Crusader Kings III

The system of Crusader Kings III is as deep as its predecessor while the UI and the guidance are much improved for the novice. Although some glitches still exist, it's clear that Crusader Kings III is the best strategy game Paradox has ever made.

In all aspects, this is the best version of a Grand Strategy game, far exceeding the second installment and, as controversial as it sounds, becoming the best candidate for strategy GOTY this year. A large number of mods (more than 100) and the fact that the game is never the same, no matter the starting options we choose, plus a community that is constantly active, all of this makes this a game that I would recommend to any fan of strategy games and RPGs.

If there is one title that has the potential to absolutely trash your sleeping schedule, it’s Crusader Kings 3...As I finish this review, I’m massively sleep-deprived, and I blame you, Paradox.

CK3 is a worthy successor that delivers a powerful mix of grand strategy and RPG gameplay. This is possibly the most polished a mainline Paradox title has ever been at launch.

Crusader Kings 3 is my Game of the Year so far. If you’re looking for a new strategy title with some RPG flair that will suck you in for 500 hours or more during this endless lockdown, then it should be on your wishlist already. Better still, future support is already assured – there’s one expansion already in the works plus a few flavour packs coming soon if the huge base game isn’t enough for you.

Crusader Kings 3 is so complex that even after hours of playing, you can still discover new features or uncover intricate systems you've not needed before. For those who want full control of a domain and dynasty, you won't be disappointed. Just be prepared to put a chunk of time into learning the ropes.

Every detail of Crusader Kings III feels like the perfect evolution of the series. The refined systems and better UI don’t take away from the complexities of a campaign; they just make it easier to have fun. Every worry I had of this being a watered-down Crusader Kings II experience faded away with the sheer amount of content available. With a larger world, more refined systems, gorgeous visuals and deep character mechanics, Crusader Kings III is everything fans of the series could have hoped for – and more.

Crusader Kings 3 is a superb strategy game, a great RPG, and a master class in how to take the best parts of existing systems and make them deeper and better. I have thousands of hours in the previous game, and I expect to spend at least that many in this third installment. All of the engrossingly flawed characters and stories of love, war, triumph, and loss that have already dynamically emerged from my playthroughs feel like just the beginning of something legendary. In fact, if I had to pick only one game to play for the rest of my life, the decision wouldn’t be that difficult. A new king of historical strategy has been crowned. Long live the king.

Paradox brings you an upgraded and improved version of one of the most famous strategy games ever made. Crusader Kings III is a game that allows you to alter history in your own way by creating the greatest dynasty the middle-ages have ever seen. While the game lets you do anything you want, it still creates a tough challenge, making it even more enjoyable.

An all-consuming epic, Crusader Kings 3 marries its grand strategy with more involving RPG elements to create one of the best games of 2020.

Crusader Kings III is a title in almost all its aspects and it immediately Becomes one of the benchmarks of its genre. Its balance between the number of options and accessibility to these is superb, and if we add to this the emerging narrative that seems an inexhaustible source of continuous plots, stories and conspiracies, we have a title that borders on perfection. And the best thing is that it is not only for the most experienced in this genre, but for anyone who wants to start in it. For all these reasons, Crusader Kings III is an indispensable game for all lovers of palace stories beyond its perfect management and strategy.

Crusader Kings 3 is one of the best strategy titles in recent years, hands down. The gameplay is extremely deep and the relationship between the characters and some neat RPG elements really help the game shine. The game is not flawless though, as the game's UI may be too complicated for some players and there is a slight lack of content, but nevertheless it's a solid strategy experience that can entertain you for many, many hours.

Crusader Kings 3 is at the start of its own story - I'm estimating we're going to see around 300 DLCs for this beast before it's all said and done - and already through its clarity of interface and intelligent design decisions I can see years of amazing "OH MY GOD, you'll never guess what happened in CK3" moments clogging up Felix's email inbox as I continue on my own journey with this wonderful, wonderful game.

Crusader Kings 3 is incredible. It's an irrepressible story engine that spits out a constant stream of compelling alt-histories, delightfully infuriating characters and social puzzles that I've become obsessed with unravelling. I can't imagine being done with it. I just subsist on digital drama now. Will Alfred finally leave the torture chamber and make a friend? What's Bjorn going to do now that he knows his wife is in love with his chancellor? And who's going to be committing patricide next? I need to spend less time writing reviews and more time with my dynasties.

Crusader Kings III is definitely a success. The developers made a huge self-evolving world where the players can do as they please. It’s unrivaled both in scale and level of detail. [Issue#248, p.68]

It’s clear that Crusader Kings is not a game for everyone. It’s dense, complex, at times slow, at other times overwhelming. But there’s a magic here, a storytelling generator that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a series that already has a lot of fans, and I think those fans are going to agree with me when I declare Crusader Kings 3 the best Crusader Kings yet. There are also a lot of people who may become fans, and to them, I declare this game as easily the most accessible Crusader Kings. Not only is it a strange and wonderful experience, but it also promises to grow more exciting with future updates. You can’t get your Crusader Kings fix anywhere else, and Crusader Kings 3 takes the series to new heights.

Crusader Kings III is an ideal sequel, which expands and modernizes the series' core gameplay without diluting its unique and addictive Grand Strategy character.

Graphically beautiful, fun to play, intelligently designed, Crusader Kings III is one of the best entries in the long list of Paradox's grand strategy games.

Crusader Kings III has good mechanics and production but what sets it apart is the way it connects to the era it depicts. The experience leans into role-playing and personalities in a way that feels true to the image that most players have about the period between 867 to 1453. Without striving to be educational, the Paradox title also manages to be an excellent jumping-off point to learn more about the period, its main characters, its social dynamics. The development studio has also done well when it comes to post-launch support. There’s downloadable content, of course, but free patches have also arrived regularly, improving systems and eliminating bugs. But more work is needed both in the balance and the immersion department. Crusader Kings III is an excellent way to tell and enjoy stories and I can’t wait to experience how Paradox will add depth to its various mechanics.

A worthy successor to Crusader Kings II. Right now, it is not as deep and demanding as its predecessor with all its expansions installed, but it still is an excellent strategy game. For newcomers it’s a great way to dive into the world of crowned tyrants, treacherous vassals, unfaithful wives, and inconvenient babies strangled in their cradles. [11/2020, p.56]

Paradox Interactive will be growing Crusader Kings 3 for years to come, but don’t be afraid — this is not an early access release, but a full-fledged game that often makes you stay “just for one more turn.”

It still requires a deeper commitment than most games ask for, but the rewards positively tumble forth, year after year, generation after generation, treacherous vassal after treacherous vassal. [Issue#351, p.94]

Crusader Kings III is utterly engrossing, full to the brim with interesting stories and tough decisions for the player to make. It succeeds as both a strategy game and a captivating RPG. And this is all before the player even thinks about touching multiplayer or what will undoubtedly be an incredibly active modding community. More than anything, it is an immensely dynamic platform where players can voyeuristically partake in medieval stories of war and politics for years to come.

The depth of Crusader Kings 3 is staggering, but the reward for getting to know the many game systems more than makes up for that.

Crusader Kings 3 put a huge burden on your shoulders in a very different and enjoyable ways. If you like this genre, it is definitely one of the games you shouldn't miss.

Crusader Kings III is a one-of-a-kind experience that mixes intrigue, the ambrosia of victory, and the devastating bitters of defeat.

An excellent start for a beginner, and a great delve into the medieval period for history fanatics to boot.

This is a much more accessible successor to the legendary medieval strategy, and still as deep as its forefather. There is certainly space for future expansions, but Crusader Kings 3, as it is now, is already capable of writing the most stunning stories imaginable under cruel feudalism.

While Crusader Kings III has shortcomings and flaws, these are overshadowed by the sheer number of options and content thanks to its gigantic map and features. Greater emphasis is placed on a character's or dynasty's growth, a level of detail not seen in any previous grand strategy title, allowing you to experience trials and tribulations like never before.

Crusader Kings III is the best Paradox Interactive grand strategy games to date and probably one of best strategy games ever made.

This is the best Crusader Kings game we've had to date and is a must-have for any strategy or RPG fan.

Crusader Kings III is a massive step up in all regards featuring many QoL changes and improvements. While some features, such as the character designer, are sorely missed, the major improvements, refinements, and the like, ensure that fans of the series will almost certainly enjoy the new title. While it is more welcoming to newcomers than prior entries, it may still be too dense for those not interested in the heavy political focus of the franchise.

Crusader Kings 3 is the best looking and most accessible the series has ever been.

Crusader Kings 3 is a smart sequel to one of the best grand strategy game ever made.

Crusader Kings 3 is the perfect sequel to the masterpiece that CK2 was. Better interface, deeper mechanics, astounding production values make this title the best grand strategy game in the market.

Without many words, Crusader Kings III is one of the best Paradox Interactive grand strategy games to date.

Crusader Kings 3 is a compelling strategy game that deserves to be played. Paradox Development Studios outdid themselves on this one.

Crusader Kings 3 is a fantastic entry in Paradox's historically-rooted strategy series. New RPG elements help to create a more engrossing character-driven experience, while lots of quality-of-life improvements make it more accessible and digestible to both Crusader Kings veterans and newcomers. There are still a couple of issues, such as as inconsistent AI-controlled allied armies, but this is still nonetheless one of the absolute best strategy games you can currently buy.

The best way to think of Crusader Kings 3 as a sequel is in terms of its own dynastic gameplay. Sure, Paradox have started from scratch with a new game, but it's still full of scheming, warring amidst an impressive breadth of cultures and religions. Crusader Kings 3 is an heir that has been born from Crusader Kings 2 and its many expansions, including and improving on so much of what made that game great, but it can still grow and improve in its own right.

Paradox has done it again. Once again they have created a brilliant grand strategy game. From murdering a child for their empire to forging your own religion, Crusader Kings III offers nearly limitless possibilities to define your dynasty. Truly a masterpiece.

This review only skims a bit of what the game offers, as it’s incredibly complex. However, I feel like CK3 introduces its various systems in a much easier-to-grasp way than CK2 did. So, if you’ve been intimidated about Paradox’s grand strategy games, CK3 makes a new beginning that continues to provide all the fun of medieval intrigue, drama, and history, while making it a lot easier to pick up and play.

Successfully modernises the medieval strategy series, preserving much of what's good and adding some interesting new ideas. While it still needs to iron out a few details, it's a worthy successor to the series' august crown.

Crusader Kings III is an excellent kingdom management game, more intimate but no less intricate than the likes of Civilisation VI, it’s as unforgiving a simulation as you’re going to find while still being more fun than you’d expect it to be.

As much as it remains a numbers-driven grand strategy game, Crusader Kings III masterfully paints a complex medieval world teeming with living characters that have desires and ambitions. Its mixture of familiar and evolved systems enhances its roleplaying and emergent storytelling potential. The actions that you perform always feel like they’re the result of a process or skill your characters have naturally gained and there’s always something to grab your attention. And so it did, as for 70+ hours we were completely absorbed by warfare, realm management and court intrigue, which, it turns out, we haven’t had enough of just yet.

Crusader Kings 3 is not only a return to its franchise's grand range of gameplay, strategy, and storytelling, but also a massive and meaningful evolution with little to hold players back from exploration and discovery throughout an intricate web of rulers, dynasties, and statecraft.

Crusader Kings III pulls off a difficult dual victory, bringing a new level of depth, charm, and polish to the franchise, while also making it far more approachable than before. Some aspects of Crusader Kings III still aren’t as user-friendly as they could be, but overall, this is a worthy heir to the throne.

Crusader Kings III's near perfect marriage of robust grand strategy with compelling roleplaying means both tactical fans and storytelling aficionados will find something to love in its medieval world of politics and intrigue, whether that's crunching numbers to efficiently conquer the known world, or rolling with the punches as they scheme their way into the annals of history.

Crusader Kings III is one of the best Paradox Development Studio’s games to date. Deep and compelling, this grand strategy can entertain you for dozens, if not hundreds of hours between its intrigues, holy wars, and dynasties in the making.

Crusader Kings III is a near perfect sequel that expands upon the elements and gameplay of the previous instalment in a way that offers a challenge for veterans and is more user friendly to newcomers. However the game's A.I. is prone to moments of stupidity which can make or break your conquests and the U.I. can be over cumbersome.

Crusader Kings III is a worthy heir to its predecessor and a grand strategy game that everyone absolutely has to try. You may bounce off initially, but if you give it some time, I believe most people will get swept away in its complex mechanics and interesting take on Middle Ages dynasties and politics.

Crusader Kings III has an abysmal barrier to entry, but it's worth if for everyone willing to overcome it. It comes with improvements in navigation and graphics to make it as simple as possible and offers an extremely complex simulation due to its depth. Some options are missed that take us a little deeper and brings the game to the next level, but it lives up to expectations. And with a saga of such depth as this one, that's saying a lot.

Maybe it's not yet a masterpiece: in the future, who knows?

Insanely deep.

Crusader Kings III is a great and very complex game that won't get boring anytime soon and has already become a staple of the genre. Despite that, Crusader Kings III requires more content (including the things cut out for future DLCs - not cool) and some fixes to be called a complete game.

At its core, it's still the same game as Crusader Kings 2, for better and for worse. It's still highly complex and tells great stories. And despite the context system, it can still be incomprehensible and frustrating. It's a bit like the Holy Grail. It gives you eternal youth, but it does not make you another person.

This is a complex Game of Patience: The global strategy slows the pace pleasently down, leading to royal roleplaying. This is downright good entertainment, even with the wars being a tad too static and some wishes unfulfilled.

Crusader Kings III is the new noble management's king. Every little piece matters on the board, impressive and huge, but merciless with the newbie.

In a sense, Crusader Kings 3 is all over the place. It doesn't always work perfectly, and at times it really makes you work for it, but there's something amazing in that any of it works at all. Strategy games can tell interesting stories as their empires rise and fall, but their procedural narratives are rarely as affecting and poignant as they are here.

Crusader Kings III is a massively engaging grand strategy game, delivering beautiful visuals and a UI which is much more pleasing to the eyes when compared to the previous title.