Galactic Civilizations III: Crusade

 PC
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Gaming Nexus
    May 23, 2017
    95
    An example of what a good expansion can be. Adds depth and breadth to the original. Worth the 20 bucks, and more.
  2. PLAY! Zine
    Jul 12, 2017
    90
    Crusade brings everything that was missing from the original game, rounding it up into one of the best games in the genre.
  3. USgamer
    May 28, 2017
    90
    Crusade is everything that an expansion should be. It takes Galactic Civilizations III, sands off the rough edges, and adds new options for a deeper, more strategic experience. The new Citizens system offers more late-game options, espionage returns, planetary invasions are more tactical, and alongside the three new races, there's a new Civilization Builder letting you craft your own. If you're a GalCiv fan, it's an instant pick-up. If you're not, this might be the time to pick it up.
  5. COGconnected
    May 15, 2017
    90
    Galactic Civilizations III: Crusade is not just another DLC; this feels like an expansion or maybe even a sequel to the original release. While this was one of my favorite games already, the improved depth and gameplay make the 20th or 30th hour just as fun and interesting as the first – and that is saying something. Stardock has made one of gaming’s best 4X strategy games even better, and this an essential purchase for series veterans and newcomers alike.
  6. PCGamesN
    May 8, 2017
    90
    An expansion that makes arguably the best game in the series, even if it was a tad conservative, better and more exciting. But the real coup is how it makes every turn feel important. There’s always a new deal to be made, more citizens to groom, burgeoning worlds to fine-tune and enemies to spy on. Crusade’s tireless pursuit to make the moment-to-moment management as engaging as a galactic war is the real headline feature.
  7. GamingTrend
    May 8, 2017
    90
    There’s an absolute wealth of fantastic new features in Crusade, every one of which turns the 4X genre on its head. Few companies would rip apart a shipped product and inject so many improvements, but the risk paid off big time. There are still a few balance issues to clean up, but Crusade manages to take something conservative and turn it into something revolutionary.
  8. Multiplayer.it
    May 21, 2017
    88
    Galactic Civilization III: Crusade is the perfect expansion pack, with a lot of quality content for the base game fans.
  9. Riot Pixels
    Jun 5, 2017
    78
    We've been waiting for the developers of GalCiv 3 to fix their end-game mechanics, and they finally did.
  10. Cubed3
    Mar 19, 2018
    70
    Hitting the right notes of the genre, Galactic Civilization III: Crusade is a fun play and there is always the feeling of wanting to have just one more turn. The main issue holding it back from being truly great is the mid/late game grind of simply far too much stuff happening that needs to be dealt with. It will be interesting to see if the next major update fixes these issues, but fans of the genre will more than likely still enjoy this classic.
  11. ZTGD
    May 16, 2017
    70
    Ultimately, though, Crusade does what all good expansions should do – it takes a base game and improves upon it in significant ways. There is a great amount of new content here that will give existing players a fresh experience when returning to Galactic Civilizations III. It’s also competitively priced, which should entice newcomers as well. There are a few bugs and the rather large shadow of Stellaris that hang over this game, but all in all this is a really decent strategy title that should appeal to any fan of 4X gaming.

Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best PC Game of 2017

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 6 out of 22
  1. querbaer
    May 27, 2017
    4
    Too much and not enough at the same time. It changed the gameplay fundamentally - which is not advisable for a mere add-on. But then it didToo much and not enough at the same time. It changed the gameplay fundamentally - which is not advisable for a mere add-on. But then it did not put enough effort into the task of making the new elements work convincingly, giving them a useful meaning in every case and letting them work together with existing elements seamlessly. Feels like there has not been enough development time for too much work to be done.… Full Review »
  2. JonoR
    May 31, 2017
    3
    Is the expansion ambitious? Probably. But that doesn't matter when it is released in such a poor state. CTD and stuck turns are far tooIs the expansion ambitious? Probably. But that doesn't matter when it is released in such a poor state. CTD and stuck turns are far too frequent to be acceptable. Best to give this 6 - 12 months before considering to jump in.… Full Review »
  3. xtom
    Jun 1, 2017
    9
    Crusade is a great DLC that adds lots of new game features to GalCiv3. It's so good that really if you are going to pick up the base game youCrusade is a great DLC that adds lots of new game features to GalCiv3. It's so good that really if you are going to pick up the base game you really should get the Crusade DLC as well for the best gameplay experience. Buggy on release it has taken some negative review flak but the devs were quick to release updates and continue to work on further updates as I write this. Have played two full games so far on small and medium maps and had a blast. They are working on a Ludicrous map size for those that like longer games that are epic in size. Reckon this will be my go-to 4x strategy game for some time to come. Recommended.… Full Review »
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