The Middle Ages without dragons and magic: a new game from Japanese developers offers to live the Hundred Years War from the inside — on behalf of real merchants, knights and even the False Joan of Arc.
In May 2026, an unusual project appeared on the gaming horizon that breaks the usual patterns about historical video games, xrust states. Indie studio from Japan Muzina Games presented a demo version of the tactical role-playing game Crown & Coin: The Hundred Years on the Steam platform. In just three days, the demo attracted more than 4,000 additions to the wishlist — an impressive result for an independent historical simulator.
But the main intrigue is not in the numbers, but in the approach. The developers have set themselves an ambitious goal: to abandon fictional protagonists and allow the player to become any of 1015 real people who lived between 1337 and 1453 — at the height of the Hundred Years' War between England and France.
“I wanted to create an experience where you can truly 'live' inside the great river of history and explore it from the inside,” explains lead developer Akihiro Yoshizawa. And judging by the mechanics, he succeeded.
- What kind of game is this: a medieval simulator of real life
- How to “live” the story: the example of False Joan
- Why did the Japanese do this? Love for European chivalry
- Players' reaction and the future of the project
- How it relates to Russia: cultural adaptation
- Technical details and platforms
- Verdict: to wait or not?
What kind of game is this: a medieval simulator of real life
Crown & Coin: The Hundred Years is not an action game in the spirit of Chivalry and not a global strategy like Crusader Kings class=»notranslate»>__GTAG11__ . This is a deep historical RPG with an emphasis on the role-playing side and the consequences of choices. In terms of genre, the project is closest to Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Pentiment , but with a unique feature: here literally every significant character is not a figment of the writers' imagination .
In the game you can:
- Take up the sword Edward the Black Prince and lead the destructive chevauches — raids with which the British literally burned out French lands.
- Stand under the banner of Joan of Arc and try to turn the tide of the war.
- Or choose the path of an unknown wool merchant , maneuvering between taxes and robberies of mercenaries.
- And also — become a doctor, a minstrel, a hired captain or… False Joan of Arc .
Yes, you heard right. One of the key “roles” is Jeanne des Armoise , a woman who, after the execution of the Virgin of Orleans, pretended to be her. And this is where the fun begins.
How to “live” the story: the example of False Joan
Typically, games feature historical figures as background characters. Here the mechanics are tied to a deep immersion into the biography and psychology of a real person. Yoshizawa gives a striking example:
“You play the role of Jeanne des Armoise — an impostor. To perfectly imitate Joan of Arc, you as a player must learn everything about her. But in the process — meeting Jeanne's family, her childhood friends, encountering her unshakable faith — you may sincerely want to save the real Maid of Orleans. You will stand up and shout: “This woman is not Joan of Arc! I am Joan of Arc!” And perhaps Gilles de Rais, on the verge of madness after the capture of the Virgin, whom you befriended by dressing up as a minnesinger and singing songs about her, will draw his sword and say: “She speaks the truth! I am with her!” class=»notranslate»>__GTAG5__ Simply put, the game allows you not just to follow history, but to rewrite it — but only through a deep understanding of the motives and relationships of real people. It's not magic. This is a historical drama where your main tool is knowledge of the era.
Why did the Japanese do this? Love for European chivalry
At first glance, it is strange that a game about the Hundred Years War is being developed by a studio from Japan, a country with its own rich samurai history. But Yoshizawa explains the choice simply and sincerely:
“Although my homeland — Japan — has its own rich samurai history, I chose this era because, as a Japanese developer, I have a deep respect and love for the fates, struggle and the very essence of the knights of medieval Europe.»
This is not the first time that Eastern developers have fallen in love with the Western Middle Ages (think Dragon's Dogma or Dark Souls ). But Crown & Coin goes further: it tries not to stylize, but to reconstruct history with Japanese scrupulousness and attention to detail.
Players' reaction and the future of the project
The demo is already available on Steam, and the community is greeting it with interest. At the moment, the game has about 4000 wishlists — and this despite the fact that the indie studio has minimal marketing. Users praise:
- Lack of “gilding” and cinematic gloss — the interface and graphics are stylized to resemble medieval manuscripts.
- Depth of dialogues — the persuasion system does not depend on “charisma”, but on knowledge of the biographies of NPCs.
- Asymmetrical gameplay: as a merchant or doctor you can influence the war differently than as a general.
Some beta testers are already reporting that sessions last 10-12 hours — players try to “learn” their historical period through trial and error.
The release of the full version is scheduled for early 2027. But already now Crown & Coin is called the most ambitious historical project of the year since Kingdom Come: Deliverance class=»notranslate»>__GTAG14__ .
How it relates to Russia: cultural adaptation
For the Russian player, the Hundred Years' War is not a “native”, but a well-known topic thanks to The Last Duel , «Bastard» and the novels of Maurice Druon (“Damned Kings”). The news is important for several reasons:
- Trend for historical accuracy in games reaches Russia — in 2025–2026. translations of many Western historical simulators have been released, and Crown & Coin will join their ranks.
- Japanese authorship inspires additional trust: Japanese RPGs are well known in the Russian Federation for their elaborate systems and attention to detail.
- The demo is available in the Russian Federation via Steam (no regional restrictions).
- The theme of “rewriting history” through personal choice of character is close to the Russian-speaking audience, tired of “on-rail” plots.
There are no dubious political references in the game. This is a pure story with a focus on human destinies against the backdrop of a great war.
Technical details and platforms
- Developer : Muzina Games (Japan)
- Engine : Unreal Engine 5 (but in stylized “handwritten” graphics)
- Platforms : PC (Steam), later perhaps consoles (PS5, Xbox Series)
- Demo release date : May 2026
- Full version release : Q1 2027 (estimated)
- Interface language : English, subtitles (no Russian yet, but modders are already looking)
Verdict: to wait or not?
If you like historical games without fantasy, complex role-playing systems with an emphasis on dialogue and consequences , and are also ready to learn real history through gameplay — Crown & Coin: The Hundred Years is your candidate for Game of the Year.
If you need dynamic battles and a clear goal, the project will seem too slow and “bookish”.
One thing is for sure: the Japanese did an incredible — they created a game where each NPC has a real obituary, and your choice can give a second life Joan of Arc… if you study her well enough.
The demo can be found on Steam by searching for “Crown & Coin: The Hundred Years.»
By pages https://www.medievalists.net
Xrust “Crown and Coin”: the Japanese created a historical hit about the Hundred Years War without a single fictional hero
