There is always something appealing about medieval games. It was supposed to be a simpler time, and whenever there was a territorial dispute between kingdoms, kings would command their subjects to defend their land or attack the opposing forces. Peasants and soldiers would arm themselves with all manner of melee weapons they could find.
The sight of steel and iron clashing amid a sea or roaring footmen and militia on a battlefield is many a gamer’s dream to be part of. But what medieval games deliver on the epic and chaotic knight-on-knight battles? Here are thebest medieval games that have excellent combat mechanicsand are worth checking out.
Updated June 01, 2025, by Jonathan Rodriguez:The medieval setting has always been a great setting for action and combat-centered games: there will always be a new game set in medieval times, whether fantastical or historically accurate. But apart from the typical sword-and-shield and knights-in-armor fare, games have been branching out to explore what medieval combat was like in other regions of the world. With most bygone eras, developers have taken some liberties when it comes to melding historical, mythical, and fictional narratives of the regions their games are set in with their in-game combat mechanics. This made the following titles engaging and highly enjoyable to play.
TheDynasty Warriorsseries is a highly popular franchise that is set in medieval China and is based on theRomance of the Three Kingdomsnovel. Players get to choose from a vast pool of characters from the Wei, Wu, and Shu dynasties. Each character wields a unique weapon and has various attacks and special abilities.
The games' controls are generallyeasy to learn. Combat-wise,Dynasty Warriorsis more hack-and-slash and has a lot of fantasy elements, but this design choice made it so that the different characters truly felt like heroes and world-beaters who can lay waste to battalions of enemy troops. The franchise is so popular that it pioneered a gaming subgenre called “Musou Games.”
Team Ninja is widely regarded for their challenging and fast-paced combat with their games.Wo Long: Fallen Dynastycontinues with engaging and flashy blade battles between the player and enemies. Set in a dark fantasy version of the Three Kingdoms period where demons plague each kingdom, players take the role of a nameless militia soldier who is tasked to eliminate evil to restore peace.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s combat wears its Chinese martial arts influence on its sleeve: players have access to an assortment of weapons that have specific fighting styles. Once players acquire their preferred weapon, they can duke out against all manner of enemies, from possessed soldiers to demonic and paranormal entities with audacious swordplay similar to classic Chinese Wire-Fu movies. However, unlike other action titles,Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyis by no means a cakewalk of a game: it can and will punish players who do not master itsdeep combat mechanics.
Medieval Japan is an interesting setting for games since it tackles the era when samurai were prevalent.Ghost of Tsushimais a fun and immersive take on what it was like being a samurai when the Mongols invaded Japan.
As Jin Sakai, players traverse Tsushima Island and hone their skills with the katana. Combat sees Jin take out Mongols either thehonorable way or through subterfuge. While there is a bit of power fantasy in the combat, it is not too over-the-top. Players can’t just swing their katana with reckless abandon. They have to recognize which attacks the Mongol invaders will use and strike them with the correct attack since the invaders can and will use their numbers to overwhelm Jin.
Stealth games set during the Medieval era have slowly been popping up over the recent years. One of the titles that started the trend isUbisoft’sAssassin’s Creedgames. While the succeeding titles of this franchise branched out to different time periods, the firstAssassin’s Creedneeds recognition as one of the most enjoyable medieval games.
As Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad, players are tasked to infiltrate and assassinate key figures during a fictional timeline of 1911 where the Holy Crusades of the Holy Land were happening. While players can straight up take on enemies, stealth and subterfuge are keys to complete missions: Altaïr can use the environment to scope targets, take them out, and escape the scene via Parkour. For players who want to experience how assassins would’ve conducted their business back in the Medieval times, this game should get them started.
For players who want to become a warlord who commands a troop of soldiers,Conqueror’s Bladeis the game for them. It is an MMORPG that combines real-time strategy and siege tactics with somehack-and-slash combatwhen players finally breach their opponents’ strongholds or vice versa.
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Ordering troops is a clever mechanic since it immerses players into the role of the warlord or general during medieval times. Players can choose between twelve different fighting classes, each with their specialties, strengths, and weaknesses on the battlefield. This includes the standard sword and shield, glaives, polearms, pikes, mauls, bows, dual blades, and more.
Players can team up to form Houses and engage in Territory Wars against other Houses. They can also opt for the Deathmatch where players only use their chosen warlords and battle the opposing team until one emerges victorious.
Those who want to experience what a medieval fighting game feels like should tryHellish Quart. Published by Kubold, this 3D fighting game sees players control one character and engage in intense duels. What makesHellish Quartstand out is its physics-based combat mechanics and use of real swordsman techniques. The closest game in terms of controls and mechanics would beBushido Blade, where one deciding strike can end matches.
Players can choose between one-handed swords, sabers and rapiers, and longswords in a duel. Each weapon has its pros and cons. For example, one-handed swords are well-rounded for slashes and stabs, sabers are quick for cuts and slicing, and two-handed swords are slower but have more power behind their swings.
Flashy combos and rapid strikes are replaced with calculated stabs, slashes, blocks, and ripostes. Duels are usually the best of three and can end rather quickly since players who have mastered their sword technique can blitz their opponent.
Ever wondered who would win in a fight to the death between Vikings, knights, and samurai?For Honorhas got that question covered. A fun spin on a fighting game by Ubisoft, this title pits up to eight players in a four-on-four clash of steel.
For Honorhasdeep combat mechanicsthat are easy to understand but hard to master. Each character has different stances, which give them access to various light, heavy, and special attacks. Blocks, parries, and dodges are also pivotal in gaining the advantage.
During team battles, players can gang up on an enemy to quickly finish them off. Against casual players, the numbers game can be overwhelming, but more seasoned players can adapt and thwart this strategy.
Mordhauis a multiplayer hack-and-slash game where players predominantly use melee weapons to attack their opposition. These include swords, axes, spears, hammers, polearms, and shields.Each weapon handles differently. Spears, for example, excel in stabbing and range but struggle against shields. Hammers strike for massive damage, but their swings are slow and do not have much range.
One of the key elements inMordhau’s combat is the Swing Manipulation. Players can accelerate or drag their swings to bait opponent parries or blocks. Different weapons have varying speeds when accelerating their swings, which can trick opponents who spam blocks or parries. This makes melee combat more chaotic and fun since players can hit multiple opponents and allies at the same time when the armies meet at the frontline.
Players can also feint their initial swings with another attack to further confuse enemies. Overhead swings can be canceled into a stab or horizontal swing and vice versa to throw off the opponents’ parry and block timings.
Sporting massive 64-player maps and various classes and subclasses,Chivalry 2equips players with an assortment of medieval weaponry as they engage in colossal player-on-player carnage.
Each weapon has unique strikes, stabs, and swings that players have to master to get maximum damage against their opponents. Accelerating and dragging swings on weapons is also available and needs to be utilized since enemies can and will come from all over the map.
Classes and their subclasses also have special abilities to aid allies via healing, or more offensive options such as chucking an oil pot to burn enemies. These givemore combat depthand allow players to coordinate their attacks, especially on maps that have specific objectives.
Having a button to do a battlecry is also a fun addition that the game added for more immersion. Letting out a hearty shout after defeating a slew of enemies or winning an objective at the last minute is always a cathartic and memorable experience.
When it comes to realistic medieval combat,Kingdom Come: Deliveranceis hailed by many gamers as the top medieval combat game to experience. Each weapon needs to be mastered individually, as they possess advantages over varying enemy types throughout the game.
Swords are particularly good against opponents that have less armor or have exposed limbs for players to stab or slice. Hammers and sledges are better options against fully plated adversaries since they are slow and denting their armor deals more damage than trying to pierce them.
Directional swings, stabs, and strikes are also essential since they let players attack their target at unique angles and bypass their opponent’s defenses. Movement is also key to dodge and deflect attacks on the defensive end. Parries and blocks are standard and can feel great when executed perfectly against aggressive enemies.
That said, players have to practice with their weapon of choice to get the most out of it. Using a specific weapon increases the player’s skill with it, so it is best to take time with such weapons to utilize their respective combos to the fullest.
