After spending a week with the beta code for Mount & Blade, it’s tempting to mischievously refer to it as Horses & Swords. That said, limiting the description of Turkish independent developers TaleWorlds’ take on wandering the land with your weapon in your hand and a panting beast between your legs would fail to do it justice, as there’s far more to it than it. But don’t worry if you’re an admirer of the equine form or sharp weaponry, as there’s plenty of both.

Although Mount & Blade can best be described as an action-RPG, you should banish any thoughts of Baldur’s Gate or Diablo as it’s more along the lines of a medieval land-based version of the Sid Meier classic Pirates. Set in the 13 th century, Mount & Blade eschews magic and fantasy in favour of an earthier simulation of the life a travelling swordsman. After treating you to a tutorial mode offering the holy grail of a true RPG – namely, the hero stripping down to his underpants for no apparent reason – you’ll be offered a number of scenarios to fill in your character’s back story.​