Video games allow us to experience the courtly life of a knight first-hand.
Especially Mount and Blade series aims at a faithful representation of the medieval lifestyle. And while M&B presents a painstakingly detailed world of sword and chivalry, other games set in the that followed similar premises also managed to gain the players’ attention.
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | Trailer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord | 2020-03-31 | RPG | TaleWorlds Entertainment | |
 | Medieval Dynasty | 2020-09-17 | Simulation | Render Cube | |
 | Kenshi | 2013-03-20 | Indie | Lo-Fi Games | |
 | Starpoint Gemini Warlords | 2017-05-23 | Strategy | Little Green Men Games | |
 | Sid Meier's Ace Patrol Bundle | 2013-08-27 | Arcade & Platform | Firaxis Games | |
 | Crusader Kings II Royal Collection | 2012-02-14 | RPG | Paradox Development Studio | |
 | Crusader Kings III | Royal Edition | 2020-09-01 | Strategy | Paradox Development Studio | |
 | Dark Messiah of Might & Magic | 2006-10-25 | Fighting | Arkane Studios | |
 | MORDHAU | 2019-04-29 | Indie | Triternion | |
 | Kingdom Come: Deliverance Royal Edition | 2019-06-11 | Adventure | Warhorse Studios | |
 | Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare | 2018-02-01 | Indie | KK Game Studio | |
 | Battle Brothers | 2017-03-24 | Indie | Overhype Studios | |
 | Chivalry II (PC) - Epic Games Key - GLOBAL | 2021-06-08 | Action & Shooter | Torn Banner Studios | |
 | Chivalry: Medieval Warfare | 2012-10-16 | Action & Shooter | Torn Banner Studios | |
 | War of the Roses | 2012-10-02 | Action & Shooter | Fatshark |
Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord
| Release: | 2020-03-31 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | Taleworlds |
| Game modes: | single player, multiplayer |
M&B had to wait twelve long years for a full sequel.
In the meantime, the players’ thirst for authentic medieval was quenched by Warband, a standalone expansion which gained a cult following thanks to its improvements over the original game. Having learned a lot from the reception of both, TaleWorlds Entertainment return with Bannerlord, a sequel full of improved and new mechanics.
The developers clearly learned their lesson with the criticisms aimed at the previous titles in the series. While the basic gameplay mechanics remain the same, the player and NPCs’ interactions have been improved. A more developed dialogue tree will have you plotting coups and unveiling court intrigues, gaining followers among the land’s nobility. Other new mechanics include improved sieges, which will now be more strategic ( e.g., the player will be able to build machines and place them on the field before the battle). The Early Access reviews of Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord were mostly positive, with players praising the gameplay and visual improvements.
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Medieval Dynasty
| Release: | 2020-09-17 |
| Genre: | Simulation |
| Developer: | Render Cube |
| Game modes: | single player |
Much like Mount and Blade, Medieval Dynasty is all about growth. And the developers at Toplitz Productions know a thing or two about growing, with titles like Farmers Dynasty under their belt!
Anyway, the game’s premise is quite simple – as a young man living in medieval Europe, the player must search for their place in the big bad world. Having left home ravaged by war, the protagonist must find his way up the medieval food chain, becoming the titular dynasty leader.
An interesting thing about MD’s gameplay is that unlike M&B, it includes elements of survival. The player has to manage the usual meters, like hunger and hydration, to keep their prospective knight alive. The game features a system of choices that influence the players’ position in the world, gaining or losing them favor with the king. Combine that with a lively, interactive environment, and you have a more complex game than one would give it credit for. Medieval Dynasty received positive Early Acces reviews
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Kenshi
| Release: | 2018-12-06 |
| Genre: | Indie |
| Developer: | Lo-Fi Games |
| Game modes: | single player |
In the world of RPGs, the phrase “be who you want to be” seems rather empty.
No matter how much freedom the developers claim to offer, there are still some limitations, resulting from the plot or the path the player chose to take. Hell, even in M&B, you can’t do everything. But, in the case of Kenshi, the slogan does ring true.
The unique feature of Kenshi is that it has virtually no storyline. The player is given full control of their character, choosing what path they want to follow. There are no classes in the game – the player simply develops the skills that put them into a more or less traditionally understood profession box. Leveling up sword skills will turn the player into a knight; improving magic and spells opens the path of the wizard, etc. A welcome change after being shoved into arbitrary classes, don’t you think? Kenshi was met with many positive opinions from the players and critics for its innovative approach to RPG gameplay.
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Starpoint Gemini: Warlords
| Release: | 2017-05-23 |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | Little Green Men Games |
| Game modes: | single player |
Mount and Blade in space. That’s Starpoint Gemini: Warlords in a nutshell.
Of course, there’s more to this installment of Little Green Men Games’ series of 4X RPGs but the gist remains the same. You begin as a pilot o a small gunship and expand your power in the vast universe, forming your own fleet conquering systems and forging profitable alliances. You know, like in M&B. Only in space.
The game features two main modes: Campaign and Conquest. The latter is especially interesting because it allows you to roam freely around the system. Interacting with NPCs and planets they inhabit. SG: W features some 4X mechanics, including harvesting conquered worlds for resources, space exploration, etc. Starpoint Gemini: Warlords received solid reception from the players.
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Sid Meier’s: Pirates
| Release: | 2005-07-11 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | MicroProse Software, Inc. |
| Game modes: | single player |
Did you ever look at Mount and Blade and said “this would be more fun with guns”.
If yes, then Sid Meier’s Pirates! is a perfect title for you. The game is set during the Golden Age of Piracy, when the most dangerous of them scoured the seas, plundering, pilfering, and pillaging. The game’s plot is of the “My name is Inigo Montoya, etc., etc.” type, but it works for this kind of production.
The gameplay mechanics involve the player captaining their ship and building influence in the Caribbean. This can be done either by the typical pirate business of plundering ships and ports or gaining the favor with one of the game’s nations. Work hard enough, and you will become a pirate lord feared more than Blackbeard himself (the game features a bunch of historical pirate figures, too). Sid Meier’s Pirates! was well-reviewed by the critics and to this day it remains in the top 10 games about pirates.
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Starsector
| Release: | 2013-04-26 |
| Genre: | Action RPG |
| Developer: | Fractal Softworks |
| Game modes: | single player |
Similarly to Spacpeoint Gemini: Warlords, in Starsector, the player becomes the captain of a spacecraft on a mission in the furthers reaches of the universe.
Unlike Spacepoint Gemini: Warlords, there are virtually no limitations to what the player can do. Conquering unknown worlds, exploring the galaxy, or both are all viable options that the player can choose.
What makes Starsector similar to Mount and Blade is, once again, the process of developing the player character. The game begins with them being a relative nobody, a captain of a small vessel. From that point on, the player can increase their status, expand the fleet, and more. Another similarity lies in the faction system – the player can join one of 7 available powers, choose to be independent of either of them, or work as a mercenary. Starsector is a true land of opportunity for all.
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Crusader Kings III
| Release: | 2020-09-01 |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | Paradox Development Studio |
| Game modes: | single player, multiplayer |
From the depths of outer space, we return to the good ol’ Dark Ages, and it doesn’t get darker than in Crusader Kings III.
The third installment of the Paradox Interactive’s series of grand strategy RPG’s, CK III puts the player in charge of a noble dynasty and leads them through the ages of peace and war. The player can build their influence through forging alliances or waging war against other noble houses.
Crusader Kings III gives the player probably the most developed simulation of the medieval ruling system, in which religion and politics played an important part. The decisions made by the player have an influence on their subjects, who may agree or disagree with new decrees and laws, leading to possible uprisings. The player can also instigate unrest in the lands controlled by their opponents to destabilize its governments and make them an easy target for conquest. Politics can be so much fun, especially when you’re not on their receiving end. The many positive reviews for Crusader Kings III noted its complex gameplay mechanics.
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Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
| Release: | 2006-10-25 |
| Genre: | Fighting |
| Developer: | Arkane Studios |
| Game modes: | single player, multiplayer |
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic brings the MoM series’s aesthetic into the action-RPG genre, with a decent result.
The game features plenty of interesting mechanics, inspired by its mother series. The player can create their character to specialize in different types of skills, including combat and magic. Combat emphasizes the use of the environment to the player’s advantage, for example, by kicking the enemy off the ledge or into the spiked racks.
On the surface, DMoMoM has little to do with the realistic approach to medieval realities presented in Mount and Blade. Nevertheless, the player can still find plenty of entertainment in complex combat mechanics, expanded skill system, and enjoy playing with friends against other players in competitive multiplayer mode. The game was met with solid reviews, which praised the combat system and the production’s visual side.
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Mordhau
| Release: | 2019-04-29 |
| Genre: | Indie |
| Developer: | Triternion |
| Game modes: | multiplayer |
Mordhau is yet another evidence of how crowdfunding can be used to a great effect by ambitious indie developers.
The folks at Triternion created an exciting fighting game set in the medieval times, where armies of players can exchange blows using swords, shields, axes, maces, etc. All that across several multiplayer modes, including Battle Royale, Horde, Skirmish, and Deathmatch.
The developers of Mordhau made sure that each weapon the player gets to use in the game operates exactly as it does in real life. Heavy weapons, like axes and maces, are strong but unwieldy, while light swords and spears might not be enough to penetrate the opponent’s armor. In that respect, Triternion’s game is similar to Mount and Blade, which also emphasized a realistic approach to medieval combat. Mordhau was met with a positive reception from the players.
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance
| Release: | 2018-02-13 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Warhorse Studios |
| Game modes: | single player |
Last, but definitely not the least, a game that can easily contend for the title of “the next Mount and Blade”.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance focuses heavily on the plot, putting the player in the shoes of a young boy named Henry. After the Cuman invaders murder his parents, he swears vengeance upon their killer, Sir Markvart von Aulitz.
The gameplay of KC: D is very similar to that of Mount and Blade in almost all it’s aspects. The player starts with little to no experience, which he can expand by taking on quests from various NPCs. The player can train Henry to possess different skills, each of them with their own application. The game requires the player to control Henry’s needs – hunger and thirst, among others. The combat mechanics are also very realistic, imitating actual physics of the weapons the player and their opponent wield. With all these features, Kingdom Come: Deliverance might be one of the best medieval games currently available on the market. Kingdom Come: Deliverance received mostly positive reviews.
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Mount and Blade was by no means a revolutionary title, but it gave the player a glimpse into the medieval way of life like no other game before. With its realistic combat mechanics, an expansive world filled with allies and enemies alike, and other features, M&B showed that realism in games about kings and knights can really improve the experience.
The market is currently filled with games that let the player feel like a king (or at least a really important nobleman). Our list manages to only scratch the surface in that regard, but we hope we managed to present a wide variety of genres – from RPGs and strategies to action-adventure games. Thanks to our list, the fans of such titles will surely find something to tickle their medieval bone.