Ancestors Legacy
A medieval RTS with four civilizations and a day/night cycle.
Ancestors Legacy is a real-time strategy game from Destructive Creations, a Polish developer, and was published by 1C Company. It first came out for Microsoft Windows on May 22, 2018, then arrived on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on August 13, 2019, and finally on Nintendo Switch on June 11, 2020. Players can choose from four civilizations—Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, Teutons, or Slavs—with a fifth, the Saracens, added via the Saladin's Conquest DLC. A day/night cycle affects how each faction plays.
The game includes single-player campaigns and multiplayer. Each civilization has one or two campaign scenarios. The Anglo-Saxon campaign features figures like Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, and the Earl of Huntingdon. The Viking campaign is split into two parts: the first, set in 793, covers the Lindisfarne monastery raid and acts as a tutorial, while the second, set in 892, follows Varangian chieftain Rurik during the Ladoga campaign. The Slavs and Teutons each have one campaign. During campaigns, the AI can replace losses and send large armies to the player’s base, making it a stronger opponent.
Multiplayer offers Domination and Annihilation modes, where players can field up to ten squads. Battles take place on fifteen maps designed for two, four, or six players in 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3 setups.
Development was announced on May 10, 2017, with an open beta starting February 5, 2018. A single-player preview beta was shown at Gamescom on September 3, 2017. The Xbox One and Windows versions were originally planned for the same day, but the Xbox and PlayStation 4 releases were delayed to August 13, 2019. The Nintendo Switch version followed on June 11, 2020. Publisher GameClub ported the game to iOS as *Ancestors Legacy: Vikings* on March 9, 2021, which includes only the Viking portion of the original PC game.
In September 2018, Destructive Creations added a second Slav campaign where players lead Bolesław I the Brave of Poland and his son Mieszko II. In December 2018, a free campaign called *Ancestors Legacy: History of the Teutonic Order* was released, consisting of five story missions in two parts: the first tells of Herkus Monte’s rebellion during the Great Prussian Uprising, and the second focuses on Teutonic Commander Konrad von Thierberg and the siege of Lidzbark Castle, all set in the 13th century.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Ancestors Legacy
- Developer
- Destructive Creations
- Publisher
- 1C Company / (PC, XBO) · Destructive Creations / (PS4, NS)
- Released
- Microsoft Windows · May 22, 2018 · PlayStation 4, Xbox One · August 13, 2019 · Nintendo Switch · June 11, 2020
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Genre
- Real-time strategy
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows / Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / Nintendo Switch / macOS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Ancestors Legacy was announced on May 10, 2017, and entered open beta on February 5, 2018. A single-player preview beta build was released during Gamescom on September 3, 2017. The game initially planned simultaneous release for Windows and Xbox One on May 22, 2018, but the Xbox and PlayStation 4 versions were delayed to August 13, 2019. The Nintendo Switch version followed on June 11, 2020. Publisher GameClub ported a version titled Ancestors Legacy: Vikings to iOS devices on March 9, 2021, which includes only the Vikings portion of the original PC version.
The single-player campaigns cover each civilization: the Anglo-Saxon campaign features Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, and the Earl of Huntingdon; the Vikings campaign is set in 793 during the raid of Lindisfarne's monastery (serving as a tutorial) and later in 892 with Rurik, a Varangian chieftain during the Ladoga campaign. The Slavs and Teutons each have one campaign. In September 2018, a second Slav campaign was added where the player can lead Bolesław I the Brave of Poland and his son Mieszko II. In December 2018, a free campaign called Ancestors Legacy: History of the Teutonic Order was released, telling the story of Herkus Monte and his rebellion, and later Konrad von Thierberg. In May 2019, the paid DLC Saladin's Conquest added the Saracens civilization and a campaign following Saladin, the first sultan of Egypt and Syria.
Reader's Guide
Ancestors Legacy is notable as a traditional real-time strategy game released in the late 2010s, a period when the genre had declined in mainstream popularity. Its development by a Polish studio and publication by 1C Company brought a focus on medieval European factions—Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, Teutons, and Slavs—with later DLC expanding to the Saracens. The game's day/night cycle was a distinctive gameplay mechanic that altered faction strategies. Reception noted that despite some historical inaccuracies and tactical issues, the game was traditional in the RTS form. Criticisms included limited troop and terrain variety and mundane base construction, but the game was nonetheless recommended. The release on multiple platforms (Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and later iOS) extended its reach. Post-launch support included free and paid content, such as additional campaigns and a new civilization, which added replay value. The game's legacy lies in its attempt to sustain the classic RTS formula with a historical medieval setting and modest but steady updates.
Did You Know?
- The Vikings campaign begins with the raid of Lindisfarne's monastery in 793, an event considered the start of the Viking Age.
- The Saladin's Conquest DLC adds the Saracens as a fifth civilization and leaves European soil for a campaign in Egypt and Syria.
- The free campaign Ancestors Legacy: History of the Teutonic Order covers the Great Prussian Uprising and the siege of Lidzbark Castle.
- The iOS port Ancestors Legacy: Vikings includes only the Vikings portion of the original PC version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ancestors Legacy?
Ancestors Legacy is a medieval-themed real-time strategy game created by the Polish studio Destructive Creations and released by 1C Company. It debuted on PC in May 2018 and was later brought to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.
Which civilizations can you play as in Ancestors Legacy?
The base game lets you command four factions: Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, Teutons, and Slavs. A fifth faction, the Saracens, became available through the Saladin's Conquest DLC.
Who made Ancestors Legacy?
The Polish developer Destructive Creations built the game, while 1C Company handled publishing. It first shipped on Microsoft Windows before expanding to the major console platforms over the next two years.
What multiplayer modes does Ancestors Legacy include?
Competitive play is structured around two modes: Domination and Annihilation. In both, you field your chosen civilization's army and resources against other players in head-to-head matches.
How does the day/night cycle affect gameplay in Ancestors Legacy?
Each faction has distinct strengths and weaknesses that shift between day and night, so the time of day changes which units and strategies are most effective. This means timing your offensives and fortifying your defenses around the in-game clock becomes a core tactical decision.
More in Real-Time Strategy Games of the 2010s 1-22
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