Crusader Kings III
Paradox Development Studio brings you the sequel to one of the most popular strategy games ever made. Crusader Kings III is the heir to a long legacy of historical grand strategy experiences and arrives with a host of new ways to ensure the success of your royal house. Choose a royal or noble house from a number of realms on a map that stretches from Iceland to India, from the Arctic Circle to Central Africa. Guide a dynasty through the centuries, ensuring the security and power of each new generation. Gather new lands and titles to cement your legacy. Be a pious king to bring the religious powers to your side, or strike out on your own, designing your own splinter religion and earning everlasting fame or eternal damnation. Knights, peasant revolts, pilgrimages, Viking raiders… experience the drama and pageantry of the Middle Ages.
Steam User 550
It has taken me several years to like and get into Crusader Kings 3. It's a complicated & intriguing game which always left me cold when my ruler died - as your precious realm is split apart by partition.
Recently I found a historical focused youtube series by 'Realm Builder Guy' (I highly recommend) who introduced me to the 'secret' of enjoying Crusader Kings:
You are not there to build & defend a nation (a modern concept). Your role is to further your noble House influence and legacy, to bring stability and prosperity to your lands. CK3 is about Dynasty, not empire.
When I stopped trying to power-game the system, stopped frantically acquiring territory in a race to make a larger Kingdom, stopped making stress decisions 'out-of-character' for an advantage, the game started to click with me. Instead of jumping in trying to manage an entire Kingdom, I chose a humble English Earl in 1066 and spent 40 years tending to my family, my faith and the needs of my people. The Pope granted us several Duchies from the heathens in Wales and suddenly we were a Duke. I had rivals, friends and a benign King who I served faithfully. It was completely absorbing.
So that's my main advice for new players; ignore the huge kingdoms and the Irish tutorial, play someone small and navigate that persons life. Don't sweat your realm splitting up on death, focus on the wider picture of your House glory and the long game becomes much more compelling.
- Signed, your faithful servant Duke Cato of Powys, Defender of the Faith and Guardian of Warwick.
Steam User 774
I wrote a love letter to the pope.
I murdered my own uncle for making fun of me at a feast.
I slept with my sister.
I then sat down to play some Crusader Kings 3, it's a pretty good game.
Steam User 310
I wrote a love letter to the pope.
I murdered my own uncle for making fun of me at a feast.
I slept with my sister.
I then sat down to play some Crusader Kings 3, it's a pretty good game.
Steam User 172
Played my first game, had my wife and heir Kidnapped by vikings. My heir was tortured until he died of stress and my wife was forcibly made a concubine.
I spent 20 years single, building up my power until I could finally free her and remarry. She died not long after and I thought I'd play out the rest of my characters life until he died, and restart.
As it turned out I found a "wolf-boy" whilst I was on a hunting trip and was offered the chance to raise him, and make him my heir. When I died he went on to not only found his own Kingdom, but an empire when he was 60.
This game is epic, and my only complaint is that I didn't play it years ago.
Steam User 227
I've played over 300 hours and still don't know how the game works.
Steam User 367
I have no idea what I'm doing
Steam User 216
I stared at a map for 100 hours
EDIT: It's 222 hours now