Chivalry: Medieval Warfare

If you can stomach it, there is no reason for you to not play Chivalry: Medieval Warfare.

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"Chivalry: Medieval Warfare" is a multiplayer-focused first-person slasher game set in a gritty, realistic medieval world. Players engage in skill-based combat using swords, shields, and other medieval weapons, with the option to besiege castles, raid villages, or battle in the arena with up to 32 players. The deep melee combat system offers a wide range of responsive combat options.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 22,135 reviews

gameplay757 positive mentions

stability483 negative mentions

gameplay
2,155 mentions
35 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Chivalry: Medieval Warfare" is characterized by its fast-paced, skill-based melee combat that combines strategic elements with chaotic action, offering a unique experience in the medieval genre. While the mechanics are engaging and can be rewarding once mastered, many players express frustration over exploitative tactics, unbalanced gameplay, and a toxic community that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite its flaws, the game remains popular for its immersive atmosphere and the satisfaction derived from its brutal combat mechanics.
- “Engage in large-scale battles and siege warfare, featuring a blend of strategic and action-packed gameplay.”
- “With its unique gameplay mechanics and historical setting, it offers a refreshing experience for players seeking intense battles.”
- “The game's combat system is deep and satisfying, and its fast-paced and action-packed gameplay makes it a standout game in the medieval action genre.”
- “High-level players make this game a waking nightmare by exploiting every little cheesy mechanic the game has to offer.”
- “The gameplay explored new ideas, but it proved to be overcomplicated and clunky.”
- “The gameplay is ruined by people setting their DPI extremely high attacking and not being able to block the hit since you won't be able to keep track of where the weapon is.”
graphics
949 mentions
55 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Chivalry: Medieval Warfare" are generally praised for their immersive quality, with many reviewers noting that they effectively capture the brutal atmosphere of medieval combat. While some players appreciate the game's visual design and detail, others point out that the graphics can feel dated and suffer from optimization issues, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the visuals are considered good for a game of its age, though they may not meet the standards of more recent titles in the genre.
- “The game's graphics and sound design contribute to the immersive atmosphere, allowing players to feel fully engaged in the medieval warfare setting.”
- “Chivalry has one of the best graphics and sound design I have encountered, which easily hold up with other current medieval warfare titles.”
- “The graphics are great, very realistic environments and weapon/character appearance.”
- “High price for bad graphics; it feels like it was made in 2005.”
- “The graphics are terrible.”
- “The graphics are outdated; if you want a real review, it's a middle-aged Call of Duty, servers are always full, clunky mechanics, tiny maps, short gameplay time, bugs galore, not worth the money.”
humor
723 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Chivalry: Medieval Warfare" is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the game's chaotic and absurd moments that lead to laughter, such as accidental team kills and over-the-top voice lines. The combination of gory combat and comedic elements creates a unique experience that is best enjoyed with friends, as the game's ridiculous scenarios and humorous interactions often result in memorable and hilarious gameplay. Overall, the game successfully blends brutal medieval combat with a lighthearted, comedic tone, making it a fun and entertaining choice for players looking for a good laugh.
- “The multiplayer is where the game truly shines – nothing bonds you more with friends (or enemies) than storming a castle, getting hit by a stray catapult, and laughing about it as you respawn for round two.”
- “If you're seeking a game that doesn't take itself too seriously and guarantees plenty of laughter and enjoyment, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is an entertaining gem that will keep you grinning and chuckling as you engage in hilarious sword-swinging shenanigans.”
- “You'll find yourself laughing out loud as the battlefield turns into a comedy of errors.”
- “Admins letting their friends do whatever they want in a game this big is simply atrocious and an unfunny joke.”
- “Not funny at all.”
- “Every smallest mistake is punished, which makes it very unfunny.”
stability
499 mentions
3 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and exploitative mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Many reviews highlight issues such as poor hit detection, freezing, and unresponsive controls, leading to a frustrating gameplay environment, especially for newcomers. While some players find humor in the glitches and enjoy the chaotic nature of the game, the consensus is that the lack of developer support and unresolved issues significantly undermine its potential.
- “The game runs great and looks stunning.”
- “The combat is pretty polished and the game in my experience is mostly bug free.”
- “This is a very good game and can be super addicting, not too buggy for me, updated quite regularly, fun to play with friends.”
- “Chivalry also suffers from plenty of game-breaking bugs, glitches, and unbalance.”
- “It's a terrible game full of glitches and people who cheat to get the upper hand.”
- “This game is a mixture of frustration and misery and is just a big buggy mess.”
story
238 mentions
18 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is largely criticized for its minimal presence, with most players noting that it lacks a substantial narrative or single-player campaign. While there are hints of lore in the tutorial and some implied storytelling through multiplayer maps and objectives, the focus remains on multiplayer gameplay, leaving many players wishing for a more developed storyline or campaign mode. Overall, the game is seen as a fun multiplayer experience, but its lack of a compelling story detracts from its potential depth.
- “The maps each had their own story, and thus so did the factions.”
- “The story is simple: the kingdom of Agatha went off to war against a rival kingdom.”
- “Chivalry doesn't boast beautiful graphics, or even a compelling backstory to what you're actually fighting for (it's practically non-existent), but that doesn't matter as the combat makes up for everything that Chivalry lacks in.”
- “The story in Chivalry is limited, with the game focusing more on its multiplayer gameplay than its single-player campaign.”
- “There is no single-player option beyond multiplayer maps with bots, and the closest you get to a story mode is the tutorial.”
- “Ultimately, if you love medieval, multiplayer, and violence, and you don't mind the lack of story, warm fuzzy people, and outstanding visuals, then definitely get this game.”
optimization
169 mentions
21 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
34 % negative mentions
The optimization of "Chivalry: Medieval Warfare" has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly during large-scale battles and on lower-end systems. While some users experience decent performance on high-end rigs, others face stuttering, lag, and crashes, especially on Mac systems, indicating a lack of effective optimization across various hardware configurations. Overall, the game is often described as poorly optimized, with numerous bugs and inconsistent performance affecting the gameplay experience.
- “Chivalry: medieval warfare is generally well-optimized, running smoothly on a wide range of hardware configurations.”
- “Long story short, this is an excellently made game with good graphical optimization, vocals and thought-out gameplay mechanics, with a community that, for the most part, is amusing and cooperative.”
- “Great balance between beautiful and great performance on most systems.”
- “The game is poorly optimized and there are several easily fixable ways to abuse swordplay that just never got fixed after all these years.”
- “It suffers from severe performance and network issues. I have a decent PC (Ryzen 5 1600, GTX 950, 16GB RAM) and the game stutters if I'm in a server with more than 10-15 people, even when I lower the graphics and resolution.”
- “This game is broken; the melee combat is unresponsive and horrible, it's badly optimized and everyone dies stupidly fast.”
atmosphere
102 mentions
63 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Chivalry: Medieval Warfare" is widely praised for its gritty realism and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the chaos and brutality of medieval combat. Players highlight the impactful sound design, including the clashing of weapons and the anguished cries of warriors, which enhance the overall experience and draw them into the game's world. The combination of detailed graphics, engaging gameplay, and a strong sense of time and place contributes to an unforgettable and unique medieval atmosphere that resonates with fans of the genre.
- “The game's graphics and sound design contribute to the immersive atmosphere, allowing players to feel fully engaged in the medieval warfare setting.”
- “The sound of steel clashing against more steel, the whistle of an arrow flying past your head, a cry of rage, a dying scream--Chivalry was designed with a good amount of immersion in mind, to bring you the raw atmosphere of real medieval combat.”
- “From the terrifying screams of de-limbed soldiers to the fierce battle cries of charging knights, the sounds in Chivalry really help to set up an atmosphere which makes you feel like a soldier fighting alongside others in the medieval era.”
- “The atmosphere has no rivals and bless the voice actors.”
- “For me, the worst thing is that all these animation glitching super skilled 'pro' players ruin the atmosphere of the game.”
- “You're gonna get killed over and over again with no remorse and a toxic atmosphere.”
music
98 mentions
45 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its epic orchestral soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience during battles, with many players finding it fitting and atmospheric. However, some reviews note that the music can become repetitive and lacks variety, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. While many enjoy the soundtrack, others prefer to play their own music to enhance their gaming experience.
- “The game's soundtrack features epic orchestral pieces that perfectly complement the intensity of the battles.”
- “The music and sound effects were top notch, and really contributed to the immersive power.”
- “The epic soundtrack playing in the background really gives you a pumped up feeling as well.”
- “The music is rather dull.”
- “It's not invigorating enough for the battlefield and is almost like elevator music, or an idle theme, not even atmospheric for an open world RPG.”
- “The music on the other hand is pretty repetitive; I could only distinguish 3 different tracks that just loop over and over again.”
monetization
91 mentions
3 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players expressing frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions, particularly for cosmetic items, in a title that requires an initial purchase. While some reviews note that these microtransactions do not impact gameplay balance, the overall sentiment leans towards viewing them as a cash grab, especially given the game's lack of updates and support. Players feel that the focus on monetization detracts from the overall experience, with many calling for a return to a more straightforward, paid model without additional in-game purchases.
- “The game is not pay-to-win, with most of the microtransactions being cosmetic items.”
- “People cry about 'microtransactions' in the game, but you are never forced to buy anything nor will spending money give you an advantage; buyable items are purely cosmetic, I haven't spent a dime on cosmetics and I still enjoy this game a lot.”
- “Overall, I would recommend if you like medieval stuff and you like Team Fortress and you don't mind an original purchase and microtransactions in the same game.”
- “The game is a cash grab...”
- “It's simply disgraceful and underhanded to slip microtransactions into a game that customers have already coughed up $27.99 for.”
- “There are balancing issues, a lot of people have performance issues, and instead of releasing new weapons/armors/maps/etc, they released a crappy DLC that has no depth or team balancing and a whole slew of microtransactions for new helmets.”
replayability
54 mentions
52 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
Overall, players report high replayability for the game, with many praising its engaging mechanics, variety of game modes, and customization options. While some users note a potential decline in replay value after achieving certain milestones, the majority highlight the game's ability to provide hours of fun and intense gameplay, making it a timeless classic in the genre.
- “Timeless classic with replayability for many years to come.”
- “The combat mechanics feel great, with superb balance and a variety of play styles that give the game high replayability.”
- “Simply an awesome game, lots of replayability, 4 different classes, 18 unlockable weapons per class, special moves for each class, ranged combat for archers and plenty of melee for the rest!”
- “Even I will most likely quit after I've finished my achievement quota for this game as I really do not see any replay value in this game.”
- “I only recommend this game with an almost reluctant 7.5/10, only due to the slightly disappointing replay value.”
- “This would have been a great feature since it would have given the game more replay value like others to keep playing instead of just playing just to play some game.”
grinding
46 mentions
4 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
78 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, while others appreciate the challenge it presents. Many users note that grinding is often necessary for unlocking weapons and progressing, but it can detract from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay. Overall, the experience varies significantly depending on individual preferences for grinding versus immediate fun.
- “Grinding isn't necessary to progress.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “If you're into hours of grinding and maybe 5-10% of that time of actually having fun, then maybe this game is for you.”
- “I found this game tedious and dull and not worth playing for very long.”
emotional
27 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, describing it as immersive and capable of evoking a wide range of feelings, from laughter to tears. Many express that it effectively captures the intensity of medieval combat, making them feel like part of the experience, while others note that it can also provoke frustration and anger, leading to a complex emotional rollercoaster. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to resonate deeply with players, despite some criticisms regarding its mechanics and competition.
- “That's the first game that made me feel like this in a long time.”
- “I laughed, I cried, I felt every emotion a game should make you feel - 7.8/10 too much water.”
- “10/10 emotional rollercoaster.”
character development
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews; while the overall design of characters, weapons, and maps is praised, many players feel that the depth of character development and customization options is lacking. Some users enjoyed the gameplay experience despite these shortcomings, indicating that the fun factor may outweigh the limitations in character progression.
- “The essence of the game itself is really good, as well as the maps and the overall weapon and character design.”
- “Character designing (weapons, banners...): 9/10”
- “Personalized character development.”
- “Not sure there's much depth from a character development point of view, but the two weeks of fun and mayhem I've had so far (and I've only played one of the four classes up to now) makes just under a fiver well worth it.”
- “Character development and customization is pretty rubbish and the tutorial is very buggy.”