Need to know
What is it? A medieval survival RPG management sim.
Expect to pay £27/$30
Release Out now
Developer Render Cube
Publisher Toplitz Productions
Reviewed on GTX 1070 Dual OC, Windows 10, Intel Core i5-7600k, 16GB RAM
Multiplayer? No
Link Official site (opens in new tab)
Having put the finishing touches on the fourth building in my little village-to-be, I realise I need to go out hunting to get more food for the few denizens that dwell within it. It’s my job to look after them, after all, and that means building shelter and services, but also going out to hunt some bison or deer for meat. I feel pretty confident as I head out… but end up dying to a boar taking a bite out of my ankle.
This moment helped give me the respect I needed for the world of Medieval Dynasty, because while it looks tame and feels like an RPG a lot of the time, it still has the heart of a survival game. This means it’s very content to kill you where you stand if you’re not paying it proper attention. Progressing means learning to balance the gentler and harsher aspects of the game.
Things can get a little odd where the two meet. You gain levels in the different skillsets simply by using them—in theory encouraging you to go out into the world and try out the skills you want to master. In practice you end up with a lot of wooden spoons.
(Image credit: Toplitz)
Even with things set to be a little more brutal, Medieval Dynasty still feels as though it’s been designed as a second life, rather than a fantasy one. There’s a story here, and it’s not bad, but it’s designed to walk you through Medieval Dynasty’s mechanics rather than presenting a world-changing narrative. That means you’ll be trying to keep everyone happy and safe instead of trying to slay dragons or visit other worlds. It’s really quite relaxing.
Less relaxing, though, is the fact that the game doesn’t always do a great job of teaching you things, and there’s an awful lot to learn here. You’ll often have to consult the in-game “Knowledge” tab to be able to learn what you’re meant to be doing. Information can be in weird places when you’re trying to build new tools too. But once you’ve put a bit of time in, these become fairly minor inconveniences.
Medieval Dynasty isn’t necessarily the most exciting game out there, but it’s comforting. It’s the kind of thing you can jump into for an hour or so a night and see your progress in the form of a new building, or a brand-new member of your very own village. Or you might jump in expecting a quick visit and find yourself losing four hours, emerging from a trance later with a warm, fuzzy feeling in your stomach.
