Who doesn't love the modern world? Sure, you have to file your taxes, but at least we have running water, antibiotics and plenty of food. And electricity, cars and supermarkets. Also there's travel, smartphones and bidets.
But if you really want to go back to the days of digging latrines and boiling river water, that's an option. And if you do it in games, you get significantly fewer waterborne illnesses. Huzzah!
Here are 10 games that are great for exactly that. Some are realistic, such as the new hit "Kingdom Come: Deliverance II," and some are obviously fantasy, like "Middle Earth: Shadow of War," both of which have poisoned water, by the by. It was a big problem back then.
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‘Dynasty Warriors: Origins’
"Dynasty Warriors: Origins" is a power fantasy game. Not fantasy like dragons and wizards, but fantasy like how you fantasized before basic training about beating back a Chinese battalion in World War III.
You play as a wandering warrior recruited into the warring armies of 14th-century China, as depicted in the classic novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Your player character is insanely powerful, capable of cutting through thousands of enemy fighters.
‘The Witcher III: Wild Hunt’
One of my favorite games, "The Witcher III: Wild Hunt" lets you play as Geralt, a witcher who hunts monsters across a continent that bears a strong resemblance to medieval Poland, but with sorcerers and wyverns. It's an older game, but the gameplay is similar to recent “Assassin's Creed” games, and this reviewer frankly finds the story and scope more fun in "The Witcher III."
If you don't own it and decide to buy it, try to find a bundle deal with its expansions, "Hearts of Stone" and "Blood and Wine." They're well-written triumphs in their own right. "Blood and Wine" feels like medieval France but with vampires.
‘Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’
One of the newer games on this list, “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II” is set in a realistic depiction of the kingdom of Bohemia in 1403. You are recently knighted Sir Hans Capon, dutifully fighting invaders and attempting to restore the king of Bohemia to his throne.
The game has great combat mechanics, a large selection of quests and well-fleshed settings, including the countryside, the regional capital city and a rival castle. Fair warning: The storyline is quite dark, fitting since it's a European civil war. It's well-made, fun and you can easily spend 100 hours in the game.
By the way, "Kingdom Come: Deliverance II" is, by far, the most realistic game on this list. So if you want something approaching the authentic medieval experience, this is the correct choice.
‘Avowed’
“Avowed” is fun, beautiful and has a lot of novel creatures and environments. The writing is great, and it's easy to get immersed in the story. It has a fun character builder, too. (My daughter took my controller from me once and now loves to play it, but she always restarts her game so she can build a new character.)
It's solid, is what I'm saying. Don't expect anything too flashy, though. The combat in the game is steak and potatoes. If you've enjoyed other Obsidian Entertainment games, such as "The Outer Worlds 2," that's what you'll get here, but in a gorgeous package.
‘Black Myth: Wukong’
This beautiful game is based on a 16th-century Chinese novel, "Journey to the West." Like “Dynasty Warriors” above, it's fun, from the medieval era and will introduce you to Chinese storytelling that you might not be familiar with. And it netted a few great awards, including Steam Game of the Year in 2024.
You control "The Destined One," a descendant of Sun Wukong, a monkey with supernatural powers, as he seeks out relics of Sun Wukong and attempts to fulfill a prophecy. The combat is similar to the “Souls” games, but a little lighter.
‘Baldur's Gate III’
This storyline-driven hit is as close as you can get to a “Dungeons and Dragons” party on your console. You make a custom character, get a monster egg in your brain and then navigate a dark fantasy world with high stakes while trying to finish the main story before that monster egg takes over your body and consumes your soul.
Play on the side of or against vampires, druids, death cults and more. And many of your decisions carry real weight. For instance -- and spoiler alert -- you get too involved in that death cult and then back out, and the god at the top of it drives you mad, sends you into the wilderness and then turns you loose as a living weapon against your former party. Choose carefully.
‘Elden Ring’
Incorporating medieval-style combat in a dark, gritty package with absolutely epic characters and enemies, "Elden Ring" is a recent classic for lots of reasons. It could be the writing by George R.R. Martin, the stunning visuals, or the addictive and challenging gameplay.
You have definitely already heard of this game, but if you, like me, slept on it for a couple of years and are looking for a medieval combat game, this one is a great choice. The new, standalone game in the Elden Ring universe, "Nightreign," is also quite good, though longtime players of the franchise are complaining that it's not quite up to the standards of the original game or its expansion, "Shadow of the Erdtree."
‘Hades II’
"Hades II" is a great rogue-like set in the mythology of ancient Greece, which, yes, is not medieval, but it's not like the game is trying to accurately depict the metallurgical difference between ancient swords and medieval swords. The player used magic, along with ranged and melee attacks, to fight through dungeons based on Greek mythology.
The player, as a princess of the underworld, can earn blessings from other gods of Olympus and develop their own skills for a variety of playstyles. The game is technically in early access on PC, but it has been out for a year and console ports are coming soon.
‘Doom: The Dark Ages’
Be the Doom Slayer and fight in the Dark Ages against demon hordes, but also carry a shotgun. To be honest, while this one has "Dark Ages" in the name, it's the one that's the least like the real medieval or the Dark Ages.
The Doom Slayer in the game has some medieval weapons, such as a crossbow, mace and flail, but they also have rocket and grenade launchers. And their shield has a moving chainsaw mounted around the edge. There are plenty of castles, villages and armored enemies, but also lots of bullets. So, you know, not exactly realistic but plenty fun.
Come for the chainsaw shield, stay for the firefights and then enjoy the cybernetic dragon.
‘Middle Earth: Shadow of War’
The best thing about “Middle Earth: Shadow of War” is easily the nemesis system, where even random orcs that you fight in the field can get promoted and become some of your greatest enemies. It was also present in its predecessor, “Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor.”
The player controls an undead ranger possessed by the ghost of Celebrimbor, the elf who made all the rings of power. They mostly use swords, arrows and magic to kill or dominate orc enemies serving Sauron. In order to bring down Sauron, the player takes control of orc armies and then uses them to break open fortresses and bring down Sauron's warlords.
Despite the fantasy setting, it feels a bit like a back-and-forth war of conquest between medieval armies. And since every orc has its chance to shine -- mostly if it can kill you, the player -- it's as if every enemy knight has the potential to become king.
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