly insist on the last feature of Exanima, and we completely agree with them on this: if you remove all the dead, demons, magic and the occult from the game, you get a very serious and convincing game about the Middle Ages. By the way, the game is still actively developing - the developers are planning to add multiplayer in the near future.

25. Winkeltje: The Little Shop

Winkeltje: The Little Shop is a game for those who are tired of epic adventures, exploits and bloody battles, and want to enjoy a quiet and peaceful life in a medieval setting. Here the player gets a unique opportunity to become the owner of his own retail store, equip it at his own discretion, do business with clients and solve pleasant everyday issues. Forget about tedious wanderings and dangerous skirmishes, and just expand the range of goods (you can craft items for trade yourself), move cabinets and cabinets to create a proper interior, take care of flower beds (crops grown on beds, by the way, can also be sold) and have fun with contemplation of pastoral views outside the window.

conclusion

After reading this collection, you probably noticed the absence of fantasy games dedicated to the Middle Ages. Yes, we deliberately bypassed fantasy games based on this very interesting, but at the same time gloomy historical period of human civilization - for example, the action RPG series The Witcher and Dragon Age, the slasher Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, and others. Instead, we decided to focus on projects that illuminate the era as realistically as possible. Well, the theme of the fantasy Middle Ages is revealed in our other ones.

I will not hide the fact that I am absolutely mediocre in strategies, but nevertheless, this particular genre of games has always brought me a lot of pleasure. I know it sounds rather strange, well, I'm such an eccentric, what can you do. And I'm also just crazy about the Middle Ages, especially if there is also a bit of fantasy. There is something enchanting about all these swords and sorcery, you know.

Perhaps you will also be interested in the TOP 5 games about knights and.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare

In the first place in our top, I put the traditional, classic first-person shooter format, like Team Fortress 2, but at the same time abandoned for a couple of centuries in the past. This means that, with the exception of the Archer class, almost the entire game is melee-focused. Anticipating the tremors of most FPS (first person shooters) veterans, because there is an established opinion that shooters and melee are not combined in the best way, I will note that in Chivalry: Medieval Warfare one of the most flawless combat systems I've come across. Although it is made, to be honest, it is a little crooked, so do not be too surprised if the first couple of visits to the game seem to you just disgusting. In the future, your opinion may change somewhat.

Mount & Blade: Warband

I won't even admit how many hours I have killed playing Mount & Blade: Warband, which is an unusual combination of RTS, RPG and command and control system. You start the game as an inept mercenary with ambitious dreams and goals, who can ultimately rise so well, becoming a real legend of battles, albeit sometimes by not the most noble means - with the help of “sucking up” the aristocracy, for example, joining the trial of the king or banal looting ... As far as I know, the ultimate goal of the game is to conquer all of Calradia in the status of king, but personally I am still quite far from that.

Medieval 2: Total War

Total war an equally impressive game in its scale and scope. The word "epic" simply does not reach the level that would fairly describe this toy. Here you have the opportunity to switch between a "big panoramic" picture of the world and a close-up of the battlefield. The developers have made great efforts to cover almost all aspects of medieval reality, including religion and politics. Like many strategies, this game is not an option if you want to play quickly, without seriously turning on: even the smallest campaign in Medieval 2 may take hours (if not days) to complete.

Europa Universalis III

On the second place of our top is fantastic Europa Universalis III... Even though the game only covers 330 years of the historical period of the Renaissance and Reformation, everything is done here with such a level of detail and depth that many other strategies nervously smoke next to it. For all its complexity and multi-layered nature, the game is striking in its intuitiveness and simplicity. Here you have to run your own country, and believe me, it will take you a lot, a lot of time.

Stronghold

If Europa Universalis III impressed you, you are a layman in strategies. Because Series Stronghold- these are games in which you control the entire vertical of power of the kingdom and you can feel yourself in the shoes of any historical ruler.

Compete with the computer in single-player mode or with other players online, your task is to establish a dynasty that will be able to maintain its power for many years. To achieve this goal, you will need to keep an eye on your nobility, some of which will do everything in their power to succeed, putting a spoke in your wheels; you also have to pay attention to the pedigree of everyone with whom you intend to seal your children in marriage.

By and large, this is one of the most elaborate medieval strategy games I've ever played.

The game is now completely free! Unlike the previous parts, you will not fight against the computer, but against real players. At the moment, I took a break from her, since Stronghold kingdoms incredibly addictive.

Honorable Mentions: Age Of Empires III, Lords Of The Realm II.

The Middle Ages is one of the most romanticized eras. Books and films, as well as computer games about the Middle Ages tell about it. At the mention of these times, we immediately imagine knights, beautiful ladies, majestic castles and noble duels for the honor of the king, state and beloved. Of course, one cannot do without flashbacks with scenes from massive battles, when thousands of swordsmen, axemen, spearmen and horsemen run at each other and fight to the last drop of blood.

Today, together with you, we want to go back 500, or even 1000 years ago, in order to experience on our own experience what it was like for people at the dawn of civilization. The list of games dedicated to the Middle Ages will help us with this. We have compiled a kind of top and divided it into several parts, providing screenshots and videos. Let's see how the developers were able to convey the mood of peaceful life and war in a period when only the strongest survived.

Strategy games

Naturally, let's start with strategies. We will not be surprised if the majority of gamers got acquainted with the virtual Middle Ages with this genre. We have a whole top 10 strategy games in which you will rule kingdoms and lead huge armies into battle.

Medieval: Total War - the birth of the legendary series

One of the first mass strategy games with 3D graphics. The gameplay consists of two parts - turn-based strategy and tactical battles. The tactical mode is a map of the world on which the states are located. You control one of them, constructing buildings, shining with diplomacy and sending troops in any convenient direction. The main task is to completely destroy or subjugate those around you. During tactical battles, real magic happens - scenes that were previously only in multimillion-dollar blockbusters like Braveheart come to life on the monitor. Thousands of warriors armed with bows, swords, shields, powerful horses and rough armor fight on various battlefields with unique landscapes. And even if it was only a small step towards development in the right direction, the first Medieval remains one of the best strategies in the history of game development.

Medieval II: Total War - kings, sultans and kings

The first part of medieval wars in style Total war was released in 2002. The sequel was destined to come out in four years - in 2006. Creative assembly celebrated success Rome: Total War and intended to repeat it. And she repeated - the second Medieval came out so cool that it is still popular today, albeit largely thanks to custom modifications. What's new? The graphics have improved, the physics engine has become much more realistic, and the scope has now become an order of magnitude larger. Imagine - more than 25 thousand people could fight on one battlefield with eight participants! It's not just realistic, it's super realistic. Most of the major medieval battles were of just such a scale. In ordinary battles, the game offered to control an army of 3-4 thousand soldiers - also plausible. This fascinated gamers who pumped their empires every day, recruited troops and terrorized neighboring countries. If you think that you are capable and worthy of leading a whole people forward - set Medieval II: Total War!

The Settlers: Heritage of Kings - Economy and War

And here, although war is present in the form of simulation battles, it is not considered the main ingredient of success. V The settlers it is much more important to devote time to the economic processes of your state. Establish trade with neighbors, extract resources, accumulate treasures, build an army and conquer everyone in the area. Yes, you will not see breathtaking battles here, but the beautiful graphics, pleasant atmosphere and detailed historical setting will delight you very much! There is also a well-developed economic model - build infrastructure, manage taxes, distribute profits.

Crusader Kings ll - global strategy

Now you are the king. And you represent not the state, but your dynasty. You control vast territories filled with resources. Your subjects are peasants, soldiers, generals, merchants and other individuals useful to society. Manage them, create smart development strategies and expand your ownership. A well-thought-out interface will help you with this, in which there are many tools for interacting with subordinates and enemies. It is not enough to build a building here, hire 10,000 horsemen and take the enemy fortress unceremoniously. This process will take long days, weeks, or even months. Negotiate with allies, watch out for palace intrigues, bribe or betray - a real king is ready to do anything for the sake of his kingdom.

Anno 1404 - build and manufacture

We continue to list the best strategy games in the Medieval setting. Next in line is the Anno series, a separate part of which is dedicated to the beginning of the Renaissance. This is a colorful strategy, the beauty of which is not in military operations, but in the art of conducting diplomatic and economic affairs. Build, erect, stack on logs and stones - over time, from the headman of a weak village, you will become the governor of the central city with huge revenue. The Emperor himself will show you due respect and increase your salary. Become a medieval tycoon and show others that money is more important than a sword.

The Golden Horde - how the Mongols conquered the whole world

Even if not all, but still its huge territory. In the strategy genre, this game is far from being a gem, but it is worthy of attention. Here, in real time, battles take place between the Russians and the Mongols, who are trying to share power in the Slavic lands. Interestingly, the developers paid a lot of attention to the little things. So, the wind affects the lethality of archers, fire from burning buildings spreads to neighboring buildings, the ice on the rivers breaks when armored infantrymen thunder on it with a heavy tread. The basic mechanics may be simple, but such little things create an unforgettable mood.

XIII century. Glory or death - undeservedly forgotten

If Medieval ll came out in 2006 and is still popular, then about the development Unicorn Games Studio few remember. But she appeared a year later and was considered a direct competitor. Medivala... True, the emphasis here is on tactical battles, and strategic planning is pushed into the background. The developers promised to bring depth to the battles, which was lacking in Medieval ll... What they did. True, the interface and graphics were a little pumped up, which, although attractive, were still slightly inferior to the main competitor. And the lack of a strategic map greatly influenced the decision of gamers - they postponed the project to the far shelf and continued to terrorize France and Germany in the series Total war.

King Arthur: The Role-Playing Wargame - Taking off the rose-colored glasses

If there are those who think that the real King Arthur did nothing but sparkle with armor, push fiery speeches and knock over wine goblets at feasts, they will be disappointed. Most likely in a pleasant way. After all, governing the state is a much more serious task. You will check this on your own experience, reincarnated as one of Arthur's vassals, who was tasked with bringing order to the lands of Britain. Train your fighters, build cities, suppress or suppress riots, fight powerful opponents and accumulate chests with gold. Do not rely on simple solutions and be ready to respond to offenders - medieval life is full of worries and hardships, but you can handle it, because King Arthur himself is with you!

Lionheart. Kings Crusade - Is Total Var defeated?

No, absolutely not. But for a change, you can play this interpretation of medieval battles, made on the basis of a time-tested concept. The Crusaders are trying to conquer the East. But the locals are resisting. Who will win? It depends on the generals. You will become one of them.

Stronghold is my home, my fortress

Moreover, in the literal sense. Here you will build an impregnable fortress from scratch and will defend it from hundreds of opponents. If your architectural genius doesn't fail, every battle will be simple. But this is a real war, everyone can make a mistake.

RPG games

Now is the time to talk about role-playing adventures. After all, many gamers dream of reincarnating into a medieval warrior without consequences. We will have the best simulators of the real Middle Ages under consideration. Prepare your computer for time travel!

Kingdom Come: Deliverance - Almost Perfect

Albeit with medium optimization and some bugs. Developers from Warhorse Studios have focused on realism. Therefore, here you will start your role-playing adventures in 1 person as the son of a blacksmith and spend colossal efforts to improve your life. No one-against-ten battles - any drunkard will beat an untrained fellow here. But after a hundred hours of gameplay, you can still put on strong armor and successfully defeat all enemies. If a time machine existed, this game would be the perfect training simulation for travelers.

War of the Roses - fighting in all its glory

If you are interested in how medieval warriors behaved during fights - run War of the roses... Here, your main character will be knocked out from the first blow, until you learn to control the weapon and skillfully use it. Train and win!

Mount & Blade - Ruthless World

The legend tells of a warrior who came, defeated the armies of all the rulers and himself began to reign in Calradia. And only you can implement it if you use your resources wisely. Level up, recruit recruits, create an army, capture fortresses and acquire allies - it will not be easy, but in the end you will become the master of the whole world.

MMORPG

From single-player role-playing adventures to multiplayer. There will be no picky realism here, but the gameplay will not be less interesting.

Conqueror's Blade - to the East!

The Middle Ages were not only in Europe. The Chinese history of those times can also surprise the fanatical gamer. The local developers decided to demonstrate this by creating a mixture of third-person action and real-time strategy with a multiplayer twist. There will be no dragons and anime characters - you will be overwhelmed with cruelty and rage.

The Black Death - a world in time of plague

One of the most realistic MMO client games with an open medieval world. You will start as a simple villager penniless and try to survive from third person during the worst epidemic.

Mordhau - Battlefield 1442

The project is still in development, but soon 64 people on each server will face each other, without tanks and machine guns, but with swords and bows, to win the title of the best warrior!

For laptops and weak PCs

What if you don't have the most top-end computer? For this case, we have games about the middle ages on a weak pc.

Age of Empires 2 - will you live to the Middle Ages?

After all, you will start in time immemorial, almost in the Stone Age. But if your strategy is correct, you will lead your civilization to flourish.

Europa Universalis IV - the world is huge

And he can only have one ruler! Become the emperor of the entire planet in Paradox's global strategy game.

Rome: Total War - Mods rule!

The vanilla game is dedicated to Antiquity, we know. But dozens of cool mods will take you a millennium ahead. Try it - on a PC with a weak video card, this game will run without brakes.

Browser games

Finally, let's take a look at browser games about the cherished Middle Ages that can be played on any system - as long as there is a modern browser.

Legends of the Ancients - Slavic flavor

This online game has a large fan base - they all enjoy a cool storyline, native setting and a unique leveling system.

Princely wars - who is the strongest?

The answer to this question will be your victory over all enemies. But first, build a city and recruit an army.

Empire Online 2 - defending the throne

Browser strategy that will take you to the Middle Ages and create a kingdom. Develop your economy, hire an army, engage in diplomacy, make history.