It is hard to find complex games that are also one of the funnier titles out there. But that is a good way of describing Inkulinati, a strategy game built around defeating enemies on a medieval manuscript.
The game has a lot of creative methods to taking each opponent down, from using creatures that use normal weapons to others that use their entire bodies. This hilarious indie with a great art style is sure to win many over and leave some wanting more. Luckily, there are a handful of great games that have similarities to Inkulinati from their settings to their gameplay.
8 Shadows Over Loathing
Asymmetric had a massive hit on its hands when it released West of Loathing, a humorous western-themed turn-based RPG that garnered a ton of attention on Steam. Five years later, they made a spiritual successor that fit more with the medieval vibes Inkulinati also gives off: Shadows Over Loathing.
The game revolves around the search for your Uncle Murray who has disappeared from his shop in Ocean City. The open-world game allows players to explore various locations, solve puzzles, and take on a variety of quests from the characters in each area. Plus, the game is filled to the brim with jokes and comedy bits.
7 Pentiment
While not a strategy game, Pentiment had a similar debut to Inkulinati on Xbox Game Pass as it is a game that had a unique art style that plays on medieval manuscripts, just like Inkulinati. However, the game is mainly a narrative adventure game about solving mysteries unfolding in the Bavarian town of Tassing.
You start the game as Andreas Maler who ends up in the middle of a murder investigation after a friend is wrongfully accused of having killed a high-ranking official. The choices that you make, from your character's background to who you choose as the true murderer, are completely up to you and affect the outcome of the story.
6 Crusader Kings 3
If you want a truly deep medieval strategy experience, it is hard to look past Crusader Kings 3. The series, developed by Paradox Interactive, focuses on mixing grand strategy gameplay with the idea of role-playing as a ruler over a kingdom.
You can choose to start either shortly before or after the year 1000 and select a noble house that you want to grow into a dominating empire. The goal of the game is completely up to you - whether you want to expand your realm through war or diplomacy, or simply lead a humble life, creating relationships and familial ties.
5 Chivalry 2
In Inkulinati, those who play the game can match up with others and use the teams that they built to battle against each other. Those who like the idea of taking part in medieval battles should look no further than Chivalry 2, a multiplayer first-person combat experience.
The battles in Chivalry 2 are ridiculously large, with 64 individuals competing against each other in 32-on-32 action. You can battle on foot or on a horse and choose from dozens of weapons unique to the medieval period. It is the ultimate simulator when it comes to feeling like you are a soldier in the Middle Ages.
4 Age of Empires 4
Continuing with skimming through the wide umbrella of strategy games, one of the best real-time strategy games is Age of Empires 4. The classic-style RTS game allows for both single-player and multiplayer, the latter of which includes both co-op and versus modes.
The major objective in Age of Empires 4 is the growth of your military in the quest to dominate. However, the game also includes a focus on building the empire itself with options to create cities and mining resources that can be used in trading, which ultimately grows the economy needed to sustain your empire.
3 Total War: Warhammer 3
While the comedic styling of Inkulinati is refreshing in a world where most medieval fantasy games can be intense, that darker tone can be appealing to a lot of gaming fans out there. Total War: Warhammer 3 is exactly that with real-time strategy gameplay at its center.
The world is being destroyed thanks to creatures that have been unleashed from the Realm of Chaos. The general goal is to build your army to be strong enough to take on any opponent. But the choice is yours as to how you want to approach the story: do you want to join the fight against evil or become a true villain?
2 Divinity Original Sin 2
After covering so many different strategy games, it is worth turning the page to tactical RPG games. One of the best games that fall under this genre is Divinity Original Sin 2 from Larian Studios. The game is all about creating a character with powers inside that could one day make them a god.
After choosing from a variety of races, players are tasked with either recruiting companions or teaming up with up to four real-life friends. The game leans heavily into its turn-based combat, but the stand-out aspect of Divinity Original Sin 2 is how every choice will impact how the world reacts to you, and your choices even include the ability to kill every soul you meet.
1 Sid Meier's Civilization 6
One of the all-time classics in the strategy genre, Sid Meier's Civilization 6 is one of the better iterations in the series that has been around for decades. The game is all about building your society to be the best in the land, with a variety of ways to reach victory.
One of the most satisfying aspects of Civilization 6 is how the empire grows visually on a map as you work to build districts that will provide the resources necessary to keep the empire growing. The game also focuses heavily on researching new technologies that can help place your empire as a necessary ally to have.