Before Arthur
A medieval sim where you don’t just rule- you live the crown. A blend of city-building, 4X strategy, and RPG open world. Build your kingdom. Outsmart rival factions. And remember: your monarch’s life is the real adventure.
A new crown rests upon your head, in a time Before Arthur.
Rule, build, and conquer in a vast open-world sandbox where every decision shapes your kingdom —and your monarch’s fate. Create your character, then step into dark age Britain, a land where history and legend intertwine.
Can your rule be a peaceful one, led by wisdom, fostering trade and justice, or one marked by conquest, cunning and blood? Will you choose to be a Briton, fighting an endless horde of invaders, or will you conquer as a Saxon?
A blend of RPG simulation, city building and grand strategy; you'll grow your kingdom while living out the life of your monarch in this age of legends.
Each NPC from the highest noble to the lowest peasant has their own personalities, skills and ambitions that drive their daily lives and build complex relationships amongst themselves. Watch as other factions build their kingdoms, the seasons change, and an open world come to life not only through the actions of your character, but those of friendly and rival NPC's that share your world.
Start with only a small kingdom and grow into a massive empire. Begin first by claiming a few surrounding lands to decide their purpose. Will you establish bustling towns and villages that produce food and goods? ...Or fortify your borders with strongholds to train your armies? Perhaps you should dedicate some lands to the church, building temples and monasteries to promote the spiritual well-being of your people?
Hold Court, craft custom laws, manage diplomacy, expand your lands, make trade routes, renovate your buildings, promote lords, handle finance, research technology, farm crops and build your infrastructure. Soon you will be a threat other factions may try to remove.
No kingdom can thrive without strong leadership. Whether managing your own lands or entrusting skilled nobles to govern in your stead, the weight of leadership rests on your shoulders. Every decision you make will shape the destiny of your realm.
When diplomacy fails, raise your banners and arm your men. Decide between using cheap levies or expensive skilled warriors, yet always remember that a peasant lost on the battlefield is one less tending your fields. Balance the needs of your army with food production, or face starvation come winter.
Explore any part of dark age England, from the cliffs of Dover to the Scottish lowlands and all of Wales. Enter any building or cave to meet new characters or fight new dangers. Leave the safety of your own kingdom and explore rival factions each vying for power as you strive to unite the land.
Need to talk to a lord? Travel to their location or send out a messenger. Need food? Go to a town market, or hunt for your supper. Before Arthur is a strategy game set inside an RPG open world that your character needs to physically interact with to grow and survive.
Improve or sour relationships by your deeds and actions. Court lords and ladies to gain influence, secure advantageous marriages, and establish a dynasty that will endure the test of time. Nurture friendships or manipulate loyalties, but beware—your decisions may echo across generations, for better or worse.
Keep your ruler in peak condition by managing their hunger, stamina, and happiness as they navigate the open world. Feast in grand halls, rest at inns, or find solace in quiet moments—but beware the consequences of neglect. Poor health or unhappiness can lead to negative personality traits, altering your ruler's behavior and decisions available. That is... if you don't die from it!
A massive open world to explore, build and battle in- Including all of England and Wales.
Changing seasons and weather that affect crop growth, character moods and battle results.
Deep character development from managing your skills and traits, to your personal inventory and appearance.
Fight massive battles, testing your tactical prowess and fighting skills.
Choose to fight wars of attrition, burning villages and farms, or a quick, but costly drive into your rivals heartlands, cutting through their armies and sieging their towns and fortresses.
Unlock different personality traits depending on your deeds and actions; each trait granting a new way to manage your kingdom.
Branching dialog that changes with your personality, honor and relationships. Converse with peasants to uncover local secrets, negotiate with lords to secure alliances, and challenge rival rulers in tense diplomacy.
Multiple paths to victory, through conquest, diplomacy or treachery.
Dynamic quests and story elements based on world game events and past choices.
Live the life of a King, or Queen as you rule and manage your realm.
Choose between dozens of kingdoms each with their own culture, history and religion.
Craft custom laws and punishments for any criminals
Promote nobles to help manage your lands, but be warned - the wrong person in charge can foster rebellions, govern poorly, or even grow strong enough to challenge your rule through open revolt or treacherous plotting.
A complex economy of goods and prices affected by supply and demand, and world events.
