While many fantasy, medieval, and even post-medieval games may feature kings or queens as minor characters or as parts of the plot, there are some games that give players all the power and let them play as royalty.
From management games where players oversee their realm as a king or queen, to action games that throw those of noble blood into the fray, there are a wide array of games that allow players to step into the royal shoes of kings and queens and experience divine power.
7 Reigns
Reigns is easily one of the most unique games to let players take on the role of a monarch as it is rather simple and is reminiscent of the popular dating app Tinder. In Reigns players swipe left or right on decisions that will affect their realm each year, with the aim of maintaining the balance between the church, the people, the army, and the treasury.
By letting any one of these factors fall to the wayside, players risk losing their throne or even their life. However, death does not mean a game over, as players can solidify their dynasty to maintain power for as long as possible. This is just one of many games where players can create and manage a dynasty.
6 Civilization 6
For an entire playthrough of the popular 4X strategy game Civilization 6, players take on the role of a particular world leader who has their own leader ability and leader agenda. While some of these leaders are emperors or modern politicians, there are plenty of kings and queens in Civ 6.
Examples of these include Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, and Catherine de Medici who was Queen of France, as well as Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, and legendary Norwegian King Harald Hardrada. While these aren't necessarily the best Civ 6 leaders for beginners, they are perfect for players who want to take on the role of a monarch.
5 Long Live The Queen
Long Live The Queen is a visual novel game all about trying to cling on to power and eventually thriving as a recently crowned queen. The difficulty in the game lies in trying to balance out the queen's happiness and stress levels, while still ruling over an effective realm.
While Long Live The Queen is far from ranking among the best visual novel games, it is nonetheless a great option for anyone wanting to experience the complexities of life as a queen.
4 King's Quest
King's Quest is a wholesome puzzle game that is made up of five different chapters, each of which tells the tale of a particular part of King Graham's journey. For players who want to experience the charming side of being a king, this is the game for them.
One of the best things about the puzzles is that there are often multiple solutions, meaning players can use their wit and creativity to beat the game in their unique way. By choosing different noble pillars, players can influence later parts of the story, while keeping the gameplay fresh.
3 Europa Universalis 4
Europa Universalis 4 is one of the best grand strategy games of all time and starts in the year 1444, a time when many European countries were still ruled by kings and queens. By choosing any one of these states, players themselves can step into the shoes of these monarchs with the aim of conquering the world.
As Europa Universalis 4 was released in 2013 it has subsequently been fully fleshed out with expansion packs, meaning there is plenty of flavor and detail to explore as a post-medieval king or queen.
2 Kingdom: Classic
Players looking for a great free-to-play game that lets them play as royalty should look no further than Kingdom: Classic. This hidden gem is a cozy procedurally generated management game set in a medieval fantasy kingdom with minimalist yet beautiful pixilated graphics.
As either a king or queen, players will ride through their kingdom managing resources and most importantly spending coin on building up their lands. Players will need to turn peasants into loyal subjects and be ready to defend their domain when the time comes.
1 Crusader Kings 3
When it comes to games that let players play as a king or queen, there is no better option than Crusader Kings 3, which tackles both the management and personal aspects of being a medieval ruler. In CK3 players can either start as a lesser noble and then make their way up to the ranks of royalty, or they can choose a beginner-friendly starting ruler who is already a king or queen.
Thankfully, as long as players have an heir of their dynasty, then upon death, the throne will pass down, allowing players to experience a wide variety of rulers throughout the ages, all with their personalities and vices. Managing the realm, the economy, and one's stress levels, are all part of the game as well as war and finding suitable marriage alliances.