The Medieval Period, often referred to as the Middle Ages, is known by many names. It is also called the Age of Chivalry, though whether Chivalry was actually practiced at the time is questionable.
However, the idea of noble mounted knights with couched lances charging on a battlefield and the courtly intrigue happening behind the scenes has captured the world with TV series like "House of the Dragon" and "Vikings."
The Gaming Industry also had a hand in making the Age of Chivalry popular in modern times. Here are five video games that made you wish you were in the middle ages:
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
Last but not least is Age of Empires IV, a real-time strategy game from Relic Entertainment and World's Edge. Much like Medieval 2: Total War, it allows you to take control of various factions and lead them to victory. According to the game's official website, these factions include the French, English, the Holy Roman Empire, the Abbasid Dynasty, and even the Chinese.
However, unlike Medieval 2, everything happens in real-time, forcing you to adapt to a situation as they happen.
To lead your faction to victory, you will first have to build your base - something which the few handfuls of villagers the game gives you at the start of the game can do.
From there, it is only a matter of gathering resources, training soldiers, upgrading their equipment, and protecting your base from enemies to win the game.
Crusader Kings 3
Crusader Kings 3 is a grand strategy RPG that feels like The Sims: Medieval. You get to control a historical feudal lord from the Middle Ages and help them dictate their house's fate - whatever that may be. You can become a just ruler or a tyrannical despot, scheme your way wearing to the throne of your lord's kingdom, conquer lands in the name of religion, glory, or gold, and even reestablish the Roman Empire.
Of course, you'll be challenged, aided, or hindered by the politics, religions, and cultures of the time. You'll also need to protect your lands from those who covet it - even from your character's family members. Whoever said that being a ruler is easy?
Nevertheless, if you want to experience living as a nobleman in the medieval period, Crusader Kings 3 is your go-to game.
Medieval 2: Total War
Role-playing as a nobleman is all well and good, but if you simply want to conquer land without worrying much about the politics of the time, Medieval II: Total War has your back.
The game is a turn-based grand strategy game where you get to play as one of many kingdoms, merchant republics, and sultanates during the early to late medieval period in a bid to conquer each other for religion and glory. There are some medieval-era politics in the game, mind you. Attacking a Catholic ruler as a Catholic king can get you excommunicated, making you fair game for all Catholic rulers. Attacking allies, whether by diplomacy or political marriage, is frowned upon.
Religion also plays a significant factor in the game, but not as much as in Crusader Kings 3.
Finally, you also get to try out many of the early firearms and cannons that helped civilization make the transition from the medieval period to the Renaissance.
Mordhau
From role-playing as a nobleman and conquering the medieval world, we now go to fighting in a battle as a medieval soldier (or mercenary, if you want to be accurate).
Mordhau is a hack n' slash game that allows you to play as a medieval soldier - whether that soldier is a knight, footman, archer, crossbowman, or engineer. Unlike its competitor, the Chivalry series, melee combat is more realistic and comprehensive, allowing you to attack players from all possible directions (and not rely solely on vertical and horizontal strikes). You can even parry, riposte, and chamber attacks to beat your opponent with skill and brute force.
You can even wield and use the lute to play some songs on the battlefield to get some surprising reactions from allies and enemies alike.
Mount And Blade II: Bannerlord
Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord is an action RPG and the prequel to the hit 2010 game Mount and Blade: Warband. The game has you start as a low warrior of one of the major factions at play in Ancient Calradia. From there, you can choose to be anything you want: an adventurer, a merchant, a villainous tyrant, or just a ruler.
In some regard, Bannerlord is a mix between Mordhau and Crusader Kings 3. You still get to fight on the frontlines, but you can also experience living the everyday life of the role you have chosen to play as. As such, this game offers a perfect mix of role-playing and combat.
It even comes with a storyline focusing on which faction you sided on. It allows you to dictate the fate of the Calradian Empire, either as the hero that will save it against all odds or the cause of its inevitable downfall.
