Since the days of the arcade cabinet, many classic video games have relied on medieval themes and imagery to conjure up tales of adventure and daring deeds for players everywhere. From Joust to Gauntlet, trading in street clothes for suits of chainmail has been a gaming pastime for decades.
Nowadays, gamers have a veritable buffet of titles inspired by the ages of swords and chivalry. And while the RPG genre might have an iron grip on the themes, plenty of titles strive for both a realistic and fantastical approach to the subject. Players looking to steel their blades will have no problem finding a quest in a sea of medieval titles.
Dark Souls
FromSoftware's notoriously unfair action RPG is absolutely stuffed to the brim with swords, armor, and gothic imagery that will continuously be drenched with the splattered blood of would-be adventurers and ridiculously scary enemies alike. While all realism essentially goes out the window with this title, fans of knights and warriors of the era will certainly be satisfied.
Reputation aside, Dark Souls carries a lot of myth, lore, and culture seen in the middle ages. Towering ruined battlements, orders of religious warriors, and even a dragon or two are all par for the course in this grueling hack-and-slash title.
Dragon’s Dogma
For those looking for something a little more user-friendly, Dragon's Dogma comes highly recommended. Taking more of a fairytale approach than gothic horror, players will not only discover a banquet of different monsters and creatures to encounter on their legendary journey, but castles, forts, and several other medieval setpieces scattered across the land.
The narrative of warriors facing off against gigantic dragons is a tale as old as time, but the game itself is one of those titles that wants to cover all the bases it can. It checks a lot of boxes for the standard swords-and-sorcery adventure, but those already steeped in the genre will play through this epic again and again.
Chivalry
Fantasy and medieval themes often go hand-in-hand, but those looking to try something a little more realistic might want to pick up Chivalry. Think of this entry as Call of Duty: Medieval Warfare, as players take to the battlefield as knights instead of modern-outfitted soldiers.
Both the original title and its sequel offer an awesome hack-and-slash take on medieval sieges and combat. It takes a great deal of influence from arcade-style brawlers as well as map-sprawling online team battles, and it works to a surprisingly sharp degree. Players looking for a little more swords than spells will be in until the end of the age.
For Honor
Two sets of armies make for a brutal battle, but four take it to all-out war. For Honor is an action combat title from Ubisoft that brings together four cultures of warriors to duke it out in glorious armed combat. Knights, Samurai, Vikings, and ancient Chinese warriors all come together for an armor-clad brawl that legions can enjoy.
What makes this title stand out is its use of multiple cultures, weapons, and armor types to fulfill the sort of power fantasy many players get upon discovering the Master Sword or Leviathan Axe for the first time. Stepping into the boots of these ancient warriors will tickle any fantasy or fighting fan's fancy.
Skyrim
If there's one thing that can be said for Bethesda's iconic RPG, it's that its sense of freedom will always draw players back in for more. No matter how many times the game has been released, rereleased, or otherwise, the medieval-inspired realms of Tamriel will always welcome players back with open arms.
Whether they choose to fulfill the destiny of the Dragonborn or simply go off on their own adventures in the snowy lands of Skyrim, players will have no shortage of quests and adventures to satisfy their inner heroes. Between slaying numerous dragons and exploring dozens of dungeons, players will have more than enough quests to keep them enthralled.
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
For something a touch more on the classic side, players can never go wrong with anything from The Legend of Zelda. Although games like Breath of the Wild might be the toast of the town, gamers wanting a more medieval-inspired take on the traditional formula need look no further than Ocarina of Time.
Considered by many fans of the series to be the ideal Zelda title, the game pulled Link's quest into the third dimension with fully-realized graphics and environments when it first premiered. Even to this day, the game's hidden temples and faraway castles still capture the imagination of players new or old to the franchise.
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
Assassin's Creed is no stranger to medieval settings, having begun the franchise in the middle of the Crusades, but the more polished and prime example of the motif has to be the Viking age seen in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Seeing as how leading raids on villages and sieges on fortresses and castles are such an integral part of the experience, it proudly earns a mention on the list.
Vikings aren't the only stars of the show in this entry into the series, as various tribes and factions of the medieval period make their appearances. Ancient pagans, Christian monks, Norse mystics, and various lords and ladies all make up the cast of the era players can encounter. It's practically a melting pot of medieval motifs.
Dragon Quest XI
Unlike its rival, Final Fantasy, the Dragon Quest series pulls a great deal more from western fantasy and medieval themes than from eastern or Asian influences. That includes towering castles, knights in armor, and other fairytale fare. While these motifs are nothing new, the most prominent display is Dragon Quest XI.
While it maintains several elements and themes seen across the series, but there's a sort of Game-of-Thrones-esque flavoring tossed in with its saga of the Luminary. Knights and warriors are sporting full helms and armor, kings and rulers are dressed in the finest regalia, and kingdoms and villages are massive and full of personality worthy of a yearly ren fair. It's a perfect lighter alternative to the typical outing.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a very interesting specimen in terms of RPGs. At its core, it's a fairly traditional action RPG, but what pulls it out from the rest of the crowd is its use of realism instead of being a traditional fantasy RPG. Set in medieval Bohemia, players step into the role of Henry, a blacksmith during the days of the Holy Roman Empire.
As Henry, players must climb through the ranks of medieval society and embark on a reflective and transformative journey. It's a slow-burning and dialogue-heavy RPG that pulls a heavy focus on that roleplaying element.
The Witcher III
There have been several previously-mentioned games that cater to both traditional medieval themes and the more fantasy-based ones, but The Witcher III feels more balanced than it appears. Yes, players will have to venture all across the continent tracking down and killing magnificent and horrific creatures, but there is a lot of character interactions and drama to drive the plot forward as well.
Along with monster contracts, players will have to appear before royalty in their court, fight in battles, and win the hearts of fair maidens. It's a very rich experience that any RPG lover should pick up and dive into.