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Chronicles: Medieval Is Exactly as Dense and Complicated as You Thought It Would Be | gamescom 2026
Chronicles: Medieval is a forthcoming strategy game set during the Hundred Years’ War, combining large-scale medieval warfare with role-playing and third-person action elements. IGN’s preview says its depth and historical detail are striking but potentially intimidating, making it most likely to appeal to players willing to manage complex armies, equipment and battlefield tactics. The game is due to enter Early Access next year, though the preview warns it may still be very unfinished before version 1.0.
Players can command Britain, France or the Holy Roman Empire across an Exploration map containing 209 regions, settlements, castles and dynamic encounters such as bandit camps, mercenary recruitment and trade. Battles resemble Total War-style engagements, with hundreds of soldiers, detailed individual equipment, troop positioning and responsive commands; commanders can also enter the fighting directly in a third-person mode. Developer Raw Power Games emphasises historical grounding while allowing some flexibility for less conventional equipment choices.
In short
- Dense medieval strategy game blends command, RPG and direct combat
- Three factions fight across 209 European regions
- Early Access is planned next year
Explained simply
The Hundred Years’ War was a series of conflicts between England and France, fought from 1337 to 1453 over claims to the French crown and control of territory. The Holy Roman Empire, a collection of states across central Europe, was another major power in medieval Europe.
Strategy games let players direct armies and make decisions across a wider map, while role-playing games often focus on developing characters and their equipment. Chronicles: Medieval combines these approaches with battles in which players can also control a commander directly, drawing on medieval warfare and historical detail.
The game is being made by Raw Power Games. Its scale and level of detail may suit players who enjoy managing armies and battlefield tactics, while presenting a steep learning curve for newcomers to complex strategy games.