Six Games Like Crusader Kings 3 to Start With Your Empire!

Six Games Like Crusader Kings 3 to Start With Your Empire!

So, you've conquered Crusader Kings 3 and are itching for your next grand strategy fix? Look no further! If you're all about resource management, city-building, and the thrill of empire-building, then the grand strategy genre is your bread and butter. Lucky for you, there's a treasure trove of titles out there waiting to be explored. Let's delve into the  best games like Crusader Kings 3  that you can currently find on RoyalCDKeys. Get ready to embark on epic adventures and carve out your legacy in the annals of history!

What Is Crusader Kings 3?

  • Release Date : September 1, 2020

  • Developer : Paradox Development Studio

  • Publisher: Paradox Interactive

  • Platforms : Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, macOS, Linux, Xbox Series X|S

  • Metascore : 91


Crusader Kings III, the third installment of the acclaimed franchise, is a rich simulation of the Middle Ages. It immerses players in the complex world of medieval politics, dynastic struggles, and strategic warfare as empires and kingdoms vie for control of territory.

Just like other sagas focused on the same system, in Crusader Kings III, you manage a dynasty of kings or feudal lords across centuries, paying attention to the prosperity of the realm and trying to lead it for the best path possible.

Like any grand strategy game that boasts of such, CR III entails several aspects and edges, such as religion, culture, and diplomacy. Each aspect has its skill tree and multiple ways of interacting with vassals to raise the bliss or dissatisfaction of the people.

Crusader Kings III is a complete game from the beginning to the end and a great heritage adventure that will lead you to conquer Europe and other regions.


Key Features:

  • Build your legacy across centuries. Gaining control over the territory is only the beginning.

  • Grand strategies regarding culture, religion, diplomacy, and war.

  • Good 3D graphics that make you feel your empire is really alive.


Crusader Kings III Steam CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

The Best Games Like Crusader Kings 3

The following six games like Crusader Kings III are some of the best on the market, boasting interesting features and mechanics.

Age of Wonders III

  • Release Date : March 31, 2014

  • Developer : Triumph Studios

  • Publishers: Triumph Studios | Paradox Interactive

  • Platforms : Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux

  • Metascore : 80


I could say that Crusader Kings III takes inspiration from games like Age of Wonders III since both titles pose grand strategies throughout a great civilization that remains through the years. However, Age of Wonders III tries to go beyond and propose a 4X approach (Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate) and real-time strategy.

A big difference between both titles is that Age of Wonders, just like its name suggests, occurs in a magical world where different races fight for control of the territory. Of course, action happens in a medieval world where some dynasties want to honor their noble house’s legacy and others just to destroy the dynasty’s bloodline.

In Age of Wonders III, unlike Crusader Kings III, you select a particular leader who will be the head of your campaign to explore and conquer the world. Each leader has their unique strengths and weaknesses. Thus, your choice will determine how your troops advance through the plains and how they relate with other races and settlements.

The opportunity to choose several classes also determines the approach of your clan to combat, which makes AoW3 very versatile regarding ways of addressing the gameplay and structuring your army. No doubt that you will want to play it again with different leaders.

Moreover, the RPG elements introduced in Age of Wonders III enhance the experience. Your leader and recruited heroes gain access to powerful weapons, augmenting their abilities in the turn-based strategy combat.


Key Features:

  • Six unique leader classes to create an empire that fits your style.

  • Playing as a true hero will lead you to victory over other races and realms.

  • The opportunity to explore, expand, wield magic or steel, and recruit heroes.


Age of Wonders III Global Steam CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Making History: The First World War

  • Release Date : March 5, 2021

  • Developer : Factum Games

  • Publisher: Factum Games

  • Platforms : PC, Linux

  • Metascore : N/A


Making History: The First World War is likely the most realistic title on this list since it is based on the real events of the Great War. This video game encompasses these events through a sprawling grand strategy approach by considering the big picture and all the fronts of the war.

Basically, I can resume MS: TFWW as a conquest and economic management where tactical combat is exchanged for an administrative approach of resources and armies. Your armies will face other armies by measuring their infantry and weaponry forces, delivering a total war in a particular part of Europe and other regions. It may not be the Second World War, but still, battles are devastating, just like a trench war can be.

One of the best aspects of TFWW is its attachment to history and real events, which provides a historical context of drama and life simulation. Still, the game does not leave aside the strategic gameplay, the infrastructure expansion, the city development, the global trade, the diplomacy, the world war combat, and more.


Key Features:

  • A realistic approach to the historical events occurred in Europe.

  • Multiple challenges, such as monetary management, diplomatic relationships, technological race, and harsh combat.

  • Manage multiple fronts and prevent the war from covering the globe.

Driftland: The Magical Revival

  • Release Date : April 18, 2019

  • Developer : Star Drifters

  • Publisher: Star Drifters

  • Platforms : macOS, Windows

  • Metascore : 76


Playing Driftland: The Magical Revival feels totally different from any other grand strategy game or political-centric title. Driftland happens on a floating land similar to Neverland from the Peter Pan fairy tale, where clans and raising realms advance to claim greatness. However, you still have to build an empire from scratch through a 4X approach.

In Driftland: The Magical Revival, gameplay revolves around the essential task of discovering and conquering new floating islands using your magic. Set in a world filled with wizards, sorcerers, and magical creatures, each island offers unique resources vital for satisfying your population's needs, constructing essential buildings, and enhancing your overall conditions.

Contrary to other iterations of the same genre, in Driftland, you gain such power that you can destroy pieces of land, terraform territories that cannot harbor life, or even create islands due to your magical abilities. This is how you build a great civilization in Driftland and even an alternative humanity in the skylands.


Key Features:

  • A devastated world that you must rebuild by gathering islands and expanding civilization.

  • Colorful visuals, great animations, and a floating land full of life.

  • Attack, conquer, and populate new territories to build a great economy and functional civilization.


Driftland: The Magical Revival Steam CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Oriental Empires

  • Release Date : September 20, 2016

  • Developer : R.T. Smith & John Carline

  • Publisher: Iceberg Interactive

  • Platforms : Microsoft Windows, Steam

  • Metascore : 74


Oriental Empires, contrary to Crusader Kings 3 and other grand strategy games, is set in Ancient China; thus, it entails many military and management differences and other stories happening with Chinese factions.

This title features a suite of competing interests you must manage across your rising empire, such as mercantile, religious, diplomatic, and military. It ensures you hours and hours of strategic fun and deep gameplay that goes from the macro to the micro. You'll have to pay attention to various factors, from the general condition of the empire to all the details in battle.

Oriental Empires encompasses massive real-time battles and an immersive gameplay experience, contrary to most video games mentioned in this list. It’s neither better nor worse; the game simply proposes a different perspective on the topic of monetary and army management. In Oriental Empires, you experience the battle from a close perspective. In other words, you can manage the general aspects of the factions from an aerial perspective but also close up the action and check what your unit’s behavior is.

In this sense, Oriental Empires offers a new insight into action and army management while competing with other factions for the control of China. These insights expand the experience and give you realistic warfare where the tactical approach, as well as the power of your forces, is essential.


Key Features:

  • Discover how the Chinese empire came to life by using a faction and conquering lands.

  • Several Chinese and Barbarian factions fight each other to become the greatest empire.

  • Turn-based combat and realistic units you need to control to win battles.


Oriental Empires Steam CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Old World

  • Release Date : July 1, 2021

  • Developer : Mohawk Games

  • Publisher: Hooded Horse

  • Platforms : Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

  • Metascore : 80


Old World offers a classical 4X grand strategy experience, featuring a hexagonal grid where actions and interactions with the map unfold. However, unlike traditional 4X games, Old World places a stronger emphasis on civilization-style strategy, requiring players to cultivate a robust settlement that evolves to secure survival and facilitate expansion.

As your city grows and wealth comes into your hands, you’ll be able to increase your military force and send it to other parts of the territory to attach new hexagons to your empire. This way, you’ll obtain more resources to increase even more population and infantry abilities.

Old World has several similarities to the Civilization franchise and Crusader Kings saga, with a similar concept of dynasties and narrative elements. Leaders in Old World also hold significant importance, with their unique personalities and directives shaping the trajectory of your empire and the outcomes of campaigns.

A crucial difference between Old World and other games of the same genre is that units and armies require a different number of orders to execute activities or advance through the land. This way, Old World gains an extra layer of management, giving you more control over what to do and what to avoid.

Another favorable aspect of Old World is its focus on cultivating positive relationships with other leaders, which can result in valuable gifts that further enhance your empire's technology and capabilities.


Key Features:

  • Beautiful realistic territories and several empires of the ancient age.

  • Arrange marriages and join empires to get important benefits.

  • The opportunity to recruit legendary heroes, philosophers, and diplomats.


Old Word Steam CD Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Knights of Honor II: Sovereign

  • Release Date : December 6, 2022

  • Developer : Black Sea Games

  • Publisher: THQ Nordic

  • Platforms : Microsoft Windows

  • Metascore : 76


Knights of Honor II: Sovereign is the more-than-expected sequel to the classic and acclaimed Knights of Honor, released in 2004, and a title that really improved the general mechanics and graphics of its predecessor.

Similar to Crusader Kings 3 and the first chapter of the series, Sovereign is a real-time grand strategy game set in medieval Europe. This way, you develop a kingdom from the beginning and convert it into the greatest empire of ancient Europe.

Combat in Knights of Honor: Sovereign feels really alive and looks like it was extracted from the Age of Empire franchise, with realistic destruction of walls and devastation of armies. Besides, the huge amount of kingdoms you can select offers you the possibility to try several perspectives because all the kingdoms feel different, with unique strengths and weaknesses.

Any character and environment you experience in Sovereign is rich in details and presents realistic textures achieved in a 3D map. This way, the immersion is even deeper, as if you were in a real warlike, medieval context.


Key Features:

  • A detailed grand strategy experience with hundreds of features and no confusion.

  • Real-time gameplay without turns which increases realism and the feeling you are in a true kingdom.

  • A real court full of knights, spies, clerics, diplomats, and more.

The Button Line

Many of us have dipped our toes into the realms of Age of Empires or Civilization at least once in our gaming journeys. From there, grand strategy games have evolved, offering us a plethora of intriguing mechanics to explore. Crusader Kings 3 stands as the culmination of many of these advancements. However, games like Crusader Kings 3 discussed in this article offer fantastic alternatives for those seeking different schemes, stories, and unique features. Find them all right here on RoyalCDKeys , and embark on your next medieval adventure to build your empire.