Besiege! An Explosive Journey into Medieval Engineering

Prepare for catapults to launch across valleys, trebuchets to fling boulders over fortified walls, and rams to crash through castle gates—all meticulously crafted by your own ingenious hand. Welcome to the world of Besiege, a physics-based sandbox game that challenges you to become a master siege engineer in a whimsical medieval setting.

Besiege isn’t your typical strategy game where pre-built units clash on a battlefield. Instead, it throws you into the heart of invention. You begin with a simple set of building blocks—wheels, logs, beams, ropes, and engines—and are tasked with designing contraptions to accomplish specific objectives.

One level might challenge you to build a siege engine capable of destroying a castle wall within a time limit, while another requires navigating a complex obstacle course with a self-driving chariot. Each challenge pushes your creativity and problem-solving skills as you experiment with different designs and refine your creations through trial and error.

A Playground for the Architect of Destruction

The beauty of Besiege lies in its open-ended nature. There are no strict rules or predefined solutions. You have complete freedom to design, build, and test your contraptions. Want to construct a towering trebuchet that launches flaming pigs at unsuspecting villagers? Go for it! Feel like building a giant walking siege engine powered by hamster wheels? The game encourages such whimsical experimentation.

The in-game editor is surprisingly intuitive, allowing you to snap components together with ease. You can adjust the size and shape of individual parts, connect them with joints, and assign forces and movements using simple sliders.

While the game offers a series of increasingly challenging levels, it’s the sandbox mode where Besiege truly shines. This mode grants you unlimited access to all available components and lets your imagination run wild.

Build absurdly overpowered siege engines, experiment with intricate clockwork mechanisms, or simply enjoy the physics-based chaos that ensues when things inevitably go awry.

Physics: The Heart of the Mayhem

The game’s physics engine is both its greatest strength and its biggest challenge.

Everything in Besiege reacts realistically to forces like gravity, momentum, and collisions. A well-designed trebuchet will launch projectiles with satisfying accuracy, while a poorly constructed siege tower might crumble under its own weight or get stuck halfway up a hill.

Mastering the physics is crucial for success, but it can also be incredibly frustrating at times. Prepare for plenty of trial and error, as your meticulously crafted creations often meet unexpected and hilarious ends.

Think of it like real-world engineering—even the most seasoned architects have to deal with unforeseen challenges and occasional collapses. Besiege embraces this chaotic nature, turning failure into a learning experience and encouraging you to iterate on your designs until they work flawlessly.

Visuals & Sound: Charmingly Crude

The game’s graphics are deliberately stylized, opting for a simple yet charming aesthetic reminiscent of classic strategy games.

The environments are fairly basic, featuring rolling hills, medieval villages, and imposing castles. But the focus here is on function rather than form. The lack of photorealistic detail actually enhances the whimsical charm of the game, making it feel more like a playful toybox than a serious simulation.

The soundtrack is equally understated, with a mix of medieval-inspired melodies that set the mood without overpowering the gameplay.

Sound effects are satisfyingly crunchy and explosive, adding to the visceral thrill of launching projectiles and watching your creations demolish targets.

A Community Built on Creativity

Besiege boasts a vibrant online community where players share their creations, offer tips, and participate in challenges.

The Steam Workshop is a treasure trove of ingenuity, showcasing everything from elaborate siege engines to wacky vehicles and intricate contraptions that defy description.

Downloading and testing other players’ designs is a great way to learn new techniques and get inspired.

You can even upload your own creations for others to admire (or try to replicate!). The community aspect adds another layer of depth and replayability to the game, making it more than just a solitary experience.

A Final Verdict: A Game Worth Conquering

Besiege is a unique and captivating game that appeals to both creative minds and physics enthusiasts. Its open-ended nature encourages experimentation and problem-solving, while its charming aesthetic and satisfying sound effects add to the overall enjoyment.

Whether you’re a seasoned engineer or simply looking for a fun and challenging way to spend your time, Besiege is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared for plenty of explosions, unexpected crashes, and moments of pure engineering genius (yours, hopefully!).

Table: Key Features of Besiege