In my previous articles on Byzantine video games, my desire was that it should be a city builder game. However, in this day and age, that is very niche genre. Such a game can be very popular in that niche but it will stay within that community and not have much influence.
One can see this insular success with Manor Lords, which is very popular but hardly anyone knows about it outside that particular fanbase which is passionate about it. A Byzantine video game which will open the pathways for other developers needs mainstream appeal while also advancing the idea of Byzantium as a separate civilization from Classical Rome.
The Byzantine Video game is an elusive creation. Black Myth Wukong showed that games that are historically based in Eastern Mythology can sell in the West. Kingdom Come 2: Deliverance shows that more serious and realistic Medieval games can sell also and be playable by a wide enough audience.
The main stumbling block is when should the game be set.
This is what I set out to answer in this post here.
Options for the setting of a Byzantine Game
The Early Period: 330 AD to 641 AD
The era from Constantine’s founding of the city to the passing of Heraclius is an important period in Byzantine History. The Empire is at its most cosmopolitan and strongest. However, it may seem to similar to the Caesar games or recent city builders such as Pax Augusta.
Emperor Justinian: The great Emperor Justinian was the apex of the classic Byzantine Empire. His life of rags to riches and his trials throughout his reign.
Emperor Heraclius: He is among one of the greatest Byzantine Emperors and I think that having a game set during his reign would provide much dramatic material which video games often demand in the medium.
The Middle Period: 641 AD to 1204 AD
This is by far the best period for a Byzantine video game. It has not been explored as much as the earlier era while not being as obscure as the Late Byzantine era.
The Middle Byzantine Period has some great emperors to set in a game in.
Basil II: He is the pinnacle of Medieval Byzantine power. Great starting point for a game.
Manuel I: In many ways, his intersection with the 2nd Crusade makes him great anchor for a video game plot in the 12th Century.
The Late Byzantine Period: 1204 AD to 1453 AD.
Emperor Constantine XI: He is among one of those tragic stories of a ruler who sought to regenerate the city against all odds. However, the weight of history was not going to allow his efforts to be successful here. The Ottomans were on the rise and Europe had other pressing issues. Of all the narratives here, this one has the strongest potential here for dramatic effect in a video game.
Basil II’s era is when a Byzantine video game should be set.
Emperor Basil II was the greatest Emperor of Medieval Byzantium. In my opinion, his reign is probably the one that has the most going on in that age. The battles, the intrigue and most importantly, the triumph of his armies in the war with Bulgaria.
If one is going to make a Byzantine video game, then they should set in the era of Basil II.
It is still up in the air whether we ever see a video game set in Basil II’s era, but I think his reign is the best chance to use the medium of video games to bring out the majesty of the Byzantine Empire. Hopefully, someone will get inspiration from many of these great historical video games we have and make such a game.
Byzantine-Empire.com 