Since Mordhau was released, it is often compared to Chivalry: Medieval Warfare. After the announcement of Chivalry 2 at E3 2019, this has happened even more frequently. MeinMMO compares what distinguishes the games and which one is suitable for you.
Why are we comparing Mordhau and Chivalry? Both Mordhau and Chivalry are multiplayer action games in which players fight against each other in large battles or together against AI.
The games focus on medieval melee combat, bows, and other weapons that players can use in battle. They also look very similar, although Mordhau appears significantly more modern.
Many people are now asking why they should spend money on Mordhau if they already own Chivalry: Medieval Warfare or which game they should acquire. However, the games differ in many aspects.
What distinguishes Mordhau and Chivalry: Medieval Warfare?
The combat system
Both games build on melee-heavy encounters between players with swords and other melee weapons. The controls are similar as well. There are various strikes, feints, and blocks in both games. Both games also generally offer siege weapons.
This is how the combat system works in Chivalry: In Chivalry, there is an exploit that has become infamous in the community. If you swing your weapon while turning, you hit in a different or larger area. This allows you to hit right at the beginning of the swing so that opponents can hardly react.
This is how the combat system works in Mordhau: In Mordhau, the combat system is generally regarded as better. Blocks generally work when they are made, horses add a new dimension to the entire system, and strikes react to the direction of the hit, not to the character’s rotation.
The community summed this up in a video with the cynical title: “When Mordhau annoys you, remember…”
What game modes are there?
This is what Chivalry offers: Chivalry offers both an offline single-player mode and an online multiplayer mode. There are by default seven different game modes:
- Free for All
- Duels
- Team Deathmatch
- Last Man Standing
- King of the Hill
- Capture the Flag
- Team Objective
This is what Mordhau offers: In contrast, Mordhau offers fewer and different modes:
- Deathmatch
- Skirmish
- Frontline
- Horde (PvE)
- Battle Royale
What classes are available?
The classes in Chivalry: In Chivalry, the selection of classes is limited to four and fixed. For each class, you can choose from different but fixed weapons. There are:
- Archer
- Man-at-Arms
- Pikeman
- Knight
The classes in Mordhau: In contrast, Mordhau has predefined standard classes, but a large part of the game consists of unlocking new weapons and creating your own classes (“Mercenaries”). We have presented our seven best classes here:
On which platforms are the games available?
Here you can play Chivalry: Chivalry is now playable on PC (Steam), Mac, Linux, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.
Here you can play Mordhau: In contrast, Mordhau is currently only playable on PC via Steam. A version for PS4 and Xbox One seems possible, but is not yet planned (via gamepro).
How many players are playing the games?
This many players does Chivalry have: As Chivalry is playable on several platforms, the actual number of players is difficult to determine. However, on Steam, an average of 356 players played in the last 30 days according to steamcharts (as of June 17 at 8 PM).
This many players does Mordhau have: In contrast, Mordhau has an average player count of 19,333 players in the last 30 days (via steamcharts, as of June 17 at 8 PM). The influx of players on the servers was occasionally so large that they crashed.
Which game is better now?
This is what the community says about the games: Currently, Mordhau is much better received in the community than Chivalry: Medieval Warfare. Even in the Chivalry subreddit, memes are shared that show that Mordhau is the better game:
Players are particularly bothered by Chivalry because:
- the developers seem to make little effort
- the combat system is not good and can be exploited
- many bugs exist that seem to have never been addressed.
In contrast, Mordhau is praised for:
- the class editor is extraordinarily well done
- fights feel smoother and more “real”
- the developers maintain a dialogue with the community and can show more visible work.
Which game is suitable for me? If you are torn between the two games, consider where your focus lies. The reddit user thick1988 writes:
Mordhau: Better combat, better progression system
Chivalry: Better maps, better game modes
It should be noted that Chivalry 2 has already been announced. Although it will be released exclusively on the controversial Epic Store for PC, it is likely the better choice compared to Chivalry: Medieval Warfare:
