The Middle Ages is one of the periods in history that people find most fascinating. Also known as Medieval Times, the enduring appeal of this period can be seen in some of the best games that have been inspired by the characters and settings from this era.
Indeed, the recent release of the RimWorld-style Going Medieval by Foxy Voxel was a great success, as this game where players help a new colony to survive shot to the top of the Steam charts. This begs the question of what other Medieval games are worth checking out?
Fire Joker
One of the most popular types of characters we see represented in Medieval games and films is the joker or jester. These were professional entertainers or buffoons who were typically hired to amuse the members of the royal court or other noble households. They can often be seen in slot games with titles like Fire Joker, Joker’s Luck Deluxe, and Joker Times.
The Fire Joker slot by Play’n GO is a three-reel game that includes features such as Respin of Fire and the Wheel of Multipliers. While it has fairly simple gameplay, the good quality graphics and animated sequences help to make this an attractive game that mixes the Medieval joker’s style with a retro slot-style display for a neat look.
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is part of a series of strategy role-playing games published by Paradox Interactive. The franchise started with the original game in 2008 and was followed up by the 2020 sequel sub-titled Bannerlord and a couple of expansion packs. The action takes place in a fictional land called Calradia in Medieval times, with players able to carry out quests, battle, and explore the map.
If you manage to progress and gain renown, you can take control of a fief and collect taxes from the residents. Some reviewers praised it as being possibly the best Medieval game to date and Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord reviews suggest that the quality of the graphics improved greatly on the sequel.
Medieval II: Total War
Another sequel, this 2006 game from The Creative Assembly and Sega is the fourth in the Total War series and a follow-up to Medieval: Total War that was released in 2002. It is a strategy game split between a turn-based section and real-time battles. It takes place between the 11th and 16th centuries, as you control a nation in the Middle Ages.
This game was well-received and was viewed as an improvement on the original, although perhaps not quite as innovative as fans had expected. However, looking back on it now, contemporary reviews of Medieval II: Total War suggest that it is the best in the series and one of the all-time classic strategy games. You need to try and capture regions and cities across the map using diplomacy, cunning and solid battle tactics.
The appeal of the Middle Ages seems likely to carry on growing, as more games feature this interesting period of history and the colorful characters contained in it.
