What are some of the best medieval themed board games you can play?

Board games, like video games, allow us to completely immerse ourselves into the game’s story. We take on roles such as a commander, knights, animals, spirits and even sometimes the role of the villain. There’s no limit to who you get to play in the world of table top. One genre explored exceptionally well for role-playing are Medieval themed board games. These games tend to be historic or imitate the life of towns set in Europe or Asia between the 5th century and the 16th century.

So, let’s hop back to the Medieval period and with these medieval themed board games. Here’s a list of 10 board games you should try out if you want to explore the genre.

10. Orleans

Orleans Original Box Art

Sometimes winning a battle is not about sword fights. Your goal is to assemble a following of farmers, merchants, knights, monks and several other villagers to gain through trade, construction and science during medieval France. It’s important for you to spread your trading routes by getting people to join your business endeavor. But make sure you have enough of one class, one too many might spell trouble for your business. Keep an eye on your goods as well, money and stock still speak louder than people.

What’s fun about Orleans:

• Strategy but not for fight, Sometimes the games that require you think more are the games that have a different kind of war in them.
• Putting people to work, but don’t pick up too many of the same class.
• Luck of the draw, sometimes I like games that deal with a little bit of luck, keeps things fresh and less edgy among friends.

9. Citadels

Citadels Box and Inclusions

Despite being an old game, Citadels is still a pretty good mention for Medieval themed board games. The goal of each player is basically to earn more points than the other players through erecting buildings. Doing that takes gold and every building is equal to a different number of points. So sometimes it’s really about quality over quantity. The game will end once any of the players has built their 8th building. After that the scores will be tallied.

What’s fun about Citadels:

• Different roles per round, roles are the characters your hire in the game and you change into them every round.
• Each character has their own thing, making the game fun since you have to use them to the best of their ability.
• With the expansion Citadels now allows 8 players.

8. Caylus 

 Caylus Box

It is 1289 and King Philip wants to strengthen the border of the Kingdom of France by having a new castle built. You, the player, embodies the persona of a master builder among other players. You must build his castle and improve Caylus to gain the king’s favor versus the other builders he has hired. Not everything is about building, Caylus has a fair mix of strategy, planning and bargaining embedded in its mechanics as well.

What’s fun about Caylus:

• Worker placement that involves strategy, game sounds simple but there’s a lot of thinking involved to win the king’s favor.
• You can use other players' buildings, to your advantage of course.
• Fun for a lot of players, while some multiplayers work best with a lesser number of players, this one is pretty consistent with any number of players.

7. Empires of the Middle Ages

 Empires of the Middle Ages Rule Book and Other Inclusions

A classic game that simulates the history of the economic and political landscape of the medieval period from 772 to 1467. The game includes several scenarios and challenges to go through for the player depending on the time period they are at and what event card is being drawn. Each player controls an area which is rated for its wealth, religion, language and population, the goal is to keep your empire as prosperous as possible.

What’s fun about Empires of the Middle Ages:

• Growing Empires, you’re all trying to build the most successful empire.
• Event cards, sometimes you have to deal with bad events such as plagues and stuff.
• Long game, if you’re into long campaigns … This can easily shave off some hours.

6. Warrior Knights

Warrior Knights Box Art

I guess it’s about time to add some knights into the spin. Usually when we are exposed to medieval-like settings the first thing that comes to mind are castles and knights. Players get to fight against each other by trying to claim as many cities as they can. The player who controls most of the cities in the kingdom wins the game. Conquering cities also gives you bonuses that will most likely aid you in your raid.

What’s fun about Warrior Knights:

• Alliances forged and broken, because only one can win, but that doesn’t stop us from making temporary alliances.
• Assemblies, you’ll be gifted titles or appointments during the assembly drawing… sometimes these perks will give you additional income.
• You’re actually a baron commanding 4 nobles, not a knight.

5. Dominion

Dominion Box

Unlike coming to the table with your premade deck like Magic the Gathering; Dominion lets you build your deck while playing. Each player uses a separate deck of cards and they draw from that deck instead of a common pile. The goal is to score as many Victory Points by the end of the game, you can do this by collecting Victory Cards from the common pile but these cards do little to nothing during the game, so make sure to get other cards as well.

What’s fun about Dominion:

• In-game deck building, I find this more challenging than TCGs also I don’t spend too much on it.
• Healthy and fair competition, you all play as monarch trying to claim more territory via a card game but instead of coming in with a premade deck the game gives you a deck to start off with. 
• Several Expansions, something to spice the game up a bit.

4. The Quacks of Quedlinburg

The Quacks of Quedlinburg

The Quedlinburg health festival has finally arrived! Alchemists and medical practitioners alike are all gathered offering their customers all sorts of potions that are said to cure any sort of disease that may plague you. All players set-up shop to brew the best potion possible. It’s similar to a deck building game wherein you get indigents from a deck (bag) and toss it into your cauldron. Players will continue the process till they decide to stop or if whatever you’re brewing-up explodes.

What’s fun about The Quacks of Quedlinburg:

• Becoming an Alchemist or a Quack Doctor, I love games that have anything to do with alchemy, The Middle Ages had these quack doctors showing up during these times…they don’t have any real medical background and neither do I.
• Fun and Easy, you just need one playthrough most of the time to understand the mechanics of the game.
• Trial and error, with your mixtures, you can try different ingredient combos every playthrough. 

3.Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Box

With a mix of both Arthurian Legend and Celtic Mythology, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon gives the players a unique and unforgettable solo or cooperative experience. The game is a non-linear story/deck-building puzzle game where your character is constantly tested with trials as he/she journeys forward to the other end of Avalon to find a cure for his/her ailing land. Each area has its own legend and puzzle you have to overcome. Not all your encounters need to be solved by combat, sometimes acts of diplomacy/negotiation is the key to get yourself and your party members out of a situation. The game makers promise a unique experience every playthrough.

What’s fun about Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon:

• RPG experience, feels more like a video game only in the form of a board game.
• Immersive, the story is, and it’s great to take part of it and change it based on our decisions.
• App or the Exploration Journal, the narratives are here, and we’re given an option on how we would like to hear/read them. You can use the app with an in-voice narration plus music. Or you can read it via the journal.

2. Hammer of the Scots

Hammer of the Scots Box Art

A medieval themed game perfect for two. This game promises several events to keep you entertained during your playthrough. Each player will choose an opposing side. If you are the English player, your goal is to pacify Scotland by controlling all the important noble lords. As the Scottish player you seek allegiance of nobles to support a struggle for freedom.

What’s fun about Hammer of the Scots:

• Historic Battle, it is based on a certain period in history.
• Medium- weight (maybe some would consider it light) war game, not too overwhelming if you are a bit new to wargame mechanics.
• 8-page rule book but enough to get you going, A pretty detailed rule book is provided and it’s easy to get through. 

1. Carcassonne

Carcassonne Box

Inspired and named after a medieval fortified town in southern France famed for its city walls. This game allows you to recreate and reimagine the city of Carcassonne. This is a tile-placement game where the players draw and place tiles to create cities that connect to each other. The player also can place a meeple representing a “job’. The meeples are used to score points when a certain patch of land in considered complete

What's fun about Carcassonne:

• Great gateway game, if you have friends who want to graduate from the party-game type of board games this might be the next game you’d want to introduce.
• Player interaction, cause it’s very possible to foil the other players plan, all in good fun.
• Replayability, an easy game to start gaming night and can be brought to several other groups.

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