25 Best Nintendo Switch Medieval Games To Send You Back To The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is one of the key “wish fulfillment” times for creators for various reasons. Mainly because there is a thrill in being a Knight, and fighting in wars of that era, or taking that period and going fantastical with it. And here are some games that prove that point. With that said these games are not ranked in any particular order.

#25 Dragons Dogma Dark Arisen

It’s a little ironic that I start with Dragons Dogma Dark Arisen, given that the long-awaited sequel to this game is out on other platforms. However, if you’ve never played this medieval RPG, and are curious about the franchise, this is the version to check out and get.

You’ll have full customization over your character and take them across a world full of wonders and dangers. If you can’t do it alone, bring in some Pawns to help you out!

#24 Fire Emblem Three Houses

Fire Emblem Three Houses is one of the best games on Switch, and its medieval setting is shown in many layers, as you’ll find out when you play. You’ll start your journey as Byleth, and then choose a class of students to teach before guiding them into heavy battles.

Deep storylines await you, and not all the stories are what they appear. So dive in and see which house is your favorite!

#23 Blade of Darkness

Welcome to a realm that was once protected by legendary heroes of old. But those times are long since gone. The forces of chaos are trying to encroach upon these lands and destroy everything in their path! You’ll choose from one of four characters and attempt to bring peace to the land…by killing everything that isn’t peaceful.

Each character plays differently, so see which one works best for you and then hack-and-slash away!

#22 Pentiment

Pentiment is technically set near the end of the Middle Ages, but it’s close enough for me. You’ll play as a famous artist who finds himself in Bavaria as great social change is sweeping the land. That would be fine on its own, except that there are murders abound and all sorts of other trying things that would push any artist to the brink.

Explore this uniquely drawn world and see if you can withstand what’s happening within.

#21 Yes, Your Grace

In Yes, Your Grace you’ll play a ruler who has to listen to various people making requests of them. You can decide whether to do it or focus on other matters.

You’ll also need to hire people, like generals, to help you fight off threats so that your kingdom can stand. Plus, you need to support your family, too! One thing is for sure, it’s not easy being a ruler as you attempt to keep everyone happy and your kingdom safe.

#20 Tails of Iron

Imagine a medieval world where its inhabitants are rats and frogs. This is the setting of Tails of Iron. You’ll play an outcast rat prince whose kingdom has been overtaken by an evil frog faction. You must journey through the kingdom and bring it back to glory by squashing as many frogs as possible.

Build up your character to take on any foe and then see what this hand-drawn world has to offer you.

#19 Dragon Quest Builders 2

Yes, the Dragon Quest franchise is very medieval, and Dragon Quest Builders 2 is an offshoot of the main franchise that will let you build up this medieval-style world in the way you want.

You’ll create a character and go on a journey to undo the wrongs that have been forced on the realm. As your journey progresses, you’ll rebuild the lands block by block, helping the nearby citizens as a result. Go and build to your hearts’ content.

#18 Kingdom New Lands

If you’re someone who likes to explore massive game worlds and want one within a medieval setting, get Kingdom New Lands.

You’ll set a course for a new realm and attempt to learn all that’s going on inside of it. The game doesn’t hold your hand; instead, it encourages you to take on challenges and see what you can learn on your own. There’s plenty to do, so don’t be afraid to wander around.

#17 Ancestor’s Legacy

If you want a game that’s truly set in the Middle Ages, then check out Ancestor’s Legacy. This title puts you in command of different factions within the medieval era and lets you command them so that you can complete campaigns and conquer the continent!

Once you beat the campaigns, bring in your friends and see who is the best leader among you.

#16 Reigns: Kings & Queens

Reigns: Kings & Queens includes actually two different games in one. They have Reign and then Reign: Her Majesty.

In the game you’ll play as a ruler who has to chose what edicts and proclamations you have in the kingdom that you rule. Every single decision you make will determine whether your kingdom prospers or whether it falters. Whether you will be seen as a wonderful leader or a terrible tyrant.

So, you’ll need to know ahead of time what you want to be and then work out how to make your kingdom what you want it to be. No pressure, right?

#15 Battle Brothers

If you’re looking for a game where you’ll have a lot of options and choose the way you go about the story, try out Battle Brothers.

In the game, you will be the head of a mercenary company, and go forth in a tough medieval world that will challenge you with all sorts of contracts for you to do.

In this very open-world you’ll get to choose not just who is in your company, but what contracts you do, how you equip and grow your party, and more. But that also means it’s on you to keep everyone alive and make your mercenary crew successful! If you think you’re up for that, go play Battle Brothers.

#14 Shovel Knight

Are you ready for an old-school 8-bit style adventure? If so, then you need to get Shovel Knight. This is a game that inspired a WHOLE LOT of spinoffs.

You’ll play as Shovel Knight, who learns that the tower that his partner was once lost in has returned. Now, he’ll travel across the land, beating bad guys, getting gems and bounding across the terrain using a unique assortment of items!

Will you be able to make it through the difficulty to find out what happened to Shield Knight? What hidden parts of the world will you find as you go through it? Jump into the game and find out!

#13 Northgard

Vikings were technically a part of Medieval times, so let’s roll with it, ok?

In Northgard, you play as a clan of Vikings who have been sailing for years in order to find a new home for themselves. They soon come upon a land that seems to be perfect for them and setup a small colony. But as they soon learn, there is much more to this land than meets the eye.

There are giant wolves that can lash out at you, undead warriors, and even mighty giants that you’ll have to fight or befriend!

You will not leave this new land, so build up your homestead, prepare it for the dangers that are out there, and claim this place as your own.

#12 Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning was the rebuild of the original game that had a very curious development and release. The game was a success, but the development studio folded soon after. However, a cavalcade of developers came together to rebirth the title and give you an RPG experience that will need to be experienced.

The game is set in a vast RPG world that has been ripped apart by war. You will get to go up against some terrifying monsters and foe and you’ll need to build yourself up into the ultimate warrior in order to make it through!

Add to that all the DLC from the original game that was added in and you’ll have plenty to enjoy in Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning.

#11 Kingdom Come Deliverance

For a more true Medieval experience, you need only look at Kingdom Come Deliverance. In this game, you’ll play as the son of a blacksmith who is thrown into extraordinary events, as his life leads him to join the rebellion against the king in a quest for revenge.

That question will help you shape the land of Bohemia from top to bottom, so thus you’ll need to be mindful of how you conduct yourself and your characters’ actions. Will you be an honorable warrior who shows how the kingdom should be? Or will you be one who does nothing more than rend blood from his enemies to satiate what he lost? The choice is yours.

#10 A Plague Tale Innocence

Not all tales of the Middle Ages have to do with knights and grand battles and kingdoms fighting for survival. Sometimes, it’s just about two kids who are trying to endure all the threats that a world covered in darkness is trying to throw at them. Such is the journey in A Plague Tale Innocence.

In the game, you’ll play as a brother and sister via Amicia and Hugo. The dark plague is running through the land, and the two are trying to escape the swarms of rats that have it, all the while trying to avoid the vile Inquisitors that are after them.

Only by working together can they escape the cruel fate awaiting them.

#9 A Plague Tale Requiem

A Plague Tale Requiem follows up on the story of Amicia and Hugo and puts them into new situations. Just when they thought they had found a peaceful place to stay, new dangers and threats emerge, and the two must run for their lives once more!

All their hope goes into the story of a place that can cure Hugo. But will it truly work?

#8 Graveyard Keeper

And now…for something a bit different. Graveyard Keeper is without a doubt one of the wackier games that you’ll see on this list, and by the game’s own admission it’s meant to be “wildly inaccurate” in terms of what things were like in the medieval ages.

Case in point, in this management simulator, you are set to run your own graveyard, and thus have to turn it into a “thriving business”. Oh the puns we could make there.

So go find new resources, face “ethical questions”, go out on quests, and so on. Find out why this game is meant to be nuts in the fun way, and change up the medieval formula.

#7 Ancestors Legacy

If you’re wanting a title that is truly about the wars of Medieval times, then Ancestors Legacy is the one you’ll want to go after. Mainly because in this game you’ll play as four different nations depending on your playstyle: Viking, Anglo-Saxon, German, or Slav nations, and then go to war across Europe in order to make everything yours.

But if you think this is just about the battles, you’d be wrong. Because the title forces you to think as you would as an actual commander. In this case, meaning that you need to use the terrain and various strategies to overcome. As well as maintaining your base of operations.

So be the best leader you can be, and secure your legacy for centuries to come.

#6 Darkest Dungeon

If you’ve ever wondered what it would actually be like to go on a “grand journey” through some of the most dangerous places in the world… Darkest Dungeon will actually help you see that.

Because on the surface, it looks like an RPG roguelike where you recruit people to go and join you on your quest and adventures. But as you soon realize, you’re going to have to actually take care of these people as the quests will wear on them both physically, mentally, and emotionally. And when they die, they’re gone for good.

So if you think you can “keep it together”, you’ll want to check out the grand adventure that is Darkest Dungeon.

#5 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild is one of the best games ever made in the minds of many, and you’ll get your money’s worth if you get it.

In the game, you play as a very different version of Link as he’s the survivor of the Calamity that is Ganon. Ganon controlled the ancient Guardians of Hyrule that was meant to protect the people and instead turned it against them.

Zelda has sealed Calamity Ganon away, but to save the realm, you must free the Ancient Beasts, retrieve the Master Sword and stop Ganon once and for all!

Will you be able to seal away the darkness?

#4 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Once you’re done with Breath of the Wild you can play The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom! The sequel to the previous entry takes things to the next levels…in this case, the levels above the ground and below it.

With new areas to explore and a new take on a familiar foe to defeat, Link will have his work cut out for him. Plus, you can build all sorts of vehicles and items within the game, including ones that medieval people likely WISH they could’ve made in their time.

#3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

While Geralt of Rivia may not be your typical knight, he is very much a warrior that goes on missions for the people (whether they want him to or not) in order to stop the threats that lie in the dark.

What’s more, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt very much allows you to explore the medieval style world that The Witcher is set in, and thus you’ll get a true feel for all that is going on both big and small. Add that to the DLC that actually shows you various regions that look like different parts of Europe, and you’ll get an even better feel for this medieval world.

Plus, again, you fight monsters, so there’s that.

#2 Dark Souls

Some of you might be mad that Dark Souls isn’t #1, especially since you’re basically playing an “immortal knight” who has to wield a sword or other medieval weapons in order to slay evil.

The problem with Dark Souls is one that many have known about for years…it’s bloody hard! Yes, really. That’s the line we draw here. This game series is one of the hardest ever made, and it setup other game franchises to be that hard.

What’s more, while it is medieval, it’s more along the lines of “horror medieval” via the monsters you face, so we deduct points for that…an being hard.

#1 Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

How are you surprised that this game is on our list? It was fairly obvious it was going to show up.

Especially since this game embodies the medieval yet fantastical genre better than most. You can become a Knight as well as a monster there. All the while fighting dragons, learning magic, and everything else between.

This game is so robust that people are still playing it to this day to try and get everything done, and that’s before you consider the mod support!

So if you want one of the best medieval games ever, that’s Skyrim. Period.