Experience a turning point in Total War: Kingdoms

1290 AD: Sword of Conquest Mod is a free-to-use game utility developed by the Reckless_Merc for the turn-based strategy game Medieval II: Total War: Kingdoms. In this mod, experience the changing world that starts with the titular year. You get to see the collapse of old power and the rise of new ones, most particularly the Ottomans. Get new maps for Europe, the Mediterranean, parts of Asia, and all-new factions that suit the era.

Experiencing another timeline makes 1290 AD: Sword of Conquest Mod a must have. You can also check out Bulat Steel Total War or A Medieval Mod 4.

Guide the changing Middle Ages

The year 1290 AD was an important point in parts of Europe and Asia and in 1290 AD: Sword of Conquest Mod, you get to experience different conflicts unfolding near the Tyrrhenian Sea to the steppes stretching across Ukraine. As such, it contains various original maps that cover Southeastern Europe, the Mediterranean region, and the area around the Black Sea. Maps capture these unique landscapes and present new challenges.

There are also 24 new factions you can play as. In a bid toward realism, each of these factions is based on its historical location, adding historical accuracy and unique advantages for each of them. You can also expect more than 200 historical settlements and navigable rivers such as the Danube and the Dniester rivers. All these contents are aesthetically consistent, giving the game a unique identity overall.

Aside from the accuracy and wealth of content, the mod remains plagued by bugs. Players report instances wherein all custom models and textures appear as a single color, making it difficult to distinguish between different factions. The same issue occurs with different units, especially when playing with real-time battles as the mod contents do not translate well to certain vanilla game modes.

Can use a little more work

Overall, 1290 AD: Sword of Conquest Mod remains a playable and enjoyable mod, especially for players who value historical accuracy. It manages to create a gaming scenario that blends European and Middle Eastern materials to create an engaging strategy gameplay experience. However, it has a few visual bugs that make the experience less enjoyable. Still, with a little work, it’s a good add-on.