Of Kings and Men

Of Kings and Men is a medieval open-world sandbox MMO built around player conflict and settlement building, where factions fight over territory, gather materials, and try to turn small footholds into lasting feudal holdings.

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Publisher: Green Man Gaming
Playerbase: Low
Type: Sandbox MMO
Release Date: August 2016
Shut Down Date: December 20, 2017
Pros: +A wide spread of PvP activities, from duels to large battles. +Player-driven wars and politics help define the world’s “history.” +Strong support for modding and customization.
Cons: -Hard to find comprehensive official details.

Overview

Of Kings and Men Overview

Of Kings and Men is a medieval sandbox MMO from Warlock Wireless (also known as Donkeycrew) with publishing handled by Green Man Gaming. Originally revealed under the name Melee: Battlegrounds, the project was positioned by its creators as a “spiritual” follow-up to Mount and Blade Warband, aiming for that same grounded melee feel, but placed inside a persistent online world.

The core loop revolves around players shaping the map through organized groups and constant territorial pressure. You venture out to scavenge and gather resources, then use those supplies to establish structures that can grow from simple outposts into villages and eventually city-like hubs. Because the world is persistent, the idea is that control changes hands through conflict, logistics, and cooperation rather than through scripted story beats.

Combat focuses heavily on PvP, with options ranging from small-scale duels to extremely large engagements that can reach around 200 players. For players who prefer structured matchmaking-style sessions, additional modes such as Team Deathmatch, Conquest, and Instant Battle are also included. Progression is supported through skill trees, a sizeable equipment selection, and the use of siege weapons for cracking defenses during larger clashes.

Faction play sits at the center of the experience. Joining a side gives you allies to coordinate with, shared goals to push toward, and a practical reason to defend supply lines and held territory. The game’s pitch leans into emergent history, with shifting alliances, grudges, and political decisions creating the “story” that players remember.

Modding is another pillar. Of Kings and Men runs on a custom engine created specifically for the game, and the developers promoted extensive mod support so communities could tweak systems, add content, or reshape parts of the experience to fit their preferred style.

Of Kings and Men Key Features:

  • Multiple PvP Formats – choose between intimate duels, team-based modes, and huge battles that can scale up to 200 players.
  • A Persistent, Player-Influenced World – claim land, establish footholds, and develop them over time into larger feudal settlements.
  • Emergent “History” Through Conflict – wars, diplomacy, and faction decisions help define what the world becomes and who is remembered.
  • Faction Warfare and Cooperation – coordinate defenses, share resources, and push offensives with allies who benefit from the same territory.
  • Highly Moddable Custom Engine – broad mod support encourages players to adjust, extend, or reimagine parts of the game.

Of Kings and Men Screenshots

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Of Kings and Men Featured Video

Full Review

Of Kings and Men Review

Of Kings and Men set out to blend three ideas that rarely coexist smoothly: skill-based medieval melee combat, a persistent MMO-style world, and player-built settlements that give battles real stakes. On paper, that combination is compelling, especially for players who enjoy the social side of sandbox games where the most memorable moments come from rivalries and coordination rather than quest text.

Moment to moment, the game’s identity leans toward combat and territory pressure. The ability to jump between different PvP modes is one of its strongest hooks because it lets you choose your preferred intensity. Smaller fights reward personal mechanics and gear choices, while the largest wars emphasize organization, timing, and siege tools. If you like the idea of taking part in battles where the front line shifts and groups try to outmaneuver each other, the design aims in the right direction.

The persistent-world layer adds motivation beyond winning a match. Gathering resources, building up locations, and defending them creates a sense of ownership that can make even routine skirmishes feel meaningful. It also naturally encourages faction identity, since holding ground is rarely a solo job. In practice, experiences like this usually live or die on population and coordination, and the “Low” playerbase label makes that a key consideration for anyone curious today.

Modding support, backed by the game’s custom in-house engine, is another notable angle. For sandbox communities, the ability to tinker and create can extend longevity and allow groups to tailor the experience to what they want most, whether that is refined combat scenarios or more elaborate settlement-focused play.

Where the game struggles for modern readers is simple clarity. A limited amount of easily accessible official information makes it harder to set expectations about the full scope and the intended long-term direction. Combined with the shutdown date, Of Kings and Men is best approached as an interesting concept with memorable ambitions, particularly for players who like the Mount and Blade style of melee action and the idea of player-driven medieval politics.

System Requirements

Of Kings and Men System Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

Operating System: Windows 7 64 bit
CPU: Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz or Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5600+
Video Card: GeForce 8800 GTS or Radeon HD 5670 1GB DDR3
RAM: 4 GB
Hard Disk Space: TBA

Official system requirements have not yet been released for Of Kings and Men. The requirements above our based on our experience and will be updated when official numbers become available.

Music

Of Kings and Men Music & Soundtrack

Coming Soon!

Additional Info

Of Kings and Men Additional Information

Developer(s): Warlock Wireless (aka Donkeycrew)
Publisher(s): Green Man Gaming

Game Engine: Custom in-house

Early Access Release Date: August 2016

Shut Down Date: December 20, 2017

Development History / Background:

Of Kings and Men was created by Warlock Wireless (aka Donkeycrew) and published by Green Man Gaming. Earlier in its development it went by the title Melee: Battlegrounds, before re-emerging as Of Kings and Men and being described by the team as a “spiritual” successor to Mount and Blade Warband. The game entered Early Access in August 2016.