Medieval games are among the most popular, allowing players to escape the modern world for simpler times. Thankfully, after decades of the Middle Ages being depicted as drab and dirty in films, many video games have done the period justice, striving for historical accuracy and immersion.
10 New Upcoming Medieval Games
Fans of medieval video games have a lot to look forward to in the near future, but these are the most promising titles on the horizon.
Not only are the following games purely medieval, with no magic apart from charlatans, but they also pay attention to the details with lavish interiors in place of bare stone walls and colorful fabrics instead of leather. In these historically accurate medieval games, armor is useful, deflecting blows rather than being sliced through like butter. All of this and more is ideally combined to create realistic experiences of the Middle Ages, from which players can even learn about history.
5 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
The Original Medieval Masterpiece
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
For many years, Kingdom Come: Deliverance held the title of the most historically accurate medieval video game ever made, only recently being surpassed by Warhorse Studios' sequel. This open-world RPG sees players take on the role of a blacksmith's son, Henry, who has few skills and little experience of the world. In terms of accuracy, players are able to explore real castles and villages, some of which have one-to-one layouts.
Players will also notice that interiors are elaborately decorated, with the churches being a huge standout. Walking around the Sasau region, Henry will come across countless NPCs with their own lives, most of whom are wearing bright fabrics. In combat, he will face off against correctly armored men-at-arms, with players unable to beat more than a few of these at once, even after Henry has spent hours training.
4 Inkulinati
Medieval Manuscript Illustrations Brought To Life
Inkulinati
- Released
- February 22, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Yaza Games
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based Strategy
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Inkulinati might not be what most people envisage when the term 'historically accurate' is thrown around. For starters, dogs and hares don't wield bows or spears, and snails don't eat knights. However, if screenshots of the game were shown to a medieval person wealthy enough to own an illuminated manuscript, they would recognize the art style and be unfazed by the dancing skeletons.
8 Best Games That Let You Manage a Medieval Kingdom, Ranked
Sit on a throne and dictate the lives of hundreds, thousands, or even millions in these games that let you manage a medieval kingdom.
The strategy game captures a side of the medieval world that is usually reserved for menus and UI by bringing the marginalia of manuscripts to life. In Inkulinati, Players take on the role of Masters such as Dante or St. Francis and use their Ink resource to draw units to fight for their side. These units include trumpet-playing donkeys and cats dressed as bishops, all taken from real medieval art.
3 Crusader Kings 3
Take On The Role Of A Medieval Ruler
Crusader Kings 3
- Released
- September 1, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Paradox Interactive
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Grand Strategy
- Platform(s)
- PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Crusader Kings 3 is a grand strategy game where players take control of any medieval ruler in the years 867, 1066, and 1178. Particularly, in the later dates for which there is more recorded history, most historical figures have the correct age, family, and borders, with some even having Personality Traits that match what is known about them.
While from there on out, alternative history is created by the player and AI rulers, this historically accurate backdrop and immersive events pave the way for a mostly realistic experience. Medieval scholars, warriors, and poets, such as Hildegard von Bingen, will even pop up in their respective time periods, and can be recruited to the player's court, perhaps becoming the royal chronicler. Despite being a strategy game, it is also an RPG and simulator, with characters able to marry, be excommunicated, and travel to tournaments.
2 Manor Lords
Build Realistic 14th Century Towns & Villages In Franconia
Manor Lords
- Released
- April 26, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Slavic Magic
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, City Builder
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Manor Lords is a medieval city-building game that sets itself apart by focusing on historical accuracy and immersion. For starters, it is based upon the Franconia region in the 14th century, grounding it in history with a researched aesthetic. A lack of a grid also means players can build their villages organically, building burgage plots around roads, fields, and the natural environment. These plots also have extensions at the back to grow vegetables, raise chickens, or for certain trades.
8 Best Games That Let You Build Your Own Medieval City, Ranked
These games allow players to build and manage their own Medieval cities to become the Kings and Queens they deserve to be.
Each building is constructed in real time by the available villagers, each of whom plays their own part in the process. This starts with trees being felled, transported by an ox, chopped, and then carried to the building. Villagers also plow the fields and plant them in the correct seasons, with more hands needed during the harvest. Impressively, leaving a field fallow each year is recommended, as soil fertility is a real thing in Manor Lords. In game modes involving raids and war, players will have to weigh up the risk of losing valuable workers in battle, and each corpse must be buried.
1 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
The Most Accurate Depiction Of Medieval Life In Any Media
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Released
- February 4, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
When it comes to historical accuracy and immersion, no game can hold a candle to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Set in 1403 Bohemia, players continue as Henry, but this time in the area around Trosky Castle and on a second map featuring the city of Kuttenberg. Walking around Kuttenberg is an experience like no other in gaming, with priests delivering sermons, merchants calling their wares, and passers-by calling out to Henry based on his appearance.
KCD2's impressive graphics help sell the realism, but more importantly, the attention to detail and historical research is second to none, with townhouses being elaborately painted, fashionable hats from around Europe, and each NPC having their own role and schedule in medieval society. From a gameplay perspective, the open-world RPG features accurate combat where armor matters, only overcome by using the correct weapons, stances, and techniques. It even features early guns that were around at the time, but rarely depicted.
10 Reasons Why Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Could Win Game Of The Year
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an early frontrunner to win Game of the Year in 2025. Here's what makes the game so great.