About MAMG

The Middle Ages in Modern Games is a series of events and publications addressing all aspects of the Middle Ages and medievalism within modern games of all sorts.

Games about the Middle Ages are increasingly important in the classroom, within historical research, and in the wider world. Medieval and fantasy tabletop, roleplaying and computer games command a considerable and growing audience – and these games can fundamentally influence how their players think about the Middle Ages and wider world.

Games can be powerful teaching and outreach tools, but can also lead to fundamental misunderstandings about the period and the reinforcement of negative tropes and stereotypes with pronounced consequences in the real world. The Middle Ages in games are often portrayed as a backwards, violent, racially homogeneous and openly misogynist and this can have a notable impact on their players’ perceptions of the period and attitudes more generally.

We need to understand these tendencies in medievalist games. Not just the stories they tell and whether these accounts are accurate, but how these stories are constructed, why these games present this version of history, and what impact this has on their players and the modern world.

Medievalists need to listen to game developers and players. We need to explore the various practices of game design and criticism, and look at what these games take from TV, film and literature. There is vast and growing potential for playing with this period in constructive and entertaining ways, and a lot to explore, and this is what The Middle Ages in Modern Games (MAMG) aims to do.

The Middle Ages in Modern Games provides a platform for this discussion. We organise a series of public and academic events and publications and support engagement between medievalists, games scholars and developers at any point in their career. We welcome contributions addressing any region globally, and within a broad definition of ‘medieval’ and ‘medievalism’.

These events and publications are sponsored by the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Research, Slitherine Games and Intellect Books.