Games

Best Relaxing Medieval Games, Ranked

Published

1 month ago

October 25, 2024

Christoph Rediske

Key Takeaways

In Ale Abbey, players can brew various beer recipes in a medieval-style abbey.
The classic Sims formula comes with a humorous twist on medieval life in The Sims Medieval
Eastshade lets players explore and immerse themselves in a world full of incredible sights.

One of the most captivating periods to immerse oneself in, medieval games are typically as beautifully crafted as they are challenging, with many detailing military campaigns and long-fought journeys to build cities. As fun as those games can be, sometimes a cozy and relaxing game with the added bonus of beautiful medieval townscapes and community moments is all that will do.

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Fans of medieval warfare shouldn’t pass up these great sword-and-shield adventures.

This list details a variety of games that depict different sides of medieval life, from crafting and working hard on farming and brewing to the moral conundrums of monarchy. From open-world RPGs to thoughtful strategy missions, these games allow players to take a trip back in time, to craft, forage, build, and reign over medieval kingdoms and settlements.

Some games listed here aren’t strictly set within the Middle Ages but certainly adopt the medieval aesthetic to draw players in.

8 Ale Abbey

Brew Drinks In A Striking Medieval Monastery

Platform(s)
Developer
Publisher

This game is coming soon, with a demo available on Steam.

This fun, wholesome indie game encourages creativity. With no pre-made recipes, players must use their own ingenuity to come up with delightful beer recipes in order to expand and develop their abbey. Despite its newness, this game does not scrimp on design, with engaging characters and an exciting map to draw players in.

While still in the early stages of development, this is sure to be a hit with fans of other cozy crafting games like Stardew Valley and Traveller’s Rest.

7 The Sims Medieval

A Medieval Twist On Classic Sims Games

Released: 2011
Developer: Maxis Redwood Shores
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, Windows Phone, Mobile
Design a hero and build a dynasty

While this game is over a decade old now, The Sims Medieval has developed something of a cult following for its absurd, humorous take on medieval life, with quests being the priority of the day. Nonetheless, this is an entertaining immersion into medieval life in the classic Sims style.

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Whether it’s Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, For Honor, Crusader Kings 3, or more, fans have a lot of choices when it comes to medieval fantasy games.

Surely not the most sophisticated or immersive medieval game there is, but The Sims Medieval certainly allows players to indulge in questing and castle living in a way that only this franchise can.

6 Eastshade

An Open-World Exploration Game Full Of Scenic Vistas

Released: February 13, 2019
Developer(s): Eastshade Studios
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Work as a painter, travel, and meet different characters

Players move at their own pace through this immersive, historic island, learning and exploring as they paint different scenes along the way. This is perhaps one of the most calming games out there, with casual objectives and scenery players can’t help but stop and marvel at.

While not strictly medieval, the old-world beauty of this game is sure to capture players’ hearts.

5 Going Medieval

A Beautiful Indie City-Building Strategy Game

Going Medieval

Systems

Released: June 1, 2021
Developer: Foxy Voxel

Currently available for early access

There may be a survival element to Going Medieval, but who couldn’t be relaxed while playing this beautiful, well-organized strategy game with effective building mechanisms and combat scenes? This city builder has lots more to offer than players might expect.

5 Best Medieval City-Builder Games, Ranked

Medieval city-builder games are immensely popular as players love building up from scratch in more rudimentary and idyllic times.

Fans have noted how immersive and blissful the gameplay is, drawing players in for hours at a time.

4 Traveller’s Rest

Manage Your Own Tavern And Entertain Customers

Travellers Rest

RPG

Indie Games

Adventure

Strategy

Systems

Released: July 28, 2020
Developer(s): Isolated Games , Louqou

In need of a simple, relaxing medieval-style management game? Look no further. Players can grow their inn from humble beginnings to a thriving business in this adorable pixel-art RPG. The design of this game is extremely cozy, with plenty of fun skills to learn, including cooking, carpentry, brewing, and farming.

This game is currently in early access, with plans to expand recipes, items, and the wider world when the full version is released.

3 Kingdom Two Crowns

Build And Defend A Kingdom

Kingdom Two Crowns

Released: December 11, 2018
Developer(s): Noio , Coatsink
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Experience beautiful graphics of serene surroundings.

This strategy/management game lets players take on the role of monarch, moving between procedurally generated islands where they can gather followers, build defensive structures, and keep their kingdom safe from a group of monsters called the Greed.

Kingdom Two Crowns is both gripping and wonderfully cozy, with beautiful fantasy elements and classic historical imagery.

2 Yes, Your Grace

A Kingdom Management Strategy Game

Released: 2020
Developer: Brave at Night
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Players work at their own pace and make decisions for the family and subjects of the king.

Use tact and diplomacy to prevent wars, build alliances, and strengthen the kingdom in this pixel-art RPG. Traveling between the rooms of his castle, the king must make the best decisions and balance a budget to ensure the survival of his people.

6 Best Medieval Strategy Games, Ranked

The medieval period is a popular setting for strategy games, but these titles use that setting to its greatest potential.

There’s a rustic simplicity to Yes, Your Grace. There’s little dramatic action or violence, but it challenges players to make moral decisions in difficult circumstances.

1 Medieval Dynasty

A Realistic Medieval Life Simulator

Released: December 17, 2020
Developer: Render Cube
OpenCritic Rating: Fair

Dubbed the ‘ultimate medieval experience’

Fans of medieval culture will adore Medieval Dynasty, a captivating open-world game where players must build a home, farm, and hunt and ensure that people are well-fed. Medieval Dynasty can be played single or multiplayer, allowing for co-op farms to flourish or flail against the harsh realities of medieval life.

Many players would argue this is the most immersive and thoughtfully designed Medieval game out there, with suitability for different play styles too.