Crusader Kings III is shaping up to be an expansive, captivating take on grand strategy and dynasty simulation. Despite very little experience with the genre prior to my test run, I found myself fully immersed in solidifying the well-being and success of my family.
If you are the type of player who values options, you’ll find that Paradox has plenty to offer within their upcoming title. Did one of your vassals displease you? No problem, set up a scheme and have them murdered. Don’t want to get your hands dirty? Try your hand at diplomacy …or even seduce them. No matter the play-style – Crusader Kings III is a title that any medieval RPG fan should keep their eyes on.
Prestige Is King
When it comes down to it – family prestige is paramount in Crusader Kings III. It’s less of an experience that focuses on winning, but more so one that demands the player to ensure the growth and longevity of their dynasty’s status throughout history. You may find yourself starting as a lowly count, but play your cards right and you’ll end up a king.
With a massive wealth of regions and cultures to select from, I burned plenty of time simply deciding where, when, and who I wanted to play. There’s a host of personalities and locations to commit to, and each of them have the potential to earn their own place in history. Either way, slowly rising to the top is the name of the game.
No Shortage Of Paths
As far as gameplay goes, tons of features are packed into Crusader Kings III. Everything revolves around your family’s name and titles, and to increase status, there is a world of paths to walk. Your character’s skills will be dictated by their lifestyle, their stress dictated by their personality traits, their presence dictated by their holdings… but don’t put too much stock into your current character; they will eventually die and their heir will become your new protagonist. Every person and region in the game is accessible in one way or another, every random event relevant in the world that is slowly shaping around you. Interacting with the sea of catalysts before you makes up most of the gameplay, with players trying to distinguish themselves within the chaos.
There are a multitude of titles in the game, from duchy to king. How you choose to acquire them – whether it be through war, marriage, assassination, etc. – is up to you. Perhaps designer Alexander Oltner put it best when he quipped: “What would Crusader Kings III be without a little unfriendly murder?”
Elaborate, Yet Rewarding
Regarding features, there is a sizable learning curve involved – specifically for those inexperienced with the genre. It could be argued that too many options can be a bad thing, and that will certainly prove true for players who are unwilling to learn the ropes of Crusader Kings III. I spent a decent chunk of time studying everything the tutorial had to offer and it wasn’t a quick experience. Luckily, important happenings are consolidated into one “Issues” widget, a fantastic design decision to help reduce confusion. That being said, the elaborate nature of Crusader Kings III is what makes it so immersive and appealing. Sure, there may be a ton of menus to navigate, but each are implemented thoughtfully.
Its polish (even before release) is already quite impressive. The soundtrack is excellent, for starters. When I first booted up the build, I found myself sitting in the main menu, admiring the brilliant orchestral theme. If you like the music from Game of Thrones or Lord of The Rings – you’ll like the soundtrack for Crusader Kings III too. Additionally, the game’s responsive UI and colorful visuals are just as impressive. Even the loading-screen art is something to marvel at.
Overall, the game looks to be in fantastic shape for RPG lovers. Although not immediately palatable for newcomers, the time it takes to explore what Crusader Kings III has to offer seems well-worth the adventure. It hits shelves on September 1st, 2020 for Microsoft Windows and Linux – and if it’s anything like the build I just played – fans are in for a treat.
