Best Open-World Games Featuring Warring Kingdoms, Ranked

by

Summary

  • Open-world games with warring kingdoms offer deep worldbuilding and player agency.
  • Titles like The Witcher 3, Skyrim, and Elden Ring showcase epic battles and storylines.
  • Players enjoy managing armies, forging alliances, and dynamic worlds in games like Bannerlord.

In other words, it’s often argued that conflict serves as the ignition point for compelling narratives, and when it comes to open-world video games, the strife between rival factions or realms significantly enriches the game’s setting.

This list showcases outstanding open-world games that include feuding kingdoms, evaluating factors like storyline progression, impact on the primary objective, and how the presence of these factions enhances gameplay interactivity.

8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Desperate Search Of A Father Through War-Ridden Continent

In “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” gamers return to the Northlands, as they’re caught in the midst of a major war between Nilfgaard. This intense battle has long been the central theme in past installments of the series (and the novels).

However, it’s in the third installment of the Witcher series, boasting a vast open-world setting for exploration, that reveals the authentic impacts of this war on ordinary citizens. Over time, this game has proven to be a timeless masterpiece.

7. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

A Classic Tale Of Opposing Forces

Skyrim serves as an illustrative case of the “kings dominating their realms” narrative, where two primary powers engage in a struggle for supremacy over the northern region of Tamriel. The Stormcloaks, a group resembling Norsemen, are native to the harsh and unforgiving territories of Skyrim, while the Imperials, initially from Cyrodil, eventually fall under the influence of the Thalmor – sinister Elven Mages hailing from the Summerset Isles.

In a world where dragons have re-emerged from the past, players must decide their allegiance among factions and assist them in reclaiming the northern territory. The ultimate goal is to prevent Alduin, the dragon god, from igniting a catastrophic conflagration that could destroy the world.

6. Elden Ring

Gods, Mortals, And Everything Between

In simpler terms, the fragmented worlds known as “Between” are a massive open-game world where various kingdoms fight fiercely for dominance over this troubled region. With countless locations and hidden mysteries to explore, players could easily get lost in the side quests, but at its core, it’s all about ‘conflicts among kingdoms.’

In the course of delving into this grand and occasionally ominous terrain, adventurers will gradually piece together a tale where divine beings, semi-divine entities, and mere humans are all vying for dominance over a realm on the brink of chaos.

5. Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

If Players Ever Dreamed With Being Warlords

Individuals who take pleasure in strategizing with armies, forming partnerships, and immersing themselves in intricate game worlds would find Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord a perfect fit for them. Overseeing their army’s assets, dictating the course of combat, and guiding them to triumph is just one aspect that players will appreciate about this game.

In this vast sandbox-like setting, the power structure is influenced by the actions of the players. As they engage in battles, form alliances, and witness the rise and fall of kingdoms, the political landscape will evolve. This game caters perfectly to those with a passion for military strategy and roleplay.

4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Get On Your Boats, It’s Time To Plunder

In the time known as the Viking Age, or the Age of Plunder, you’ll step into the shoes of Eivor, a son of a wronged Jomsviking, embarking on a quest for vengeance against the one who engineered the ruin of his beloved family.

Together with his blood relatives who survived the attack that took his parents’ lives, and other survivors, Eivor embarks on a voyage to claim the shores of England. As players delve into this “unfamiliar territory,” they find themselves entangled in a power struggle among kingdoms, where intrigue, treachery, and brutality are common occurrences.

3. Dragon Age: Inquisition

Love, Loss, War, And Betrayal

With Thedas plunged yet again into conflict, a council comprised of influential political and spiritual entities convenes, bracing for the impending battle against Tevinter, whose bloodthirsty magisters aim to establish a merciless rule across the globe.

Subsequently, the heavens tear apart, and a fissure in the Barrier unleashes demons upon the world, plunging everything into turmoil. It will fall on the player’s responsibility to assume the role of the Inquisitor, rally their troops, structure their forces, and command an alliance of allies to confront the Venatori, and whoever pulls their strings from behind the curtain.

2. Kingdom Come: Deliverance

A Good Old-Fashioned Chivalry Tale

In the realm of my personal gaming escapades, I’ve found myself captivated by the tale of Henry – a blacksmith’s son, who, through unyielding determination and bravery, ascends to knighthood in the ancient Bohemian kingdom. This game transports me into the heart of the chivalric era, immersing me in a world where honor, valor, and loyalty to the realm were the bedrock principles upheld by the noblest knights.

Though this game boasts vast landscapes with countless discoveries, it’s also important to note that its narrative revolves around a complex political intrigue. In this context, an invading kingdom seeks dominance over the local nobility. Consequently, players must strategically navigate relationships and forge alliances to resist, as they build their reputation and hone their combat abilities.

1. Greedfall

The Conquest Wars, Retold

In this role-playing game developed by Spiders, you find yourself immersed in a tale where two kingdoms vie for dominance over an enigmatic land. Drawing inspiration from the era of exploration during the 17th century, the game offers an intricate character customization feature that influences how players tackle challenges, traverse, and navigate through the numerous perils on the island.

As the players forge partnerships and win over the local populace, the central struggle between the conquerors and the indigenous people begins to unravel, exposing the secrets about the island’s mystical qualities. The destiny of each resident who disregards nature becomes clear.

Read More

2025-01-06 14:34