Crusader Kings III

Crusader Kings III

Released Sep 2020

Love, fight, scheme, and claim greatness. Determine your noble house’s legacy in the sprawling grand strategy of Crusader Kings III. Death is only the beginning as you guide your dynasty’s bloodline in the rich and larger-than-life simulation of the Middle Ages.

83% positive · 142K reviews
Not yet
Released, but content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Not yet
Released, but content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned

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Evaluation

Crusader Kings III launched on September 1, 2020 and has received an extensive stream of paid expansions ever since, organized into named Chapter bundles. The most recent major expansion, By God Alone, launched today (September 30, 2026) alongside the free 1.20.0 "Crozier" update, bringing deep Christian ecclesiastical mechanics including playable theocracies, the College of Cardinals, the Great Schism, and Archdioceses. With By God Alone now shipped, one expansion remains listed on the store as unreleased: Silk & Silver. Developer diaries for this expansion have been running throughout 2026, with the most recent published on September 15, 2026 — just two weeks ago — describing the Merchant government type, Republic gameplay, the Silk Road situation, trade route systems, and economy mechanics. A September 1, 2026 dev diary confirmed the team was in the Iteration phase of development, describing it as the period where systems are being polished and integrated ahead of release. No release date has been announced yet, but the developer has been communicating steadily about the expansion's active progress. The game also offers a subscription DLC model (released January 27, 2026), and the studio has maintained a consistent pattern of major expansion releases throughout the game's lifespan — including All Under Heaven (October 28, 2025), Coronations (September 9, 2025), Khans of the Steppe (April 28, 2025), Roads to Power (September 24, 2024), and others. Silk & Silver is the next expansion in this ongoing series.
Evidence
By God Alone and the 1.20.0 'Crozier' free update launched today, adding playable theocracies, the Christian Church Situation, Archdioceses, the College of Cardinals, the Great Schism, and more.
news post · Sep 30, 2026 source content shipped
high
Silk & Silver Dev Diary #6 details Merchant gameplay, Commission Routes, Traders, cultural traditions, the Silk Road participant group, and Usury doctrine — all currently in development during the Iteration phase.
news post · Sep 15, 2026 source content planned
high

Content

32 of 33 released · 1 planned

Media

Details

Publisher
Paradox Interactive
Achievements
198
Platform
Windows, macOS, Linux
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · PvP

About this game

Your legacy awaits. Choose your noble house and lead your dynasty to greatness in a Middle Ages epic that spans generations. War is but one of many tools to establish your reign, as real strategy requires expert diplomatic skill, mastery of your realm, and true cunning. Crusader Kings III continues the popular series made by Paradox Development Studio, featuring the widely acclaimed marriage of immersive grand strategy and deep, dramatic medieval roleplaying.

  • Take command of your house and expand your dynasty through a meticulously researched Middle Ages. Begin in 867, 1066 or 1178 and claim lands, titles, and vassals to secure a realm worthy of your royal blood. Your death is only a footnote as your lineage continues with new playable heirs, either planned… or not.

  • Discover a sprawling simulated world teeming with peasants and knights, courtiers, spies, knaves and jesters, and secret love affairs. An extensive cast of historical characters can be romanced, betrayed, executed, or subtly influenced.

  • Explore a vast medieval map stretching from the snowswept Nordic lands to the Horn of Africa, and the British Isles in the west to the exotic riches of Burma in the east. Claim, conquer, and rule thousands of unique counties, duchies, kingdoms, and empires.

  • Each character is larger than life, with traits and lifestyle choices determining their actions and schemes. Prompt fear and dread as you rule with an iron fist, or inspire your subjects with magnanimous deeds. Genetics can be passed along to your children, be it the gift of genius or crippling stupidity.

  • Groom your heir with the appropriate guardians or educate them yourself. If found wanting, marry them off or despatch them through other means.

  • Customize your ruler and noble house, from appearance to attributes, and create a monarch worthy of all their inherited virtues and vices.

  • Govern an ever-evolving realm and grant titles to whom you see fit - or usurp your liege to claim their crown as your own. Be wary of rivals, from restless serfs to revengeful concubines.

  • The shadows stir frequently, and danger lurks around every darkened corner. Recruit agents and other unsavory elements to undermine, blackmail, or murder those who stand in your path. Or be inspired by the bard and ballad, and seduce your way to power and influence.

  • Blood will flow. Assemble men-at-arms units and powerful knights. Manage your battlefield tactics and armies. Raid and plunder nearby lands or hire mercenaries and Holy Orders for your major conflicts.

  • Be a pious king to invite the religious powers to your side, or design your own faith as you battle between everlasting fame or eternal damnation.

  • Bring novel innovations to your culture and construct mighty castles and bastions to increase the wealth, prestige, and security of your realm.

  • The paths to follow are limitless: experience thousands of dynamic events and life-altering decisions tailored to each and every conceivable situation and character. There are countless ways of securing and keeping your place in the history books.

Last evaluated Sep 30, 2026
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