Honestly, the Middle Ages do have a peculiar way of astonishing us; they can’t help but amaze us. The reason, maybe, is the clang of swords on shields, the too high-stakes intrigues, or simply the chaos of a plague creeping through the alleys. No matter if it is an anime, a TV show, or a game, medieval-style stories always win because they combine the human theme of conflict with a grand spectacle.
Medieval stories have been a great success in different media, including anime, TV, and games, because they have this knack for mixing grand spectacle with universal human conflicts. From battles of giants to sarcastic humor, here are the 10 best medieval-themed shows, anime, and games that do not leave history uninteresting.
10. Chivalry 2 – Knightly Mayhem
Don’t you wonder what it would be like if you were in the thick of things, dressed in full armor, with the sword shimmering towards the sky? Well, this is what the game Chivalry 2 is trying to communicate to you, and most comically, it does. This game is all about the thrill of massive brawls with people hacking, dismembering each other, and the whole scene being simultaneously chaotic and hilarious. You can almost say it is as if Monty Python’s style clashed with that of Braveheart. It is not the polished knightly romance we are used to seeing; it is just the mess, the laughter, and the high entertainment value that goes on.
9. Vinland Saga – Vikings with a Heartbeat
Anime lovers who want a raw and realistic portrayal of the genre will find Vinland Saga to be the perfect one. The series is not only about Viking raids and revenge (although there will be a lot of it throughout the show). It goes into slavery, forgiveness, and what is the true meaning of life. The change of Thorfinn from a boy who was only set on revenge to a man who sought the meaning of life was very profoundly human and quite captivating as well. On top of that, it also has very good storytelling, which has been nominated for an award, and which makes it one of the most potent medieval-inspired anime.
8. Knightfall – Templars in Turmoil
With elements such as secret societies, religious relics, and political treachery, Knightfall is the shothatch hits all the points. The series, which is set in the 14th century, follows the Knights Templar as they deal with enemies not only outside but also inside their order. It’s rough, it’s pretty intense, and it even features Mark Hamill as a firm Templar mentor. Despite not always achieving perfection, its combination of action and intrigue makes it a done deal for fans of medieval drama.
7. Medici – Power, Money, and Scandal in Florence
If there was a show about the Rich and Powerful before Succession, it must have been the Medici dynasty. This extravagantly made show tracks one of history’s most powerful families’ rise, showing how cash, greed, and treachery became the Renaissance. It has an A-list cast and gorgeous sets; in other words, it’s more soap than documentary, yet that’s what makes it so captivating. The awards for design and costumes are there as proof that it looks the part, even if it takes some liberties with the facts.
6. The Decameron – Pandemic Comedy In Good Taste
Someone went and told us that they couldn’t make a pandemic, humor style – The Decameron is the one that gets Boccaccio’s famous work and opens it up to acerbic, humorous love, and harsh class criticism. The story takes place in a villa during Black Death, where nobles and servants quarrel in a way that, surprisingly, is very much applicable today. The show is irreverent and inclusive, ridiculing human folly without forgetting to acknowledge the harsh environment. Laugh at it as history with a nudge.
5. Ghost of Tsushima – A Samurai Epic You Can Play
Biologists are always surprised by how nature is not encumbered by the smallest details, as they are the most important ones. The same can be said for Ghost of Tsushima. The ghost, while fighting the Mongol invasion this is you combining a history as we go. The topics are fascinating, yet you feel like you are in a samurai movie. To add to it equally immersive world, maybe writing a haiku or following a fox to its shrine. It is a tribute to Japanese culture that never just looks pretty.
4. Crusader Kings III – Rewrite Medieval History
Enter a gamer’s dream, Crusader Kings III, the Holy Grail of the grand strategy genre. A game with huge scope and deep mechanics by which you can rule, conquer, betray, and rule your way through Europe, the Middle Ages. Never are two games alike. Yourmpire can be wiped out by the plague at any time or burgeon up by treacherous alliances the next. Is it a simulation, a half-sandbox, and completely addicting for those who have never asked, “What if I were a medieval king?”
3. Shogun – Japan’s Feudal Power Struggles
Hulu’s Shogun confirms the medieval period wasn’t Europe’s alone. Adapted from James Clavell’s novel, it transports the audience to 16th-century Japan when the Shogunate was on the ascendant. Bitter struggles for power, brutal battles, and clashes with Europeans on cultural grounds are all compelling reasons to watch it. With A-list performances and careful world-building, it’s one of the finest historical dramas in recent history.
2. Game of Thrones – Medieval Fantasy on Fire
Say what you will about the last season, Game of Thrones revolutionized pop culture. Under the dragons and fantasy, the series is deeply grounded in medieval politics, codes of honor, and hierarchies of society. It captured the violence of the Middle Ages but also provided us with epic romance and spectacular spectacle. Above all, it reminded viewers that medieval tales can be grandly escapist and brutally real.
1. The Lord of the Rings – The Benchmark of Medieval Fantasy
Nothing surpasses The Lord of the Rings as a medieval-inspired tale. Tolkien pulled out the centuries of European myth to create Middle-earth, and the movies (and more recent shows) translated it into unparalleled scope. Knights and castles and grand battles, everything is there, but infused with universal themes of friendship, sacrifice, and hope. It’s the template by which all others are judged.
So why does medieval-themed entertainment survive? Because under the swords, castles, and plagues, these narratives tap into humanity’s common battles: power, survival, belief, love, and the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Whether they tip toward the historical or fantastical, these shows, anime, and games affirm that the Middle Ages weren’t simply “dark times.” They were messy, layered, and endlessly compelling, prime grist for a narrative that remains resonant today.