

If you aren’t the fighting type, you can plot, scheme, and murder your way to the top without so much as raising a single levy. If you want to simply conquer other realms, you can focus on your military and forge alliances. The main gameplay revolves around the decisions you make as a ruler. Taking place between the years 10 in the base game, you’ll have the choice to start as either a count, king or emperor somewhere in Europe. You can improve your stats, complete various activities, and even pick up traits that will affect how you live your day to day life. Playing as a character is a rewarding role-playing experience in Crusader Kings that you don’t find in many other grand strategy games. Just like the famous Habsburg dynasty, you’ll aim to litter your descendants through the world, marry them off to forge alliances and claims on a rival throne. Instead of the broad style of playing as a single country, you’ll aim to forge a dynasty in Crusader Kings II that will last through the ages. Starting with the earliest game on our list, Crusader Kings II isn’t your average strategy game.
