The 5 Kingdoms That Must Be in Total War: Medieval 3

Lupoi | Posted on December 5, 2025 |

Total War: Medieval 3 is finally a reality, officially announced and in its “early pre-production” phase . In a groundbreaking move, Creative Assembly has revealed the project years in advance to actively gather feedback from its passionate community, declaring it the planned “rebirth of historical Total War” . With the game’s scope set to span the tumultuous 12th to 15th centuries, the question on every fan’s mind is: which kingdoms will we get to lead?

Beyond the obvious choices like France and England, the depth of the medieval world offers incredible potential for unique faction design. Here are the five kingdoms and powers that are absolutely essential to making Medieval 3 the definitive strategic sandbox of the era.

The Essential Factions for a Living World

An authentic medieval map wasn’t just dominated by unified nation-states. It was a patchwork of empires, emergent kingdoms, merchant republics, and nomadic khanates, all interacting in a complex dance of war, faith, and politics . The following table outlines the five factions that could best bring this dynamism to life.

Faction	Historical Core & Period	Proposed Unique Gameplay Angle
The Byzantine Empire	Anatolia & Balkans (12th-15th C.)	The crumbling superpower; defend a shrinking empire with superior technology and diplomacy.
The Mongol Empire	Steppes of Asia (13th-14th C.)	The ultimate late-game crisis; a tsunami of fast, lethal cavalry that reshapes the political map.
The Republic of Venice	Northern Italy & the Mediterranean	Naval and economic dominance; win through trade, intrigue, and controlling sea lanes.
The Sultanate of the Turks (Seljuk/Ottoman)	Anatolia & Near East	A faction in metamorphosis; evolve from a Seljuk sultanate into the gunpowder-powered Ottoman Empire.
The Kingdom of Poland	Eastern Europe	The eastern bulwark; a melting pot of Western chivalry and Eastern steppe tactics, facing threats from all sides.

1. The Byzantine Empire: A Realm on the Razor’s Edge

The Last Roman Legacy

No medieval setting is complete without the Byzantine Empire, the千年-old continuation of Rome. By the 12th century, it was a shadow of its former self but remained a bastion of immense wealth, advanced culture, and profound strategic importance, controlling the crucial crossroads between Europe and Asia .

Also Read: Total War: Medieval 3 vs. Medieval 2 – The Wishlist for a Modern King

Proposed Gameplay Angle: The Prestige of Survival. This faction would start with high-level technologies, powerful unique units like Cataphracts and Varangian Guards, and rich provinces. However, it would be surrounded by hostile powers (Turks, Venetians, Balkan states) and beset by internal decay mechanics. The core challenge wouldn’t be rapid expansion, but masterful diplomacy, economic management, and fighting a brilliant defensive campaign to reverse centuries of decline and perhaps restore the Roman borders.

2. The Mongol Empire: The Storm from the East

History’s Ultimate Mid-Game Crisis

The Mongol invasions of the 13th century were the defining cataclysm of the High Middle Ages, toppling empires and redrawing the map from China to Hungary. Their inclusion is non-negotiable for historical authenticity and epic gameplay .

Proposed Gameplay Angle: The World-Shattering Horde. The Mongols should function similarly to Attila in Total War: Attila or the Chaos invasion in Warhammer—a terrifying, scripted (or semi-scripted) event. As a playable faction, their mechanics would focus on pure, unstoppable momentum. Armies would be comprised of incredibly fast, hard-hitting horse archers and lancers. Campaign mechanics could involve “Tribal Unity” that decays over time, pushing for constant conquest, and the ability to subjugate defeated foes as vassal hordes rather than occupying settled land.

3. The Republic of Venice: Gold is Power

The Serene Dominance of Commerce

The Italian maritime republics, with Venice at their head, represented a completely different model of power: the merchant state. Their wealth, built on controlling trade between Europe and the Levant, rivaled that of kingdoms and was wielded with ruthless efficiency .

Proposed Gameplay Angle: Victory Through Ducats. Venice’s strength would lie not in vast territorial holdings but in a network of strategic coastal trading ports (like Crete, Cyprus, and Constantinople itself). Unique mechanics would include advanced diplomacy options (bribery, trade leagues), the ability to hire elite mercenary armies from around the world, and a focus on naval supremacy and constructing trade buildings. Their victory condition could be economic or based on controlling key trade nodes, offering a path to power distinct from pure military conquest.

4. The Sultanate of the Turks: From Seljuks to Ottomans

A Dynasty in Transformation

The medieval period in Anatolia and the Near East witnessed the dramatic rise of Turkish power, from the Seljuk Sultanate that crushed the Byzantines at Manzikert to the Ottoman beylik that would grow into an empire . This fluidity offers a perfect canvas for dynamic faction design.

Proposed Gameplay Angle: Metamorphosis. This faction could have a unique “Era” mechanic. Starting as the Seljuk Sultanate (or a successor state like the Sultanate of Rum), the player would utilize powerful cavalry and slave soldier infantry (Ghulams). Upon reaching certain milestones, a decision could trigger a transformation into the early Ottoman Empire, unlocking access to Janissaries (perhaps as a special professional corps), rudimentary gunpowder units, and new government mechanics focused on centralized power and the “ghazi” ideal of frontier holy war.

Also Read: Win Every Match: Step-by-Step Hacking Tips for PUBG, Free Fire, Minecraft & 12 Top Games

5. The Kingdom of Poland: The Shield of Christendom

The Eastern Frontier’s Forge

Medieval Poland was a realm perpetually at the intersection of worlds: Latin Christendom, the Orthodox East, and the pagan Baltic and steppe nomadic peoples to its north and east. This position made it a constant battlefield and a cultural melting pot .

Proposed Gameplay Angle: The Hybrid Heart of Europe. Poland’s roster should reflect its unique position. It could field a mix of classic Western-style heavy knights (e.g., Polish Nobles) alongside lighter cavalry inspired by Hungarian and steppe influences, and solid infantry. Campaign mechanics could focus on “Integration,” allowing for the peaceful or forceful assimilation of neighboring cultures (Prussian, Lithuanian, Ruthenian) to unlock unique regional units or bonuses, and “The Union,” modeling the eventual dynastic union with Lithuania that created a European powerhouse.

Building a Legacy Worthy of the Name

The announcement of Medieval 3 is a dream realized for historical strategy fans, and the developer’s unprecedented call for early community input is a golden opportunity . By moving beyond a checklist of Western European powers and embracing the full, chaotic diversity of the medieval world—from the merchant princes of Venice to the horse lords of the steppe—Creative Assembly can build a sandbox of unparalleled depth and replayability.

The promise of the new Warcore engine to bring the era to life “in ways we’ve previously never been able to achieve” should extend beyond graphics to the very fabric of its political simulation . Here’s hoping the final map is one where every campaign tells a different story, shaped by these essential and iconic kingdoms.