Crusader Kings III Reviews
Crusader Kings III's near perfect marriage of robust grand strategy with compelling roleplaying means both fans of wargames 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.
Paradox took what made Crusader Kings II so good and ramped it all up a notch. The third instalment is easier to get into as a newcomer to the series, offers more addictive RPG systems like the revamped dynasty feature, whilst maintaining that medieval simulator charm. Just watch your back, you hear me?
I don’t know how I feel overall about the release schedule and pricing of Paradox expansion packs. Maybe it’s a lot, or maybe it’s a fair price. What I do know is that these big expansions look to change the feel of the game in significant ways. Measured against that standard, Tours and Tournaments is another huge step forward for Crusader Kings, the best emergent narrative RPG/strategy game around!
If you don't feel threatened by huge amounts of text and menu-based systems, then Crusader Kings 3 can turn into huge and epic jorney, with hundreds of hours of gameplay, and a full world of unique medieval intrigues.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Obviously, the PS5 version of Crusader Kings 3 isn't the best way to experience Paradox's medieval grand strategy. However, despite its poor interface and the lack of support for mouse and keyboard, this is still one of the best games of its genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It's easy to see why Crusader Kings III is so revered on PC. It's a brilliantly deep and dynamic strategy title that simply never stops giving — but you'll need to commit to learning its near countless intricacies before diving in proper. A dangerously addictive game once you're invested.
There is absolutely nothing like Crusader Kings III on console. By including such deeply embedded and emergent role-playing elements in Crusader Kings III and thus making it much more approachable than any of its more decidedly hardcore strategy predecessors as a result, Paradox have also created something of a gateway to bring traditionally non-strategy fans into the genre at large. Oh and it's basically a Game of Thrones simulator to boot. Which is nice.
While not perfect, long-time fans of the series and newcomers previously intimidated by its complicated gameplay will be able to enjoy expanding their dynasties in Crusader Kings III for years to come.
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.
Crusader Kings III is one of the best Paradox Develpment 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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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 has finally crossed the boundaries of our PCs to land in all its magnificence on the next-generation consoles. The dynastic grand strategy by Paradox Interactive and Lab42 gives a new audience of players the same, unforgettable, gaming experience proposed a couple of years ago (by the way, owners of the Game Pass subscription can download it for free, right on PC).
Review in Italian | Read full review
The stories that can be created or generated independently by Crusader Kings 3 are so varied and of such great quality, that Paradox's strategy could be called a masterpiece of emerging narrative.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Crusader Kings III is the best Paradox Interactive grand strategy games to date and probably one of best strategy game ever made.
Review in French | Read full review
Quote not yet availableUltimately, the only really large issue I can identify in Paradox’s latest game is that it’s the supreme emperor of the “one more turn” syndrome (even if it doesn’t really have turns). If there is one title that has the potential to absolutely trash your sleeping schedule, it’s Crusader Kings 3.
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.
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.
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.
Four generations in, I felt it was time to retire and did so with a smile on my face. Crusader Kings III forces you to play as a human capable of only human feats, and constantly reminds you of that fact. But it is this limitation that gives every action you take a real sense of weight, and makes even the most mundane of decisions feel like life and death.