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Those who have power desire to continue wielding it whilst those who don’t have it yet, seek to establish their own. Although most people may not be obsessed to establish their dynasties and family legacies in real life, several video games allow players to roleplay and satisfy their desire to create a powerful clan or house. As Tywin Lannister once said, “It’s the family name that lives on”…
8 Star Dynasties
Fans of Dune are in luck. In Star Dynasties, players take control of the head of a feudal house within a politically divided galaxy after the destruction of Earth. Players must work with and compete with rival aristocratic families to ensure that their bloodline and faction become the dominant power in the galaxy.
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Each campaign features a procedurally generated galaxy that differs each time and players must adapt to the traits of their generational offspring as time goes by. As the universe is trapped in a scientific dark age, technology remains stagnant and foreign. Factions will fight over ‘pre-collapse’ artifacts and knowledge to maintain superiority. If players enjoy a game that intermarries Stellaris and Crusader Kings with plenty of political intrigue and murder, then this might be the right game.
7 Niche - A Genetics Survival Game
Taking the reigns in a different direction, Niche has players live out their inner Darwin by shaping their animal species in a game based on real genetic principles. Players must work hard to ensure their species’ survival against would-be predators, climate change, and the plague!
Taking inspiration from games such as Spore and Don’t Starve, players will have the opportunity to breed their creature using over 100 different genes in this turn-based strategy game. Fun for those who want to attempt to create the ‘perfect’ animal tribe using real science and attempt to have said tribe survive.
6 The Guild 2
In the quintessential medieval life sim, players get to go back in time to the 1400s and create their legacy. The Guild 2 features an extensive character creation and allows players to select a wide array of professions which can include being a priest, stonemason, or even a thief.
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Players will start families and watch their lineage and power grow in size and influence. As everything is in real-time, players can wander the streets and notice various ’everyday’ happenings in this medieval sim. Perhaps a rival is attempting to set fire to a nearby church or a player’s son is about to get executed for wooing the wrong lady (yikes). Though quite dated and having a sequel (Guild 3), Guild 2 remains the favorite amongst fans and should be experienced at least once.
5 Saelig
A game that plays like Banished but incorporates RPG, strategy, and business management elements, Saelig centers around a player’s character and family as they attempt to build a profitable and powerful family.
Similar to the Guild 2, players can opt to start in a quiet hamlet or large town. Each offers its distinct advantages and disadvantages and will determine what professions players are allowed to pursue. Though noted to be a little buggy and repetitive, Saelig still offers a charming simulation of establishing a powerful lineage in a medieval world.
4 WolfQuest
Ever wanted to play as a wolf and raise wolf pups? Though not everyone’s cup of tea, WolfQuest offers players the experience of being a young gray wolf living in the northern range of Yellowstone National Park. As gray wolves, players must hunt, explore, mate, and raise their own families.
Once a litter is born, players must hunt, protect, play with, and guide their pups to adulthood whilst navigating a realistic ecological simulation of the park. The wilderness hosts many surprises, not all of them good as players must defend against rival wolf packs, predators, and other dangers.
3 Fire Emblem: Awakening
Known as the game that reawakened interest in the Fire Emblem series, Fire Emblem: Awakening is perhaps one of the more accessible games in the franchise. This is due to players being able to turn off permadeath and it having captivating characters and well-written relationship dynamics.
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When characters are paired up and have their relationship reach the S rank, they will marry if they can do so. However, it should be noted that this can only be achieved if the partners are of the opposite gender and that only certain mothers can have offspring. Although the children are predetermined and aren’t randomized, the different combinations of classes depending on the parent coupling is an interesting and fun element.
2 Rogue Legacy 2
Fight, die, and then fight again. In Rogue Legacy 2, players will explore 6 unique biomes in a classic platform rogue-lite fashion however every time a character dies, players will then continue as their children. Each generation allows players to select 1 of 3 kids, each being 1 of the 15 different classes with various additional talents and traits that will spice up gameplay or hinder it a little.
The choices of children are varied which means that players will be able to find the fighting style that resonates with them the most. Moreover, fans of the game agree that the story elements in the game are fantastic as each memory or journal entry shines more light on the kingdom’s history and characters. Though not a typical family legacy game, Rogue Legacy 2 offers players a chance to follow the story of the most determined family of dungeon crawlers.
1 Crusader Kings 3
Following its predecessor, Crusader Kings 3 attempts to give players an unrivaled medieval role-playing experience. Stepping in as a count, duke, king, or emperor, players must guide their family and rewrite the course of history by establishing their house as the most powerful in all the land.
With multiple cultures, religions, and traits for each character to follow and have, the game offers multiple pathways to accumulating more power. Players can use diplomacy and intermarry into powerful clans, wage warfare, establish new religions, or backstab and murder their way to get the throne, and that’s just scratching the surface. The game also introduces mods that allow players to journey into different eras such as Feudal Japan, the Bronze Age, and even enter Middle Earth for alternative experiences.
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