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Crusader Kings II

Crusader Kings II

Paradox Development Studio · February 14, 2012 · Grand Strategy, Strategy, Medieval, Historical, Political Sim

Crusader Kings II is free to play — no purchase needed. We track it so you know if that ever changes.

Strategy dealsParadox Interactive games
PC
Very Positive91% · 73,71882Metacritic585playing now
Best price
Free
Get it free on Steam

Prices last checked

Cheapest Crusader Kings II keys — keyshops

Keyshops are third-party marketplaces — keys are resold and can be region-locked or a different edition. Check the listing's region & edition before buying.

Gameseal
Gameseal
Standard Edition · Steam
$1.68
Buy
Keycense
Keycense
Standard Edition · Steam
-87%
$2.88
$21.68
Buy
Eneba
Eneba
Standard Edition · Steam
$21.39
Buy

Trailers & screenshots

Watch the Crusader Kings II trailer →

Crusader Kings II price

Crusader Kings II is free to play — there is no purchase price, on Steam or anywhere else we track. We keep watching it, so if it ever stops being free the price history on this page will show when that happened and what it changed to.

About Crusader Kings II

✦ AI summary

Build and defend your medieval dynasty across nearly four centuries of feudal politics, crusades, and intrigue in this grand strategy epic. Navigate complex relationships with hundreds of nobles with their own ambitions, manage succession across generations, and expand your realm while outmaneuvering rivals through diplomacy, warfare, and cunning schemes.

The Dark Ages might be drawing to a close, but Europe is still in turmoil. Petty lords vie against beleaguered kings who struggle to assert control over their fragmented realms. The Pope calls for a Crusade to protect the Christians in the Holy Land even as he refuses to relinquish control over the investiture of bishops - and their riches. Now is the time for greatness. Expand your demesne and secure the future of your dynasty. Fill your coffers, appoint vassals, root out traitors and heretics, introduce laws and interact with hundreds of nobles, each with their own agenda.
A good lord will always need friends to support him. But beware, as loyal vassals can quickly turn to bitter rivals, and some might not be as reliable as they seem... Stand ready, and increase your prestige until the world whispers your name in awe. Do you have what it takes to become a Crusader King?
Crusader Kings II explores one of the defining periods in world history in an experience crafted by the masters of Grand Strategy. Medieval Europe is brought to life in this epic game of knights, schemes, and thrones...

Key features:

  • Start a game at any point between 1066 and 1337 and play until 1453
  • Pick a Christian lord and make sure his dynasty survives as you play a succession of his descendants through the ages
  • Gain Prestige for every successive character you play, furthering the glory of your Dynasty
  • Expand your feudal domain - and keep it from falling apart
  • Unravel the plots of your courtiers and vassals, each with their own opinions and agendas
  • Take up the Cross and fight the Moor, the Heathen and the Heretic.
  • Defend against the onslaught of the Mongol Horde
  • Struggle with the Pope for control of the bishops
  • Relive the Middle Ages with up to 32 other players in a competitive multiplayer mode

Crusader Kings II — game info

Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux / SteamOS
Steam Deck
Playable
Player modes
Single-player, Multiplayer
PC Game Pass
Not included
More games like this:Mac gamesLinux games

Crusader Kings II in the rankings

DLC & expansions

E-book - Crusader Kings II: The Song of Roland-50%

E-book - Crusader Kings II: The Song of Roland

36
from$0.99
lowest tracked $0.22
Content Pack - Crusader Kings II: Conclave-66%

Content Pack - Crusader Kings II: Conclave

67
from$1.69
lowest tracked $1.49
Content Pack - Crusader Kings II: The Reaper's Due-66%

Content Pack - Crusader Kings II: The Reaper's Due

72
from$1.69
lowest tracked $1.64
Music - Crusader Kings II: Pagan Fury-50%

Music - Crusader Kings II: Pagan Fury

71
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lowest tracked
Content Pack - Crusader Kings II: Horse Lords-66%

Content Pack - Crusader Kings II: Horse Lords

58
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DLC - Crusader Kings II: Customization Pack-50%

DLC - Crusader Kings II: Customization Pack

36
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DLC - Crusader Kings II: Europa Universalis IV Converter-75%

DLC - Crusader Kings II: Europa Universalis IV Converter

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DLC - Crusader Kings II: Ruler Designer-50%

DLC - Crusader Kings II: Ruler Designer

36
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Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Legacy of Rome-50%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Legacy of Rome

36
from$2.49
lowest tracked $0.89
Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Sunset Invasion-50%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Sunset Invasion

36
from$2.49
lowest tracked $0.81
E-Book Crusader Kings II: Tales of Treachery-50%

E-Book Crusader Kings II: Tales of Treachery

47
from$3.49
lowest tracked $2.37
Music - Crusader Kings II: Pagan Fury - Warrior Queen-10%

Music - Crusader Kings II: Pagan Fury - Warrior Queen

from$3.59
lowest tracked $1.59
Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Sword of Islam-60%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Sword of Islam

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lowest tracked $1.61
Expansion - Crusader Kings II: The Reaper's Due-60%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: The Reaper's Due

41
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lowest tracked $1.66
Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Way of Life-50%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Way of Life

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Collection - Crusader Kings II: Ultimate Portrait Pack-75%

Collection - Crusader Kings II: Ultimate Portrait Pack

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Collection - Crusader Kings II: Ultimate Music Pack-80%

Collection - Crusader Kings II: Ultimate Music Pack

86
from$4.99
lowest tracked
Crusader Kings II - Expansion Subscription

Crusader Kings II - Expansion Subscription

from$4.99
lowest tracked $1.24
Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Holy Fury-75%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Holy Fury

59
from$4.99
lowest tracked $3.36
Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Sons of Abraham-50%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Sons of Abraham

36
from$4.99
lowest tracked $1.61
Expansion - Crusader Kings II: The Republic-50%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: The Republic

36
from$4.99
lowest tracked $1.61
Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Charlemagne-66%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Charlemagne

44
from$5.09
lowest tracked $1.56
Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Conclave-66%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Conclave

44
from$5.09
lowest tracked $2.51
Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Horse Lords-66%

Expansion - Crusader Kings II: Horse Lords

44
from$5.09
lowest tracked $2.51

What Steam players say

Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.

✦ AI summary

Players widely praise the game as fun and engaging with plenty of content, especially for those who enjoy experimenting with different character types and government systems. Common complaints include frustration with managing frequent rebellions and the game's steep learning curve, with some players feeling overwhelmed by the mechanics, while others note that additional story content seems locked behind DLC purchases.

Not recommended Sep 21, 2026
Why and HOW does this game run like ASS?
14 found this helpful
Not recommended Sep 21, 2026
What an amazing game. Amazing, and nigh unplayable. It's not broken -- far from it -- but it's so obtuse, with so many teeny tiny buttons that lead to so many complex screens that all kinda look alike, with so many buttons that look alike and portraits of characters who all basically look alike. I love the Three Kingdom games; I figured, I can get used to this, but it's not anywhere near as intuitive. Could be an age problem; maybe later Crusader Kings solve this problem. This one, though, is like an autistic kid infodumping rules to me without waiting to see if I heard what he already said. Eventually you just kind of tune out and go "uh huh, yup, that's cool, Timmy." I tried the tutorial scenario. At first everything went fine, but then I had to get my armies onto those damned ships and invade Canarias. Not enough ships. Then couldn't get the armies aboard the ships. Then couldn't tell how many armies were on the fleet. Sent the fleet to the Canarias. They got defeated. Whoops, guess the tutorial meant to hire more than one mercenary fleet. Hired two more. Got all the armies boarded, finally, mostly by randomly right and left clicking them and the fleet. Games ye…
5 found this helpful
Not recommended Sep 20, 2026
Steam Stole my time.
5 found this helpful
Recommended Sep 20, 2026
W larps
1 found this helpful
Recommended Sep 20, 2026
It's been 10 years since first playing the game with only two DLC and I still don't have a girlfriend... I have all the DLC now though!
Recommended Sep 20, 2026
nothing really interesting happened like it happens to everyone else who plays this game

Community reviews

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