Summary
While there are plenty of good city-builders set in more recent or even futuristic times, many players are drawn towardhistorical city-builders, likely due to the feeling of starting from scratch with little more than nature and a few pairs of strong hands to work with.
Arguably, the most popular historical setting in games is the Middle Ages, and as such, players will find many great medieval city-building games. The best of these allow players to create realistic-looking villages that follow the lay of the land rather than a grid, and the best worlds feel alive with villagers and their families truly mattering.
The upper estimates for fatalities of the Black Death are around 50% of the medieval population of Europe. InGoing Medieval, however, players have to rebuild civilization after an even deadlier plague wiped out 90% of people. While the start may be bleak, players should soon be able to find success, and can even end up building castles, which not all of the best medieval city-builders allow.
Even the terrain can be shaped in this game, and in fact,all aspects of building and customization are incredible. It’s certainly one of the best options for players who love getting creative.
Despite being over a decade old,Banishedstill holds up, having been so ahead of its time. It is a true medieval village-builder game that gives complete freedom to the player, although they will still have to compete with the harsh realities of medieval life. There is no technology to unlock, nor is there any currency other than resources to be traded.
If a village is doing well enough and producing the right resources, then players should be able to build whatever they like. Their villagers are also living breathing characters who are born, work one of 20 jobs, and eventually grow old and die. The key to success inBanishedis making use of the natural resources available surrounding each village.No two games will play out the same.
WhileNorlandis perhaps best described asa colony sim, it is also a medieval village-building game, and an incredibly fun one at that. It is a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, as part of the joy lies in watching characters cheat, murder, and refuse the player’s commands due to their happiness levels.
One of the best aspects of the game is how characters must learn new technology by reading books and copying them down for future generations. This is hownew buildingsand the like are unlocked. While watching pure chaos, including religious rebellions is one way to enjoyNorland, players can also aim to dominate the wider world via diplomatic alliances and wars. At the heart of any power though is a strong and thriving capital city that is able to produce lots of resources including food and alcohol.
Medieval Dynastyis a bit different from most other city-builder games, as it is played in first-person, while also beinga survival/crafting game. Once players have gotten over the initial hurdles of keeping themselves fed and alive, the aim is to then find land to build their own village.
Planning is therefore one aspect, but players must also gather the resources and construct each new building by hand. This means chopping down trees, using a saw, and then hammering them into place. Thankfully, as players expand their small settlement they can travel the map to find characters to live and work in their village. They will also want to buy livestock to produce resources that include manure for better agriculture. There is lots to do inMedieval Dynasty, and it can also be enjoyed with friends via co-op.
Despite being in Early Access,Manor Lordshas already proven to be the best medieval city-builder on the market. The game features realistic graphics that look great from above and in third-person thanks to the unique option to walk around as a lord or lady. Incredible attention to detail and historical accuracy are also integral toManor Lords, making it perfect for those who loverealistic medieval games.
In terms of gameplay,Manor Lordsis first and foremost about building a new medieval village and keeping the citizens happy and fed. It feels great to build houses, buildings, and roads completely naturally without any grid, and it’s impressive how easy the process is. However, depending on the game mode, players may need to provide armor and weapons for their men, as raiders are a constant threat as well as neighboring lords. This is where an RTS element comes into play, with players able to control their small armies in realistic battles, where every death means one less pair of hands to bring the harvest in.
