As part of a big sale, Crusader Kings 3 is currently available for free to play on Steam. If you decide to purchase the game after the trial, you get a 50% discount on the price. The strategy game from Paradox is extremely popular and regularly attracts tens of thousands of players since its release.
What kind of game is this? In Crusader Kings 3, you are a historical or custom ruler between the 7th and 15th centuries. You can play as a duke, king, or emperor of various countries in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.
Your goal is to build the largest empire possible by the end of a game session. Through diplomacy, marriages, or wars, you strengthen alliances or expand your borders. Complex systems such as feudal hierarchies and succession laws or court intrigues come into play.
Crusader Kings 3 is a so-called “4X” game where you are essentially always in macro view, managing entire empires or armies instead of individual buildings and units.
Only the entry can be quite difficult: you will likely spend the first 10 hours just learning the basics. In our Beginner’s Guide, we give you 5 tips for starting in Crusader Kings 3.
This is the offer: Currently, you can play Crusader Kings 3 for free on Steam. The offer lasts until May 15. If you want to play, you should hurry because the download takes a while.
If you want to buy the game, you can get it for half price until May 18: €24.99 instead of €49.99. Some of the DLCs for the game are also available at a 20% discount.
Those who play well breed “Supermen”
This is what makes Crusader Kings so good: On Steam, Crusader Kings 3 has a 88% positive rating, which is classified as “very positive”. According to steamcharts, over 41,000 players played during the free weekend.
For our editorial manager Schuhmann, Crusader Kings 3 is one of the best games ever. Although the game is historical, the actual development depends on how you play. His tip is inbreeding:
The aspect most praised is the vast scope of the game. Crusader Kings 3 offers many opportunities to develop: as a tyrannical ruler, sneaky intriguer, or brilliant business magnate. If you prefer to cause mischief, you can create a nudist cannibal cult or a witch circle in contact with the Vatican.
With the latest expansions, Crusader Kings 3 has increasingly evolved into a kind of RPG hybrid and introduced many role-playing aspects. For example, you can set up your own throne room and, with the DLC “Tours and Tournaments”, even travel through the lands with your ruler. Here you will find the GameStar review of the DLC.
Despite its age, Crusader Kings 3 is still enjoyed by many players. The studio, Paradox, is known for such extensive, large-scale games. If you prefer fantasy, you might like the studio’s latest game, Age of Wonders 4. You can find more inexpensive games on Steam here:
