Crusader Kings

Crusader Kings is a real-time strategy game by Paradox Entertainment based on the Europa Universalis series engine. It allows us to lead European kingdoms throughout the period of nearly 400 years, starting in year 1066 and ending in 1419. This way, the game is some kind of a prologue to the Europa Universalis series, which the developers acknowledged by creating a save game converter that allows for continuing a game of Crusader Kings in Europa Universalis II. The game takes place in all Europe and goes even beyond that, to Persia and northern Africa. Crusader Kings realistically models the life of the people from that period, therefore the biggest difference between CK and EUII is the fact that the emphasis is put not on the development of your country, but increasing the prestige and influence of your dynasty.

Honor and power are of utmost importance. In order to expand them, the player may form alliances with influential lords and bishops, and not only countries like in Europa Universalis. Since the game focuses on the feudal structure of that historical period, the player can only rule Christian monarchies, duchies and big empires. We may not control merchant republics, such as Venice or Genoa, and, for example, the Mongol hordes. Moreover, we must pay attention the choice of our knight order: Knights Templars, Knights of St John, Teutonic Order, Order of Calatrava or Order of Santiago. A big novelty in relation to the previous games powered by the same engine is the new combat system, allowing for realistic recreation of attack power of Mongol light cavalry or English bowmen.

Last updated on August 14, 2015