Crusader Kings III

 PC
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 712 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 586 out of 712
  2. Mixed: 71 out of 712
  3. Negative: 55 out of 712

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  1. SebastiedJuan
    Mar 3, 2022
    3
    Nice bubble simulator
    They create a great game, potentially AMAZING and an history masterpiece around the stupid basic idea of a common MAP PAINTER.
    If they can fix this in futures Dlc (making hard way to conquer the world, make this impossoble with a lot of mecanism that they can put in, and focusing more on the rest of the expirience) the game can ideally easly get a 9,5 because yes,    Nice bubble simulator
    They create a great game, potentially AMAZING and an history masterpiece around the stupid basic idea of a common MAP PAINTER.
    If they can fix this in futures Dlc (making hard way to conquer the world, make this impossoble with a lot of mecanism that they can put in, and focusing more on the rest of the expirience) the game can ideally easly get a 9,5 because yes, this game can really be a total giant masterpiece, but it is not, for that reasons.
    I.a. totally broken and is a shame for a strategik games. Game deserve a 6 or a 7 but i give 0 cause reviews are unfairs.    … Expand
  2. IKamin
    Feb 18, 2021
    0
    The game is great, but... The Tsardom of Russia (predecessor state to the Russian Empire) historically wasn't formed until 1547. It is not historically accurate to name Kievan Rus this way.
  3. VALTURY
    Dec 24, 2020
    0
    Historical game? Ukrainian lands (Rus`) called Russia. It`s big mistake, on CK2 all right - Ruthenia (Ukraine) - was Rus`, why in new chapter u call this land like Russia?
  4. Pashu1289
    Aug 30, 2021
    1
    Potentially good game but no Ukrainian language. If dont speak English well - dont bye it, there is a LOT text in the game.
  5. PenetratorGod
    Jan 17, 2023
    4
    The game is beautiful and definitely has potential, but the development process has been so terrible that I can't give it a high score. The way the production company treats their games and their players is a disgrace. The game will probably only be fully playable in 2025 or so.
  6. sanyaverni100
    Sep 6, 2020
    0
    Are you seriously? I understand that money doesn't smell, and the russian market is big, but why rewrite history for this? Kievan Rus is NOT russia, it appeared long before the russian empire
  7. Ananisapta
    Sep 14, 2020
    4
    I have generally enjoyed strategy games and RPGs. This was billed as both but I was neither entertained nor educated. Some of the historical references were absurd, such as an outbreak of Lollardy in the 11th century, 300 years before it existed in our history. I didn't find the combat very strategic; you need to manage your army so you can be ready for conflict, and you need to beI have generally enjoyed strategy games and RPGs. This was billed as both but I was neither entertained nor educated. Some of the historical references were absurd, such as an outbreak of Lollardy in the 11th century, 300 years before it existed in our history. I didn't find the combat very strategic; you need to manage your army so you can be ready for conflict, and you need to be aggressive to have any fun at all, but when it comes down to it you have no serious strategic or tactical role to play. I managed to preserve my dynasty through a couple of generations but then a bizarre artifact of Irish politics left me with no attractive character to play. Shortly after that, the person I had nominated as my heir in the previous incarnation led an uprising against the character I was stuck with; when I ceded my title, I was told that the game was over. If I wanted to play the character I'd ceded to, I found he had become the liege of some foreigner I'd never heard of and the kingdom I worked so hard to build was fragmented and impoverished. It's a little too much gloom and doom for this season of plague and tribal politics; I'm going to find something that's more fun!… Expand
  8. Adast_Adamov
    Sep 13, 2020
    0
    I can't condone Russian revisionism of history in any form. Kievan Rus and Russia are not the same thing.
  9. TreborYelam
    Sep 4, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Turn on debug mode. You aren't actually playing as your own children. They took the seduction problems of CK2, ramped them up to x10, and removed the option to disable AI seduction. If you want your immersion wrecked, literally just turn on debug mode and check. No one in your family tree is actually yours, literally almost every single character and AI is getting cucked.

    Ruined the fun for me. I'm spoiler tagging this so that innocents don't have to see it and get their immersion broken.    … Expand
  10. LaughingSam
    Sep 19, 2020
    3
    Worried they dumbed down a lot of things from CK2? They did.
    Worried they left out years of innovations to sell them back to you? They did.
    Didn't worry that they might do something purely pants on head like make the entire world use gavelkind succession for centuries? You should have.
    But now with playing dress-up!
  11. taurus4901
    Sep 2, 2020
    2
    One of the most disappointing games for me, after dumping in 1.6k hours in Ck2, 600 hours in EUIV and 300 hours in Vicky 2, this and imperator really left a bitter taste in my mouth. The game is dumbed down to an unbelievable extent. There are not enugh map modes, no economic mapmode or no direct vassals mapmode, what the hell were they thinking, character finder doesn't have a would joinOne of the most disappointing games for me, after dumping in 1.6k hours in Ck2, 600 hours in EUIV and 300 hours in Vicky 2, this and imperator really left a bitter taste in my mouth. The game is dumbed down to an unbelievable extent. There are not enugh map modes, no economic mapmode or no direct vassals mapmode, what the hell were they thinking, character finder doesn't have a would join court option, can't wait for these to be added in later as DLCs. Armies are a joke, they weren't that complex in ck2 either, but they did the trick, here they're a complete joke, no more left flank,center and right flank commander based on their traits as such you just put one dude with high martial and you're good to go, yet another proof of them dumbing down the game to make it more and more casual to try and appeal to the mythical wider audience. Navies are gone, that's right. We're back to the absolute whack system in CK1, where the army of a large landlocked empire can just pull a fleet out of their asses, sure the CK2 system had some flaws regarding fleets, but atleast there was some plannign around it in early game.This feels like a massive opportunity for them to throw in row men row dlc. Remember when paradox used to throw shade at civilization and Rome 2 total war for having soldiers that turn into ships, oh how the mighty have fallen. Actually speaking of which this feels like a really bad rip off of civilization merged with sims and a bit of previous titles from paradox, literally the worst of all them. I found the music extremly boring and generic and got tired of it really fast (2 hours of playtime to be more exact). The interface looks boring and bland and it's a complete pain in the ass to navigate through, with subemenus hidden inside submenus and such as opposed to CK2, where you just had all the menus displayed on the main screen. The keybindings for map modes, yet another thing that you can't change it's annoying as hell, in CK2 they were all keybound to q,w,e,r,t,y in the order they were displayed, now it's an absolute **** there, and you will have an easier time just clicking on them. All in all terrible experience for any veteran player of grand strategies around here. Avoid this all together, get the original CK2 for free and spend the rest of your money on dlcs, it's a much better deal.
    Also another, note: This piece of **** shouldn't have been made in the first place, when the original ck2 was still perfectly functional and up to date, how about that god damn victoria 3, paradox? But unfortunately, paradox seems to follow ea's bussiness model with sims. Milk the hell out of a game for years and years, then release a new game that's only a minor graphical upgrade while being barebones in any other category.
    Terrible experience once again, worse than march of the eagles or imperator. Everythign that made the predecessor fun has been sacrificed on the alter of accessibility for the casual player, who'll buy this, play for 6 or 8 hours or so and then quit never to touch it again    … Expand
  12. RetartedPersoN
    Sep 10, 2020
    0
    Unnecessary money-grab re-skinned sequel of Crusader Kings II, created by team of greedy Swedish cuck developers. Right on time to cash-in after the previous game surpassed its usefulness as a money cow to be milked with DLCs. Shameless, greedy Swedish CUCK developers announce plans to release paid DLCs months before the game is even released. Game is based on vanilla Crusader Kings IIUnnecessary money-grab re-skinned sequel of Crusader Kings II, created by team of greedy Swedish cuck developers. Right on time to cash-in after the previous game surpassed its usefulness as a money cow to be milked with DLCs. Shameless, greedy Swedish CUCK developers announce plans to release paid DLCs months before the game is even released. Game is based on vanilla Crusader Kings II without DLCs, designed to milk as much money as possible in the next years. New features include worse UI, cosmetic graphical reskin, and Seduction Focus from CKII Way of Life DLC turned up to 11 so that all kids in your dynasty are the result of adultery. Also features like gender reversal mode so that women rule in Medieval times and other ahistorical nonsense by this Swedish cucked developer.… Expand
  13. PluToxin
    Sep 6, 2020
    0
    I don't understand how this game is good. I have been playing the tutorial for 3 days and never left Ireland. This game is basically a marriage simulator with no win condition. I arranged more marriages than I did anything else (fight battles, own holdings, expand territory). Also, the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire just tap dance all across the map and conquer everything. I'dI don't understand how this game is good. I have been playing the tutorial for 3 days and never left Ireland. This game is basically a marriage simulator with no win condition. I arranged more marriages than I did anything else (fight battles, own holdings, expand territory). Also, the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire just tap dance all across the map and conquer everything. I'd rather play Stellaris where I can actually do something. Civ is more fun than this game. 0/10 would not play again.… Expand
  14. Ezner
    Nov 14, 2020
    0
    I can't remember the last time I was in such strong disagreement with the reviews for a game. I'm new to the series but a big fan of the genre. I love games with complexity and nuance. I love games that make you yearn for "one more turn."

    But Crusader Kings 3 - ain't it. The game is completely incomprehensible. I have started and restarted the "recommended start" level about 40 times,    I can't remember the last time I was in such strong disagreement with the reviews for a game. I'm new to the series but a big fan of the genre. I love games with complexity and nuance. I love games that make you yearn for "one more turn."

    But Crusader Kings 3 - ain't it. The game is completely incomprehensible. I have started and restarted the "recommended start" level about 40 times, and have quit in frustration about 40 times, as various nonsense random events ruin my game start just about every time. Coupled with the fact that you can't choose your starting skill tree means I had to start and restart the game multiple times to get the starting character I actually wanted. I have never reviewed a video game before in my 32 years on this earth but I had to come here and warn others about this. Do not waste the $60!    … Expand
  15. enki666
    Sep 3, 2020
    2
    Literally disappointed.
    I used to play CK2 earlier and it was my favourite paradox game because it’s an rpg with ruler role-pool. Now about this game. Tutorial was very exciting: new lifestyle system and traits, new intrigue mechanics, and new visuals of titles on map, like baronies areas on map, and ofc new confessional reforms and amount of religions and confessions... These things    Literally disappointed.
    I used to play CK2 earlier and it was my favourite paradox game because it’s an rpg with ruler role-pool. Now about this game. Tutorial was very exciting: new lifestyle system and traits, new intrigue mechanics, and new visuals of titles on map, like baronies areas on map, and ofc new confessional reforms and amount of religions and confessions... These things turned out to be unnecessary! You have no motivation for changing your confession, because it just became a modifier, not more. Everything you do is just fighting with neighbours with autofleet, stupid casual battles, etc. This game literally become a synthesis of sims (mobile sims with no gameplay that just posing on a named pc game moneysucker) and civilisation. It is not a crusader kings 3. It is a game, that looks like crusader kings, named “crusader kings” and trying to show us a lot of gameplay features, that literally made of cardboard. Very sad, that paradox became default publisher of casual games, pretending to be a heir of CK series. Very bad, dcl wont help.    … Expand
  16. georgy999
    Sep 17, 2020
    4
    I burnt up. I don’t get it - what a hell wrong with this game. Is Paradox tested it? I have a vassal limit as Emperor at 60. OK, but WTF, why mechanics is not working? "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal"! Hello, why I create the kingdom in my Empire, grated it to the Duche, grant him de-jure duchies of kingdom and still have vassal limit point at 62/60! What a f... How it can beI burnt up. I don’t get it - what a hell wrong with this game. Is Paradox tested it? I have a vassal limit as Emperor at 60. OK, but WTF, why mechanics is not working? "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal"! Hello, why I create the kingdom in my Empire, grated it to the Duche, grant him de-jure duchies of kingdom and still have vassal limit point at 62/60! What a f... How it can be ruined so much. Why in CK2 everything is perfectly working (maybe not from start, but I don't remember such disaster), why UI in CK2 is so much better and comfortable, why to compare the de-jure and de-facto borders of my vassal I must do 10 mouse click? I don't get it. I understand that Paradox want to produce DLCs as Sims, but what about mechanics, comfortable interface. Why in CK2 the character search icon is masterpiece and in CK3 is a joke. Where is the cool music, why is antianalyzing is so crap. CK2 was the game where children can learn history, because it was so good and fun; and this – this is the game that have 100 point from IGN, this is **** Aut Caesar, aut nihil.… Expand
  17. Serkumflex
    Feb 12, 2021
    0
    This is a kind of humiliation. Historical inaccuracy about the Russian Empire, which was formed only in 1721, while the game itself lasts until 1453, okay (((
    As for the game itself, it is not bad, it lasted more than one day, but such discrimination and unwillingness to at least google what happened when and how, reflects all the desire to make a more positive assessment.
  18. roycc
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This game is basically a reskin of CK2. The only notable part about this game, compared to its predecessor, was the newly animated characters. But, since this game is lacking a ruler designer, that’s not all that much to bring home. Keep in mind this game launched with 4 DLCs, no telling how many more are to come. Typical paradox money grabbing copy & paste coding work.
  19. Screammer
    Sep 2, 2020
    1
    This game cannot be called historical, the authors allow themselves to simply take and destroy one of the greatest countries of the Middle Ages, Kievan Rus and insert in its place a misunderstanding that Russia did not exist in 1066 AD, the Russian Empire appeared only in 1721 AD. The authors do not read history and do everything only with an eye to where there is more market for the saleThis game cannot be called historical, the authors allow themselves to simply take and destroy one of the greatest countries of the Middle Ages, Kievan Rus and insert in its place a misunderstanding that Russia did not exist in 1066 AD, the Russian Empire appeared only in 1721 AD. The authors do not read history and do everything only with an eye to where there is more market for the sale of this pseudo-historical game. It's a shame for such a big game.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kievan_Rus%27    … Expand
  20. otto500206
    Nov 14, 2020
    1
    This game is not better than it's predecessor, because of the big amount of cut things and the big amount of dumbing down. 2 government types(nomads and merchant republics), the old levy raising system, bloodlines. artifacts and more things that I didn't wrote to here is cut. And we have just 2 two things against that in CK3: lifestyle and a legacies system.

    The game looks great, but    This game is not better than it's predecessor, because of the big amount of cut things and the big amount of dumbing down. 2 government types(nomads and merchant republics), the old levy raising system, bloodlines. artifacts and more things that I didn't wrote to here is cut. And we have just 2 two things against that in CK3: lifestyle and a legacies system.

    The game looks great, but should we really care about graphics this much on a strategy game like this?    … Expand
  21. AlexBBerg
    Sep 2, 2020
    3
    If this was the console version of CK2 it would be pretty good. It's not, so it isn't. Cut content and bad UI. Might be good in 2-3 years, but they are gonna milk this for sooooo much DLC.
  22. achmedino
    Sep 3, 2020
    3
    You will basically be paying more money for a game with less content than Ck2. There are currently only two gameplay styles - feudal and tribal - and these play the same all over the map with only slight differences in religion. You're better off spending your money on DLC for ck2, and play that for 1000 hours than buying this and playing it for 50 hours, just to enjoy the new UI and theYou will basically be paying more money for a game with less content than Ck2. There are currently only two gameplay styles - feudal and tribal - and these play the same all over the map with only slight differences in religion. You're better off spending your money on DLC for ck2, and play that for 1000 hours than buying this and playing it for 50 hours, just to enjoy the new UI and the couple of added features that ck2 doesn't have.… Expand
  23. RBH1
    Sep 29, 2020
    2
    the game feels like it's written and designed by and for social justice warrior.... this ain't crusader king, it's social justice warrior king.
  24. duduoliveira
    Sep 4, 2020
    0
    recomendo todo mundo jogar o jogo esta muito mais simples que o CK2 e muito mais bonito
  25. Kadirov
    Jan 4, 2021
    0
    Каким-то образом это "чудо" получило 4 место в списке лучших игр за 2020. А всё потому, что у этой, кхм, игры всего 300 отзывов и она никому не интересна кроме узкого круга задротов, что всегда наставят ей десятки. в отличие от того же Киберпанка, с его несколькими тысячами, что интересен более нормальной аудитории и соберет отзывы от более широких масс.Каким-то образом это "чудо" получило 4 место в списке лучших игр за 2020. А всё потому, что у этой, кхм, игры всего 300 отзывов и она никому не интересна кроме узкого круга задротов, что всегда наставят ей десятки. в отличие от того же Киберпанка, с его несколькими тысячами, что интересен более нормальной аудитории и соберет отзывы от более широких масс.
  26. Strategydrocher
    Sep 6, 2020
    0
    Игра класс но в ней не хватает пока длс и как во 2 части общества (войны маги монахи и учёные)
  27. Mr_Master13
    Dec 19, 2021
    0
    Your product is really great, but finally rename Russia to Rus. Russia is not successor of Rus!
  28. jaco111
    Sep 12, 2020
    4
    I fully understand that it cannot have the huge amount of features part 2 has with all dlc but they could have added a little bit more. At the moment it's simply not fun to play for me and the reason are a lot of different issues. While revolts were annoying in ck2 they made the game more interesting. I see some factions forming in ck3 but never had a revolt of my lords in about 40 hoursI fully understand that it cannot have the huge amount of features part 2 has with all dlc but they could have added a little bit more. At the moment it's simply not fun to play for me and the reason are a lot of different issues. While revolts were annoying in ck2 they made the game more interesting. I see some factions forming in ck3 but never had a revolt of my lords in about 40 hours game time. Filter options are missing for example for vassals having a different religion. You can scroll through the whole list checking manually and that's abetter UI? Talking about the UI do you remember the option on the character screens to disallow taking part in battles? After loosing 3 sons i found the option in army management-> knights. Several clicks and you have to remember checking it every time a son reaches adulthood, well at least you have to remember if you prefer to keep them alive. And i could continue my rant for a long time. I guess they will fix many of those problems and once there are some DLC's the game will probably also get more interesting. Hmm wanted to stop the rant but talking about DLC the first dlc package sold for 30 bucks without any information about the content , let's say i'm not impressed.… Expand
  29. arnold73
    Mar 19, 2022
    1
    di più non si può senza neanche i sub ita, andate va ...avete messo 200 lingue , ma l'italiano niente
  30. DickPain
    Jan 1, 2022
    2
    This game is an unrewarding chore interspersed by occasionally interesting fragments of written text. Whether I owed a county, or a duchy, the game is pretty much the same. Children are born. Marriages happen. And players continue having to scrutinise the similar stat lines of hundreds of NPCs.
  31. XBliss
    Sep 27, 2021
    4
    CK2 with improved graphics, interface and clipped content. Yes, the new CK does not have any content from Ck2's DLCs and you know what it means if you played paradox games before... For next ~5 years this game will have around 20 DLCs implementing content that already was in previous game.
  32. somedevsaregood
    May 1, 2022
    0
    This game is total **** **** you **** eaters that think this game is good.
    Your all full of **** for like this game being sold for $60.
  33. Hooman98
    Mar 15, 2022
    0
    First of all, game is absolutely stunning and I really love it! Just one thing that I wish was different is giving random stats to rullers in beggning of every new games, I played Gilan and Saffarids empire, everytime in the start of new ones your rullers have new stats which effects your entire game! sometimes your ruller is stronger and sometimes weaker depends on your chance by the wayFirst of all, game is absolutely stunning and I really love it! Just one thing that I wish was different is giving random stats to rullers in beggning of every new games, I played Gilan and Saffarids empire, everytime in the start of new ones your rullers have new stats which effects your entire game! sometimes your ruller is stronger and sometimes weaker depends on your chance by the way score is 10!… Expand
  34. Procrustes
    May 15, 2023
    0
    I am tired with paradox selling me unfinished products released on different overpriced DLC stages in order to milk my wallet for the years to come. Thus they deserve a 0 for being anticonsumer and predatory.
  35. max_gradient
    Aug 3, 2023
    1
    Can't recommend in this state at this price.

    * Too much focus on RPG part of the game (frequent random events that get repetitive/annoying very quickly) instead of the mechanics. Many parts of the game could use new/deeper mechanics (HRE, papacy, crusades, diplomacy, republics etc.). Unfortunately the DLC seems to focus on even more RPG events instead of core game mechanics. * Game    Can't recommend in this state at this price.

    * Too much focus on RPG part of the game (frequent random events that get repetitive/annoying very quickly) instead of the mechanics. Many parts of the game could use new/deeper mechanics (HRE, papacy, crusades, diplomacy, republics etc.). Unfortunately the DLC seems to focus on even more RPG events instead of core game mechanics.

    * Game too easy overall. Limitless aggressive expansion is possible. Intrigue is too powerful.

    * Bad UI, even by Paradox standards. The new map lacks many important viewmodes that were essential in CK2, and requires you to zoom in/out constantly to finally fade in the content you need (armies, counties etc. - but at the same time you get useless terrain features, snow effects etc.). This requires constant use of the mouse wheel, which makes for very poor ergonomics. UI Scaling beyond 130 % not possible without losing content, making text too small on UHD displays.    … Expand
  36. Quazder
    Aug 22, 2023
    4
    Got bored after 10 hours of playing it I guess my adhd is just too big to play this game

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PC Game of 2020
28
#28 Most Discussed PC Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 61 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 61
  3. Negative: 0 out of 61
  1. Softpedia
    Feb 16, 2022
    90
    Crusader Kings III has good mechanics and production but what sets it apart is the way it connects to the era it depicts. The experience leans into role-playing and personalities in a way that feels true to the image that most players have about the period between 867 to 1453. Without striving to be educational, the Paradox title also manages to be an excellent jumping-off point to learn more about the period, its main characters, its social dynamics. The development studio has also done well when it comes to post-launch support. There’s downloadable content, of course, but free patches have also arrived regularly, improving systems and eliminating bugs. But more work is needed both in the balance and the immersion department. Crusader Kings III is an excellent way to tell and enjoy stories and I can’t wait to experience how Paradox will add depth to its various mechanics.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Nov 16, 2020
    90
    A worthy successor to Crusader Kings II. Right now, it is not as deep and demanding as its predecessor with all its expansions installed, but it still is an excellent strategy game. For newcomers it’s a great way to dive into the world of crowned tyrants, treacherous vassals, unfaithful wives, and inconvenient babies strangled in their cradles. [11/2020, p.56]
  3. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Oct 21, 2020
    92
    Crusader Kings III is definitely a success. The developers made a huge self-evolving world where the players can do as they please. It’s unrivaled both in scale and level of detail. [Issue#248, p.68]
See all critic reviews »