Crusader Kings 3 is now playable for free on Steam as part of a big sale. Anyone who decides to buy the game after the test will get a 50% discount on the price. The strategy game from Paradox is extremely popular and has regularly attracted tens of thousands of players since its release.
What kind of game is this? In Crusader Kings 3 you are a historical or custom ruler between the 7th and 15th centuries. You can play as a prince, king or emperor of different countries in Europe, Asia and parts of Africa.
Your goal is to build as large an empire as possible by the end of a game session. Through diplomacy, marriages or wars you strengthen alliances or expand your borders. Complex systems such as feudal hierarchies and successions or courtly intrigues come into play.
Crusader Kings 3 is a so-called “4X” game in which you are almost constantly in the macro view and manage entire empires or armies instead of individual buildings and units.
Only the beginning can be quite difficult: you will probably spend the first 10 hours just learning the basics. In our beginner’s guide, we give you 5 tips for getting started in Crusader Kings 3.
This is the offer: Crusader Kings 3 is currently free to play on Steam. The offer runs until May 15th. But if you want to play, you should hurry, because the download will take a while.
If you want to buy the game, you can still get it for half the price until May 18th: €24.99 instead of €49.99. Some of the DLC for the game are also discounted by 20%.
Crusader Kings 3: Trailer
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If you play correctly, you breed “supermen”
What makes Crusader King’s so good: On Steam, Crusader Kings 3 is “very well received” with 88% positive ratings. According to steamcharts, over 41,000 players are now playing for the free weekend.
For our editor-in-chief Schuhmann, Crusader Kings 3 is one of the best games ever. Although the game is historical, the actual development depends on how you play. His secret tip is inbreeding:
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Playing Crusader Kings 3 right breeds the “superman”
by Schuhmann
The aspect that gets the most praise is the vast scope of the game. Crusader Kings 3 offers many opportunities to develop: as a domineering tyrant, insidious schemer or ingenious business magnate. If you prefer to do mischief, you can start a nudist cannibal cult or a witch coven with contacts to the Vatican.
With the latest expansions, Crusader Kings 3 has increasingly developed into a kind of RPG hybrid and introduced many role-playing aspects. For example, you can set up your own throne room and even travel the country with your ruler with the “Tours and Tournaments” DLC. You can find GameStar’s test for the DLC here.
Despite its age, Crusader Kings 3 is still a popular game. The studio, Paradox, is known for such massive, big games. If you’re more into fantasy, you might like the studio’s latest game, Age of Wonders 4. For more cheap games on Steam, check out:
7 games on Steam under €10 that are worth your money