Live Like a King: The Best Castle Games Ever

One of the best things about being a gamer is being able to transport yourself to different realms, new dimensions, and unseen worlds. There’s real magic to being able to lose yourself in a game, no matter what your favorite genre or style is. 

If you’re a fan of strategy, simulation, and fantasy games, you may have a few castle games in your library. There are heaps of them out there on every platform, from mobile to PC, and it can be hard to know what to play next in this expansive genre.

To help you live like a King, here are the four best castle games to download today.

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

Age of Empires has an incredibly dedicated following in the strategy community- and with good reason. It’s an immensely influential franchise, and you can see the impact that it’s had in almost any of the games featuring castles available right now.

Without a doubt, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is one of the most rich and immersive castle games out there. It’s a detailed RTS game with elements of city building, combat, and resource management, and the campaigns it offers are second to none.

One of the things that makes this game stand out from the crowd is that there are 35 different civilizations to play as. Each civilization comes with a different playstyle, troop variety, and aesthetic, which adds a huge amount of replayability to the game.

King of the Castle

If RTS games aren’t your style and you’re hunting for something a little more casual and laid back, King of the Castle could be the perfect pick for you.

King of the Castle is a fun, casual party game with a strategic feel. The aim is to successfully lead your Kingdom throughout your rule, making key choices to keep your people happy and to placate your advisors. There will be people trying to ruin your run, and you’ll need to make smart choices in order to keep your castle safe and to keep the crown on your head.

Unlike most of the castle games in this list, King of the Castle is a party game. It’s been built with casual co-op in mind, and it’s a lot of fun to bring out at a games night with friends.

It’s also quite an accessible game, meaning that it’s ideal if you want to play something with a friend or partner who’s not that into traditional or competitive gaming.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Changing subgenres once again, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of the most influential castle games in history. The Castlevania franchise itself is legendary (spawning the Metroidvania genre alongside the Metroid franchise), and this entry is a fan favorite.

This is an action RPG set in Dracula’s Castle. Complete with all the side-scrolling action and over-the-top enemies you might expect from a 90s ARPG; this is an absolute must-play for anyone who wants to expand their castle game library.

The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful, too.

Something that makes this game an absolute gem is the free, open nature of the in-game world. Most ARPGs from this era tend to stick you on quite a linear path, but in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, you’re free to wander and unlock secrets at your own pace.

Stronghold Crusader HD

History nerds, this one’s for you. The Stronghold franchise is very well known in the RTS and war game community, and Stronghold Crusader HD is one of the most popular entries. It’s detailed, immersive, and full of content.

The gameplay loop is incredibly addictive, including all the best elements of base building, sandbox, and strategic war games. Each campaign is rich and vibrant and takes heavy inspiration from the actual Crusades to keep things intriguing for gamers with an interest in history.

One brilliant thing to note about this game is that the AI opponents pose a genuine challenge. Unlike other castle games, which might have standard bots that throw out the same troops and moves every time, this game will push even the most dedicated strategy fan to their limits.