Kingmakers is an upcoming action-strategy sandbox game where players can use modern weapons to fight hordes of medieval enemies. It is being developed by Redemption Road Games (co-developer of Road Redemption) and published by tinyBuild. The publisher describes it by saying“Think Back to the Future meets Call of Duty.”
In essence, you get to take guns to a swordfight but the trailers do show some fun-looking moments with an offroad pickup and dirt bike going into battle so it appears some modern vehicles will also be available. Kingmakers will support single-player or co-op and players can engage in battle with thousands of AI-controlled enemies on the battlefield. It is being built using Unreal Engine 5 and is slated for release on PC sometime in 2024. The game was announced a couple of weeks back but media coverage has been increasing for it as more folks gain interest in it.
Description (via Steam page):
“Go back in time to a war-torn medieval era with a vast arsenal of modern weapons, change the course of history, and save the future in this epic action/strategy sandbox. Build your kingdom, grab a gun, and lead an army of thousands into massive, real-time simulated battles — solo or in co-op.”
Most recently Digital Foundry interviewed Kingmakers developers and covered topics including its gameplay, how its AI works, Steam Deck playability, and its early development.
Key Features (via Gematsu):
- Conquer the Past, Save the Future – You’re the last hope in a dying world. Travel back 500 years, to medieval England, in order to change the course of a bloody war and maybe, if you’re lucky, stave off the apocalypse. Can you tip the scales of history and create a new timeline?
- Groundbreaking Medieval Simulation – Each battle you engage in runs as a fully real-time simulation with thousands of soldiers fighting at the same time. Every soldier on the battlefield is controlled by a next-gen multi-threaded AI which controls their decision-making, pathfinding, and loyalty. This, combined with a unique procedural animation system, allows Kingmakers to offer an unprecedented level of character and combat fidelity.
- Bring Guns to a Sword Fight – How many swordsmen do you think you could take out with an AK-47? This is your chance to find out. Use assault rifles, shotguns, grenade launchers, armored SUVs, bikes, attack helos, air strikes and more to make sure the history altering goes smoothly. Put your sharpshooting skills to the test and wreak absolute havoc on the battlefield.
- Conquer Alone or Team Up in Cooperative Play – Up to three friends can lead their own armies alongside yours, and join in on your conquest in online cooperative play. Work together to break down the enemy castle’s defenses or defend allied strongholds against hordes of opponents. Prepare for an epic medieval multiplayer experience like no other.
- Command Your Troops in Battle – Seamlessly switch between combat and issuing orders, at any time. While the system is easy-to-learn and simple to use, the strategic possibilities are endless. Directly issue orders to the warriors or leave it up to your petty officers, allocate legions of archers, swordsmen, spearmen, and cavalry, build fortifications, and plan your next move before diving back into the fray.
Word from the Developers (via Steam announcement):
“Welcome soldier,
We are thrilled to introduce you to Kingmakers, a solo or co-op action/strategy sandbox game with real-time simulated battles in a war-torn medieval era and a modern hero. Prepare yourselves to build, lead, fight, and change the course of history!
We are Redemption Road Games, a passionate 20-person dev team that has dedicated over four years to crafting this immersive experience. Our focus has been on pioneering technology, pushing the boundaries of Unreal Engine to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience. From rendering and animations to sophisticated AI and cutting-edge online multiplayer code, we’re confident that Kingmakers will stand out in the Unreal Engine landscape.
Drawing inspiration from beloved titles like the Mount and Blade series, Deeprock Galactic, Kingdom Come Deliverance, Chivalry, Stronghold series, World War Z, and so many more, we’ve curated a unique blend of inspirations to give you an epic experience.”
Screenshots from #Kingmakers, our newly announced third-person shooter, strategy, sandbox, medieval battle sim with time travel and modern weapons. pic.twitter.com/0M8JGg38sb
— tinyBuild (@tinyBuild) February 26, 2024