Stronghold: Crusader

Firefly Studios

Rank: #10 / 10
Released: 2002
Studio: Firefly Studios
Genre: real-time strategy, simulation video game

At a glance

Stronghold: Crusader HD is a real-time strategy and simulation game from Firefly Studios, built around Crusades-era battles, castle sieges and skirmish missions. It includes four historical campaigns and more than 100 skirmish missions, with AI opponents and new units. You can play as Richard the Lionheart or Saladin, and the campaigns cover conflicts from the First, Second and Third Crusades as well as struggles within Crusader states. The HD battlefield view lets you zoom out to see the whole map on one screen. The package includes Stronghold Crusader and Stronghold Crusader Extreme, which adds a few elements to the original game. Steam features include single-player and multiplayer, PvP and online PvP, a level editor, Steam Cloud, Trading Cards and Family Sharing. Stronghold: Crusader HD is listed for Windows and was released in 2013.

Who it is for

It suits strategy players interested in castle sieges, historical campaigns and skirmishes against AI opponents. Multiplayer and PvP options may also suit groups looking for competitive battles.

What is good

Four historical campaigns
More than 100 skirmish missions
HD view shows the whole map
Includes Crusader Extreme and a level editor

What to know first

Windows is the only listed platform
No co-op feature is listed

Verdict

Stronghold: Crusader HD combines campaign battles, skirmishes and castle tactics, with both Crusader and Extreme included. The whole-map battlefield view and level editor add options beyond its campaigns.