Crusader Kings III

Unlike Civilization, when it comes to naming the best game in the series, Crusader Kings has a clear winner. Crusader Kings III was released in September 2020 to widespread critical acclaim, eight years after the previous entry in the series, which was released eight years after the first one. Having said that, it's safe to assume that Crusader Kings III will be the de facto CK game until 2028, giving you plenty of time to improve.

In contrast to many other strategy games, Crusader Kings III is more interested in dynasty than dynamite, which means you'll spend more time making secret illegitimate babies with the Prince of France than lining up trebuchets and sacrificing innocent infantry for future gains. If you enjoyed the more dramatic elements of HBO's Game of Thrones, Crusader Kings III is similar, except you're in charge. It's wonderful.

Crusader Kings III takes place nearly a millennium ago, during the medieval period, when the emphasis on economics gives way to the whims of individual characters, rulers, and vassals. Crusader Kings' success demonstrates how important the personal and role-playing connection is to compelling grand strategy gameplay. Strategy isn't just about numbers and logic; it's also about relationships and human emotions. The game has deep character systems, but it's what these mechanics do that sets this grand strategy game apart from the rest.

There's plenty of spreadsheet strategy potential here, but Crusader Kings III's character-centric approach gives the game huge potential for emergent story-telling and, as a result, greater player investment in the overall experience. Though its economic systems are not as complex as those of some of its other Paradox counterparts, Crusader Kings III is still one of the most engaging and story-driven grand strategy games on the market.

Pros:

• Medieval music in the game, with varied melodies composed by talented composers such as Andreas Waldetoft or Philip Wareborn for symphony orchestras of extremely high quality
• The game's visual aspect is carefully considered in moderation, not too heavy and "splendid" with many advanced graphic effects
• The personal element is highlighted when the player can go through the exchange, chat, and even wait to chat

Cons:

• The mechanism of random events can be frustrating for players at times
  

Rating on Screenrant: 4/5

Price on Steam: $49.99

See it on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/1158310/Crusader_Kings_III/

Official site: paradoxinteractive.com/games/crusader-kings-iii/about