Medieval Settings in Games – Examples of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Mordhau, and Chivalry 2

Contents:

• The world you live in
• Freedom of choice
• Worthy of a feudal lord

The medieval setting occupies an important place in fiction and the gaming industry. This style is used to create both magical fantasy worlds and historical games that immerse players in the harsh atmosphere of the era of castles, peasants, and warring feudal lords. It also covers themes of the Inquisition and the Crusades. Images of knights in heavy plate armor, massive two-handed swords, and gloomy dungeons are found in many famous games, from the first Diablo to the Assassin's Creed series. Medieval elements attract players with their mystery and drama, making them an integral part of modern entertainment.

The Middle Ages are often associated with an era of bloody conflicts, powerful monarchs, widespread poverty, and deep social stratification. However, this historical period also gave humanity many positive achievements. The Middle Ages saw significant advances in agriculture, architecture, and manufacturing. Education became more accessible, and Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press was a major step in the dissemination of knowledge and information. These achievements laid the foundation for future changes and progress in society.

Anton Tokarev, lead game designer at Apella Games, with whom we discussed the details of creating a game in a medieval setting, noted that it is important for the developer to collect a variety of narrative, artistic, script, and story references. These elements are crucial for creating a captivating and believable game world that will immerse players in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Researching multiple sources will help to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical aspects of the time, which in turn will enrich the gameplay and increase interest in the project.

The author meticulously researches the era and region, analyzing the setting from multiple perspectives. He examines the everyday life of the time, the appearance of people from various social classes, as well as historical figures and key events. To create a believable setting, it is necessary to collect high-quality material that will serve as the basis for developing the world and substantiating the narrative. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of the context in which events unfold and creates a more realistic and engaging narrative.

The target audience of any setting has certain knowledge and expectations of a game set in a familiar setting. It's important to meet these expectations by providing players with exactly what they want to see. For example, a medieval setting emphasizes elements such as dirt, blood, violence, and farming. Castles, knights, and violent elements are key components that create the unique atmosphere of this setting. Careful attention to these aspects will help create an engaging and believable gaming experience.

Based on the needs of their audience, the developer chooses the direction of the setting and the degree of its elaboration. This could be a dark fantasy with an emphasis on murder and dark magic or a lighter direction featuring knights and castles, without violence and gore. It is important to consider player preferences to create an engaging and attractive world.

It is important for the developer to create a sense of realism in the player. In fantasy games with medieval elements, complete historical accuracy in the design of armor and swords should not be expected. Instead, game elements should be consistent with the chosen setting, which determines the narrative structure, influences gameplay, and enriches the player experience. It is important to find a balance between artistic expression and historical references to create a captivating and believable world.

The World You Live In

In modern society, the Middle Ages are often perceived either through the prism of romance or through the prism of negative stereotypes. This is because many people aspire to become knights and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of castles, fortresses, and epic battles involving heavy cavalry and infantry. However, engaging in the daily life of a feudal lord, such as farming or performing routine duties, evokes less interest. Thus, the Middle Ages remain attractive for romanticization, while the realities of life at that time often remain in the shadows.

The heroic experience does not always involve unconditionally positive characters or idealized knights on a white horse. The harsh reality of the canonical Middle Ages is characterized by the prevalence of gray morality, which is especially noticeable against the backdrop of the religious propaganda of the time, which tends to extremism. In such a context, heroes often face moral dilemmas, demonstrating complex character traits and ambiguous actions, which makes their images more realistic and multifaceted.

There are games that allow you to see the Middle Ages through the eyes of an ordinary person facing the challenges of that era. A striking example is Plague Tale: Innocence, which tells the story of a brother and sister on the run from the Inquisition and virtually defenseless against a cruel world. In this game world, the Middle Ages are not just a backdrop, but actively interact with the characters and the player. Hordes of plague-ridden rats, cruel guards, and religious priests create an atmosphere of constant danger, immersing the player in the unique setting of the period. The game demonstrates how even the most vulnerable characters can show fortitude in the harsh realities of the Middle Ages.

The game features high-quality location design, which contributes to deep immersion in the atmosphere. Each location is unique, and the musical score creates a corresponding tone and heightens tension, reflecting the difficult living conditions of people in medieval France. This approach to worldbuilding makes the gameplay more immersive and emotionally charged.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a vivid example of the story of a medieval commoner who overcomes numerous difficulties on his path to advancing social status. At the beginning of the game, the protagonist, Henry, is introduced as an ordinary village boy whose fate is seemingly predetermined: he is to continue his father's work, inheriting a forge and earning a living by forging swords. However, the events of the game force him to go beyond the confines of his ordinary life and face challenges that will change his destiny.

There comes a moment in Henry's life when everything changes. He finds himself in the big world, penniless and without the skills to survive. Henry must master many important skills: learning to read, fight, interact with members of high society, and earning money in various ways. This journey will be a true test for him, full of difficulties and unexpected discoveries.

Plague Tale: Innocence and Kingdom Come: Deliverance can be compared in their emphasis on story and writing. Both projects immerse the player in an atmospheric drama, but Plague Tale is a pure console, story-driven single-player game, while Kingdom Come: Deliverance is more PC-focused and offers a variety of gameplay mechanics. It features a combat system, an inventory system, and social simulation elements such as taking care of your character: washing, eating, and other daily activities.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance demonstrates how difficult it was to exist in the medieval world. Anton Tokarev emphasizes that the game offers a unique language learning system: when the player first opens a book, the text is illegible, but as the reading level increases, meaningful words and phrases appear. This approach establishes a connection between the character Henry and the player, deepening immersion in the gameplay and enhancing the atmosphere of historical authenticity.

Freedom of Choice

Mount & Blade is a landmark game set in a medieval setting that significantly changed the way players thought about open-world role-playing games. The first part of the project caused a real sensation, offering a unique combination of strategy and RPG elements. The second part, released in 2020 in Early Access, continued and significantly improved on the concepts laid down in the original. It offers players even deeper gameplay, expanded character customization options, and a rich system of interaction with the world. Mount & Mount & Blade remains one of the most popular games in the genre, attracting the attention of both long-time fans and new players.

Like Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Mount & Blade offers players the opportunity to rise through the ranks from the very bottom. However, the scale and scope of these games differ significantly. In Mount & Blade, players can engage in banditry, warfare, raise their own armies, engage in trade, or complete quests. Unlike Kingdom Come, Mount & Blade does not have such a pronounced emphasis on story and scenario. In this game, hundreds of activities and options are open, and the player is left to choose the activity that interests them most. Mount & Blade offers a unique gaming experience, allowing each player to create their own story in a large and diverse world.

The game offers a unique immersion due to the scale of the game world. You explore cities, villages, forests, and fields on a vast map of fictional states. An interesting aspect is that the medieval setting does not always require historical accuracy, but actively uses elements of the real Middle Ages. The game features fictional countries and kings, but the atmosphere retains the characteristic features of a real Middle Ages, which makes the gameplay engaging and exciting.

Mount & Blade attracts players with a unique feature: the game world functions independently and reacts to the character's actions. For example, if you decide to rob a caravan transporting goods to the city, this will lead to a shortage of stolen goods. As a result, you can profitably sell the loot, making a significant profit. This dynamic creates an engaging gameplay experience where every action has consequences, creating a unique experience for each player.

Mount & Blade successfully combines economic, strategic, and tactical elements, giving the player a sense of a dynamic world. In this world, countries wage war against each other, and NPCs have their own motives and strive to achieve their goals. Players can immerse themselves in a complex social and economic system, where every decision affects the course of events, which makes the gameplay more engaging and multifaceted.

One of the key features of medieval action games is a well-developed system of fencing and close combat. This is unsurprising, as the arsenal of the time included a wide variety of weapons, from classic swords to exotic warhammers of varying shapes and sizes. These games also take defense into account: while simple peasants cannot afford robust armor, mercenaries proudly wear brigandines, and knights don full or partial plate armor. These elements significantly enrich the gameplay, immersing players in the atmosphere of medieval battle.

The arms race in the Middle Ages led to the emergence of various schools and trends in weaponry, which became an important aspect of video game development. Many developers place special emphasis on combat systems and large-scale battles. One notable example is Ubisoft's For Honor, which emphasizes a detailed fencing system. This game not only reflects historical aspects but also offers players a unique experience in weapon control and strategic combat. For Honor is a multiplayer action game in which the single-player campaign serves as a tutorial for mastering combat mechanics before engaging other players in multiplayer battles. The game's combat system, reminiscent of elements from Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Mount & Blade, allows players to parry, block, strike, and feint in three directions. These mechanics make battles tense and strategically challenging, appealing to both newcomers and experienced players. For Honor offers a unique combination of tactics and skill, allowing everyone to find their own fighting style.

The system performs well in the absence of input lag and a stable internet connection. In the context of PvP games, combat interaction feels high-level. This also fits the medieval setting, where fencing and combat with swords, halberds, maces, and other heavy weapons play an important role, emphasizes Anton Tokarev. For Honor is a game focused on duels and small-scale battles, while large-scale battles between players are featured in projects like Mordhau and Chivalry 2. Both games are distinguished by their humorous approach to gameplay, which helps to reduce the seriousness of the events. In these games, you can encounter unusual situations where an enemy can be killed with a frying pan, defeated with a chicken, pelted with feces, or beaten with a lute. This unique style makes the gameplay unusual and engaging, attracting players who seek both serious battles and comedic moments in the gameplay. src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FGhh5qe4-dwE%3Ffeature%3Doembed&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com% 2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGhh5qe4-dwE&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FGhh5qe4-dwE%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=8d3909c69dfb4ee29c710191d8dd756a&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="854" height="480" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture;" allowfullscreen="true">

Both projects demonstrate a high degree of historical accuracy, paying special attention to detail. Elements of armor are carefully detailed, and the weapons have realistic sizes. These games don't feature conventional characters like level 80 elves—you control ordinary infantry and fight against an enemy made up of fellow mortal soldiers.

Combat in the games is dynamic, fast, and brutal. Every additional piece of equipment, no matter how insignificant, affects a character's mobility, and even full armor and a powerful shield don't provide protection from certain death. In multiplayer games set in a medieval setting, attributes are key, forming the foundation of gameplay. In this context, the most important elements are the fencing system, troop diversity, and their tactical formation. These aspects create a unique gaming environment where every choice can be decisive in battle.

Worthy of a Feudal Lord

In terms of the development of the setting, the Crusader Kings series stands out from other projects. While direct comparisons with other games may be unfair due to the differences in genre, they can be considered on the same level when discussing the quality of the setting. Crusader Kings offers a deep and multi-layered historical atmosphere, making it unique. Players can immerse themselves in the complex political intrigues and cultural nuances of various eras, significantly enriching the gaming experience and making it more engaging.

The developers of Crusader Kings devoted considerable attention to the chosen theme, carefully crafting many aspects, including social interactions within the power structure. Throughout the game, players can learn more about vassals and kings, making the gameplay engaging and informative. The game is rich in terms and hints, offering extensive educational information that enriches the player's experience and allows for a better understanding of the complex political mechanisms of medieval society.

What's amazing about this game is that you can create complex intrigues, set up other players, and thus control territories. It's a thrilling feeling when you have practically no army, but you're sending dispatches, orchestrating assassinations, and manipulating imprisonment. After a while, you notice that your territory has expanded significantly, even though you haven't waged military campaigns or captured cities. Your lands have expanded thanks to a fortunate marriage of one of your descendants, which you've long since forgotten. Overall, it's a truly impressive social system that allows players to influence the course of events without the direct use of force or strategy. Crusader Kings is a game focused on political intrigue and dynasty management in a medieval world. Those who enjoy complex battles may be disappointed, as the game's combat system is simplified. It features abstract battles where player actions are limited, and the outcome of the battle is determined primarily on the global map. Players have minimal influence on the course of battle, placing an emphasis on strategic planning and diplomacy.

One of the key strategy games set in a medieval setting is Medieval: Total War. In this game, players have the opportunity to manage their troops in real time and wage large-scale military campaigns. The military aspect of the game is realized with a high degree of authenticity. The developers paid special attention to the detailed appearance of units, allowing players to enjoy tactical possibilities, including powerful cavalry attacks and effective trebuchet bombardments against enemy fortifications. Medieval: Total War offers a unique experience of immersion in the atmosphere of medieval battles and strategy, which makes it indispensable for fans of the genre.

The siege of castles in the RTS genre has become known players long before the release of Medieval: Total War. In 2001, Stronghold was released, putting the user in the role of a feudal lord. The player must develop and defend their fortress, which creates a unique gameplay experience that combines construction and strategy. Stronghold laid the foundation for many subsequent games, focusing on the tactical aspects of siege and castle defense, which made it a classic of the genre.

The developers carefully recreated castles, buildings and units, however, as Tokarev notes, the level of elaboration of the narrative and correspondence to the historical realities of the Middle Ages in Stronghold is lower than in Medieval: Total War. The game designer emphasizes that "Stronghold" uses elements of the setting, but compared to "Total War" is inferior in gameplay aspects.

The medieval setting remains popular, despite the abundance of existing projects dedicated to this era. Audience interest in games on this theme has not waned, and new releases continue to attract attention. An example is the game Mordhau, which, despite two years since its release, consistently maintains around 4,000 players online. In April, the peak number of users almost reached 12,000. On the Twitch platform, the game attracts between 5,000 and 12,000 viewers, and in April, the number of views reached a record 44,000. Thus, projects about the Middle Ages continue to generate high interest, confirming their relevance and demand in the video game market.

Torn Banner Studios, which recently released Chivalry 2, is not yet disclosing exact figures, but a company representative reported on Twitter that the number of players who launched the game on the day of release exceeded all expectations. It's worth noting that Chivalry 2 is a timed exclusive on the Epic Games Store. This multiplayer game offers a unique medieval battle experience, attracting gamers and generating strong interest in the project.

Crusader Kings 3 is demonstrating impressive results: more than a year and a half after its release, the game consistently maintains an online audience of 10,000 active users and reaches peaks of 18,000 players. These figures underscore the project's popularity and appeal among fans of strategy and role-playing games.

Popularity requires a high degree of uniqueness in game projects. Every year, numerous medieval and fantasy games appear on the market, but only a few remain well-known. New developers looking to enter the industry with a project in these popular settings must make significant efforts to stand out and not get lost in the flood of information. The key factors for success will be an original concept, deep development of the world and characters, as well as innovative mechanics that will attract the attention of players and create a memorable experience.