Crusader Kings 3 is the triumph I wish Imperator: Rome could have been

Nearly a year after it was initially announced, Crusader Kings 3 is here. It will be available to purchase from 6pm CEST later today, but the reviews are already out and the word is good. Our own Crusader Kings 3 review mentions that it's the most polished Paradox strategy release ever, and if you browse any of the 33 critic reviews that have dropped so far (none of which, currently, are lower than a nine) then you'll see we're not alone in our thoughts.

It's probably their most accomplished launch game to date, and the true successor to the legacy of grand strategy as we know it today.

So, naturally, I want to talk about Imperator: Rome.

A Dynasty is Born

Crusader Kings 2 was an interesting event. Experimental in more ways than one, it was still essentially a game made for the people who were playing Hearts of Iron 3 or Europa Universalis 3. The original Crusader Kings was also done as an experiment; one Paradox evidently felt could be expanded upon in a sequel that, with a little imagination, could also try to pull in new audiences to the niche they had quietly made for themselves.

Read the rest of the story...