Grand Knights History[a] is a 2011 tactical role-playing video game developed by Vanillaware and published by Marvelous Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable.

The game originally featured online competitive multiplayer where chosen teams of characters fight for their nation, but this ended when servers shut down in October 2013.

The aim was to blend Vanillaware's artistic style with a turn-based battle system and online multiplayer, both firsts for the company.

[1][3] The story is advanced by taking part in quests which require the player to travel across the game world on a map with interconnected areas and towns.

At the beginning of each turn, the player selects a character's actions; these include standard attacks, special skills, and healing spells or items.

[4] Completing battles rewards experience points which raise the party's attributes, and currency used to buy items or equipment in towns and at the group's base.

[2] As each group won battles against opposing factions, they expanded their territory within the online environment, granting them access to rewards and a standing on community-based leaderboards.

Winning groups could vote on which territory to attack next, and individual players could opt to have their characters controlled by artificial intelligence rather than themselves manually.

During their campaigns, the group collect relics known as the Saint's Treasures; cross paths with the witch Mira; and a band commanded by the Masked Knight, who knows Liscia and attempts to take her into hiding against her will.

During one mission to rescue Bishop Noyce of Rystia's Saint's Church, an ancient demon called the King of Chaos begins breaking free of its prison.

Noyce, recognising Liscia as Lorendina, last descendant of a mythical hero called the Saint, plans to kill her before she can be used as a sacrifice to empower the King of Chaos.

The mercenaries, escorting Liscia and the allied Mira, and followed by Cerueila, defeat the Church's forces and demons to reach where the heart of the King of Chaos remains.

After trial and error, he decided to emulate classic Western fantasy art similar to previous Vanillaware titles, using a style of defined lines and soft colours for characters and backgrounds.

Due to their work on Dragon's Crown, Vanillaware was unable to dedicate any resources to help Xseed Games with the localization, eventually forcing them to cancel it despite the translation being almost complete.

[12][27][28] During its week of release, Grand Knights History reached the top of gaming charts as recorded by Media Create, with debut sales of over 64,600 units.

[33] In their fiscal year report, Marvelous Entertainment cited Grand Knights History as a factor in strong financial gains during 2011.