Part medieval grand strategy, part RPG, and part dynastic murder simulator, Crusader Kings II was something of a surprise hit when it arrived way back in 2012. Its success would help catapult Paradox Interactive from obscure strategy games studio into a mainstream publisher and developer.
Now, some eight years later, "an heir is born". Thankfully, Crusader Kings III delivers by doubling down on the thing that made its predecessor so beloved: its ability to create interesting stories through the decisions it forces you to make and the interplay of its mechanics.
Game of Thrones-style drama and intrigue are everywhere as you resolve inheritance woes, appease disgruntled vassals and capricious overlords, or contend with unfortunate accidents (or "accidents") of fate. It's a powerful combination that brings together the macro-level, generational concerns of a grand strategy game with the micro-level family politics of managing a feudal domain.
Unlike in most historical strategy games, Crusader Kings puts you in charge of a dynasty, not a nation-state or government. You move from generation to generation, passing down to your titles and taking control of your primary heir when you die. What this means is that your destiny is not tied to a single patch of soil, but to a family that will, ideally, flourish and grow across space and time.
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