Games Like Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition

Greetings sire! Your stronghold awaits you. Build a castle economy, besiege unforgettable villains and return to the 'castle sim' that started it all. Experience this classic RTS with upgraded visuals, modernised gameplay, Steam multiplayer and a new campaign.

Why similar: City Builder 13.4%, Real Time Tactics 11.1%, Colony Sim 10.9% ★, RTS 7.2%, Tower Defense 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: This modern remaster of the original game provides the most similar core experience, focusing on the classic castle-building and economic management that defines the series.

Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game featuring in-depth city building, large-scale tactical battles, and complex economic and social simulations. Rule your lands as a medieval lord – the seasons pass, the weather changes, and cities rise and fall.

Why similar: Colony Sim 18.4% ★, City Builder 17.1%, Economy 10.8%, Base Building 10.2%, Building 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a highly detailed blend of organic city-building and tactical real-time combat that feels like a modern evolution of the Stronghold formula.

Stronghold Crusader 2 is the long awaited sequel to the original castle sim. After 12 years Stronghold returns to the desert with a new 3D engine and powerful Havok Physics. Crusader 2 recaptures the original game’s addictive, fast-paced gameplay and authentic castle simulation.

Why similar: City Builder 25.2%, RTS 17%, Medieval 16.5%, Strategy 16.4%, Historical 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: As the direct sequel, it continues the desert-themed siege warfare and tactical skirmish gameplay of the original.

Tax, torture or treat your peasants! Rehabilitate criminals or sentence them to death? Decide as you enjoy jousting over a lavish banquet, all while under siege from the warmongering Lord Barclay.

Why similar: City Builder 13.3%, Colony Sim 13.3% ★, Real Time Tactics 11.2%, War 7.6%, RTS 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: This entry expands on the series' signature castle-building with more complex social and economic simulation elements.

42 Civilizations, 229 Campaign Missions, Singleplayer, Co-Op, Multiplayer, In-Game Editor, Mods, Cross-play...It is good to be the king.

Why similar: City Builder 25%, RTS 22.2%, Strategy 14.3%, Base Building 12.6%, Medieval 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: The gold standard for medieval real-time strategy, offering a perfect balance of base-building and large-scale military campaigns.

Build and manage your own castle settlement in a land reclaimed by wilderness. With detailed management, survival strategy, and a moddable sandbox world, Going Medieval challenges you to build the mightiest colony this side of the apocalypse.

Why similar: Colony Sim 23.6% ★, City Builder 20.8%, Economy 13.4%, Base Building 12.7%, Historical 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: This colony-sim allows for deep, multi-level castle construction and management in a harsh medieval setting.

Besiege Great Khans, Imperial warlords and Shōgun commanders in Stronghold: Warlords, the latest 'castle sim' from Firefly Studios. Command AI warlords across the battlefield as you build a castle economy and new gunpowder-fuelled siege engines!

Why similar: City Builder 13.2%, Colony Sim 13% ★, Real Time Tactics 11%, War 7.2%, RTS 7%

Why You'll Like It: This title introduces unique 'Warlord' mechanics that add a new layer of diplomacy and tactical control to the classic siege gameplay.

Protect and guide your people as you forge a town from untamed wilderness at the edge of the known world. Harvest raw materials, hunt, fish and farm to survive. Produce crafted items to trade, consume, equip and fight with as you battle for your survival against the elements and outside threats.

Why similar: City Builder 17.7%, Colony Sim 15.9% ★, Building 11.5%, RTS 10.4%, Economy 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: It challenges players with complex medieval city-building and survival mechanics that require careful resource management.

Build a castle by day and defend it by night. Becastled blends cozy city-building with challenging tower defense strategy. Lead the Sun Kingdom’s last stand against the Moon Beasts and end the ancient conflict between light and darkness!

Why similar: City Builder 18.8%, Colony Sim 14.9% ★, Base Building 14.9%, RTS 10.8%, Medieval 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: It focuses specifically on the castle defense aspect of the genre, tasking players with building and protecting their fortress against waves of enemies.

Foundation is a grid-less, laidback medieval city-building game with a focus on organic development, monument construction and resource management.

Why similar: City Builder 30.6%, Medieval 11.3%, Colony Sim 9.5% ★, Economy 8%, Building 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on organic, grid-less city-building with a strong emphasis on medieval aesthetics and production chains.

Diplomacy is Not an Option is a strategy game set in a medieval fantasy world. Build your town and defenses, raise huge armies and fight against massive hordes of enemies. How long can you survive?

Why similar: Colony Sim 23% ★, Medieval 12.5%, Base Building 12.4%, Historical 11.1%, RTS 8%

Why You'll Like It: This game emphasizes the frantic defense of a settlement against massive armies, requiring efficient resource management and tactical positioning.

Spanning the most turbulent era in Western history, your quest for territory and power takes you through Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and even onto the shores of the New World.

Why similar: Medieval 22.9%, Strategy 16.7%, Historical 15.4%, War 15.3%, RTS 15.1%

Why You'll Like It: It combines grand-strategy map management with massive, tactical real-time siege battles that capture the scale of medieval warfare.

Become the king and fight over Europe in this fresh take on medieval real-time grand strategy. Manage provinces, gather armies, initiate diplomacy, and dabble in espionage. The path is open: become the true Sovereign of your people and bring them to glory.

Why similar: RTS 25.5%, Medieval 24.7%, Strategy 21.1%, Historical 11.7%, City Builder 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a deep grand-strategy experience with real-time tactical battles that mirror the political and military struggles of the medieval era.

Relive the captivating gameplay of a true city-building classic with Anno® 1404 History Edition.

Why similar: City Builder 35.6%, Colony Sim 18.3% ★, Building 14.9%, Strategy 12%, Medieval 5.6%

Why You'll Like It: It offers deep economic management and complex production chains that will appeal to players who enjoy the logistics side of Stronghold.

Catapult werewolves over castle walls, incinerate troops with dragon fire and command the Knights of the Round Table! This remaster of the mythical ‘castle sim’ features Steam multiplayer, Workshop support, new maps, achievements and DLC campaigns.

Why similar: Colony Sim 13.1% ★, City Builder 12.9%, Real Time Tactics 11.6%, Economy 7.3%, War 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: This spin-off introduces fantasy elements and unique hero units to the traditional castle-building formula.

Play as mythological Gods and smite your enemies in this award-winning, mythological Real-Time Strategy classic given new life. Wage war across timeless campaigns, fierce skirmishes, and god-powered multiplayer modes.

Why similar: RTS 33.1%, Base Building 25.8%, Strategy 14.3%, Resource Management 13.4%, PvP 13.3%

Why You'll Like It: While fantasy-themed, it provides a polished RTS experience with robust base-building and tactical combat.

With this modernized History Edition dive into the diversified mix of enthralling build-up matches and exciting real-time fights. Manifold landscapes await to be explored and populated. Includes the main game plus the two expansions.

Why similar: Colony Sim 39.2% ★, City Builder 23.8%, RTS 14.5%, Strategy 11.9%, Medieval 10.7%

Why You'll Like It: A classic title that emphasizes the importance of supply lines and economic growth within a medieval setting.

Rewrite medieval history through bloody siege combat in a fusion of RTS and Grand Strategy genres. Rule, build, and serve your King as a minor lord in medieval Europe. Experience siege, field and naval combat with an unseen degree of brutality. Rogue-like progression, epic towns and battles await…

Why similar: City Builder 16.6%, Real Time Tactics 13.5%, RTS 12.6%, Economy 10.3%, Medieval 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses heavily on the siege and RTS elements of the medieval era, offering a gritty take on castle warfare.

Celebrating its first year of delighting millions of global players, the award-winning and best-selling strategy franchise continues with Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, putting you at the center of even more epic historical battles that shaped the world.

Why similar: RTS 19.3%, City Builder 15.3%, Base Building 13%, War 12.9%, Strategy 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: A modern real-time strategy game that excels in base-building and historical military campaigns.

Rise of Nations is back! Play the updated classic with full Steamworks integration and enhanced features!

Why similar: RTS 33.1%, Strategy 19.3%, Historical 12.6%, War 12.3%, City Builder 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A historical RTS that blends deep base-building with a progression system that spans multiple eras of human history.

Gather coins, build defenses and reclaim your fallen Kingdom. Explore and uncover secrets, unlock new technologies and protect your crown versus waves of Greed monsters that come at night. Kingdom is a solo or co-op micro-strategy and tower defense game set in an atmospheric pixel world.

Why similar: City Builder 20.8%, Tower Defense 19.1%, Colony Sim 18.7% ★, Medieval 10.6%, Base Building 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: A minimalist take on castle management and defense that captures the feeling of building and protecting a realm from side-scrolling threats.

Set 10 years after the original, Stronghold 3: Gold follows the vengeful story of The Wolf in the third installment of the award-winning castle building series. The Wolf has cheated death become even more bitter and twisted. Build castles, rally your troops and save medieval England!

Why similar: City Builder 25.5%, Strategy 14.8%, Medieval 13.7%, RTS 13%, Base Building 6%

Why You'll Like It: It continues the core castle-building formula with updated physics and siege mechanics.

Humans are long gone. In a world struck by droughts and toxic waste, will your lumberpunk beavers do any better? A sandbox city-building game featuring ingenious animals, vertical architecture, water physics, and terraforming. Contains high amounts of wood.

Why similar: City Builder 30%, Colony Sim 26.6% ★, Base Building 12.5%, Building 11.8%, Sandbox 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: Its unique vertical building and water management systems offer a fresh take on the resource-management challenges found in castle sims.

Age of Empires, the pivotal real-time strategy game that launched a 20-year legacy returns with modernized gameplay, all-new 4K visuals, 8-person multiplayer battles and a host of other new features. Welcome back to history.

Why similar: RTS 23.4%, City Builder 23.1%, Strategy 15.9%, Base Building 14.4%, Historical 11.4%

Why You'll Like It: The foundation of the classic RTS genre, offering a pure experience of base-building and military conquest.

A massively multiplayer grand strategy game, Stronghold Kingdoms is about forging alliances, political mind games, city-building and castle sieges with thousands of other players!

Why similar: City Builder 13.6%, Colony Sim 12% ★, Strategy 10%, Medieval 9.3%, Real Time Tactics 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: An MMO take on the Stronghold formula that allows players to manage their own medieval fiefdoms in a persistent world.

In this city-building strategy game, you control a group of exiled travelers who decide to restart their lives in a new land. They have only the clothes on their backs and a cart filled with supplies from their homeland. The townspeople of Banished are your primary resource.

Why similar: Colony Sim 32% ★, City Builder 31.7%, Strategy 7.1%, Medieval 6.5%, Sandbox 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: This is the definitive medieval survival city-builder, focusing on the harsh realities of managing a population through changing seasons.

Rediscover the classic gameplay of 1701 A.D. and its expansion The Sunken Dragon in Anno® 1701 History Edition.

Why similar: Colony Sim 21.6% ★, City Builder 20.6%, RTS 13%, Economy 8.3%, Building 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a classic city-building experience with a strong focus on trade, production, and population management.

Shape the Roman Empire in this genre-defining strategic builder game. Build cities while expanding your influence through Roman provinces. Govern using your economic prowess, diplomatic skills, or military might.

Why similar: City Builder 26.5%, RTS 14.8%, Economy 12.8%, Building 10.7%, Sandbox 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: An upcoming city-builder that promises deep economic simulation and management in a historical setting.

Ostriv is a city-building game that puts you in a role of a governor of an 18th century Ukrainian town to challenge your creative skills and management abilities.

Why similar: City Builder 20.7%, Colony Sim 17.9% ★, Base Building 9.2%, Historical 8.7%, Economy 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game features realistic medieval city-building with complex supply chains and a focus on historical accuracy.

The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Stronghold, Stronghold Crusader HD throws you into historic battles and castle sieges from the Crusades with fiendish AI opponents, new units, 4 historical campaigns and over 100 unique skirmish missions.

Why similar: Colony Sim 13.6% ★, City Builder 12.9%, Real Time Tactics 11.5%, War 8.4%, Medieval 7.5%

The original castle sim, Stronghold HD allows you to design, build and destroy historical castles. Engage in medieval warfare against the AI in one of two single player campaigns or online with up to 8 players.

Why similar: Colony Sim 12.9% ★, City Builder 12.1%, Real Time Tactics 11%, Tower Defense 8.2%, RTS 7.9%

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition offers players a trial of this historical single & multiplayer RTS experience. *Note: To unlock all features of the game please see the “Base Game” product.

Why similar: City Builder 19.9%, RTS 19.3%, Base Building 16.9%, Strategy 11.9%, War 11.7%

Cossacks 3 is the return of RTS classics. Obtain resources, build cities and research technologies while taking command of great armies, crushing enemies in grand historical warfares on land and sea!

Why similar: RTS 14.5%, City Builder 14.4%, War 12.3%, Base Building 9.8%, Historical 8.8%

Northgard: Definitive Edition is a critically acclaimed real-time strategy game based on Norse mythology. Lead your clan, uncover the secrets of a mysterious newfound continent and defeat your enemies to conquer the Throne!

Why similar: City Builder 23.2%, RTS 15.9%, Colony Sim 13.2% ★, War 7.9%, Base Building 7.7%

Relive the beginnings of the Anno® series with Anno® 1602 History Edition, updated and optimized for current computers.

Why similar: Colony Sim 21.8% ★, City Builder 20.4%, RTS 13%, Economy 8.3%, Building 7.4%

Build vibrant cities in a medieval world with this modernized version of The Settlers – Rise of an Empire. Each character leads their individual lives and can be observed by you at any time. Will you go down in history as a legendary king?

Why similar: City Builder 44.2%, Strategy 23.1%, Medieval 18%, RTS 14.7%

Experience the classic gameplay of 1503 A.D.: The New World, optimized for current computers with resolutions up to 4K.

Why similar: Colony Sim 21.7% ★, City Builder 20.5%, RTS 13%, Economy 8.3%, Building 7.5%

A city builder with simulated citizens, set in a procedurally-generated world map. Grow your kingdom through the eras from a tiny medieval hamlet into a prosperous global empire! Cooperate or compete in real-time with your friends in multiplayer mode.

Why similar: City Builder 27.5%, Colony Sim 19.1% ★, Base Building 10.2%, Economy 8%, Medieval 7%

Build, manage and defend your medieval castle in this crazy sidescroller RTS game. Build walls, towers and traps to protect your fortress from enemy sieges before launching your own. Command powerful siege weapons and design the perfect strategy to take back the empire.

Why similar: City Builder 15.5%, Real Time Tactics 15%, RTS 13.2%, Base Building 10.5%, War 10.3%

Age of Empires II has been re-imagined in high definition. With the release of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, this product will not be updated further.

Why similar: RTS 28.7%, Strategy 15.6%, Medieval 15.5%, City Builder 13.8%, Historical 9.6%

Kingdoms and Castles is a city-building simulation game about growing a kingdom from a tiny hamlet to a sprawling city and imposing castle. Make trade agreements, alliance, and war with neighboring AI controlled kingdoms. Each villager and resource is individually simulated.

Why similar: City Builder 26.9%, Colony Sim 24.6% ★, Medieval 10%, Building 8.3%, Base Building 6%

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.

Why similar: Medieval 19%, Historical 15.3%, RTS 14%, Strategy 13.4%, War 13%

As King, it is your duty to lead your people in their struggle to raise your kingdom from its humble beginnings to a position of power and prestige. War, diplomacy and a burgeoning economy are the means by which you increase your power and expand your influence.

Why similar: Medieval 28%, Strategy 23.1%, RTS 21.5%, War 14.9%, Historical 12.5%

Ancestors Legacy is a squad-based real time strategy with a strong focus on tactics. Inspired by medieval European history, it brings to life four different nations and their conflicts, usually solved by war.

Why similar: RTS 25%, Medieval 20.9%, Strategy 17%, Historical 13.7%, War 12%

Lead your noble family in this medieval colony sim, facing off against class conflict, religious struggle, and political treachery. Tend to your people’s needs, uncover the lost knowledge of a fallen empire, and engage in nefarious plots against your enemies.

Why similar: Colony Sim 18.8% ★, City Builder 17.4%, Economy 10.6%, Base Building 10.2%, Building 8.8%

Rebuild hope in a world that was lost in the fog. Lead your Pioneers across the isles of Pagonia, unite scattered tribes, raise thriving communities and discover the history of your people as you reclaim your world in the new story campaign.

Why similar: Colony Sim 18.9% ★, City Builder 16.8%, RTS 11.8%, Economy 10.8%, Base Building 10%

Command & Conquer and Red Alert are both remastered in 4K by the former Westwood Studios team members. Includes all 3 expansions, rebuilt multiplayer, a modernized UI, Map Editor, bonus footage gallery, and over 7 hours of remastered music.

Why similar: RTS 32%, Base Building 21.6%, Strategy 15.3%, War 13.9%, Real Time Tactics 8.1%

Become a real medieval feudal lord: start with a small village and build it up into an enormous impenetrable castle. You will have to repel enemy raids: hide behind thick walls, lure your enemies into strategically placed traps, and even lead your loyal peasants into battle.

Why similar: Colony Sim 22.6% ★, City Builder 16.9%, Base Building 11.8%, Medieval 10.8%, Building 10.2%

Travel to the Holy Land with the First Crusades. Rise from a humble knight to the founding father of a world-spanning holy order. Lead through war, faith, diplomacy, and cunning schemes. Experience a unique blend of RTS, city-building, and sandbox gameplay, and shape history!

Why similar: City Builder 21.6%, RTS 16.6%, Real Time Tactics 12.2%, Sandbox 11.7%, Medieval 10.6%

It's 1347, the time of the Hundred Years' War. In this historical grand strategy and RTS hybrid you play as one of 200 minor lords across medieval Europe, Africa or Middle East. Rise up to take over your Kingdom and be crowned, then fight to preserve your empire as Black Death descends on Europe.

Why similar: City Builder 13.2%, Colony Sim 13.2% ★, Real Time Tactics 11%, RTS 9.7%, Medieval 7.7%

Lords of Solgrund combines elements of real time strategy, city building and other unique additions. The game features detailed animations, complex gameplay systems inspired by the early middle ages and elements of fantasy.

Why similar: City Builder 17.1%, RTS 10.6%, Economy 10.6%, Medieval 9.1%, Base Building 9.1%

The Settlers®: New Allies is a strategy game with an in-depth build-up experience and real-time strategic battles.

Why similar: City Builder 27.1%, Colony Sim 26.1% ★, Economy 11.5%, Building 10.2%, Strategy 9.9%

Diplomacy is Not an Option: Shareware is a free prequel to the original game. In a medieval fantasy world, you are to build settlements, raise huge armies, and defend against massive hordes of enemies. Learn how Ironbrow clan shaped the world's map the first time - if you survive, that is.

Why similar: Colony Sim 17.8% ★, City Builder 17.1%, Tower Defense 11.2%, RTS 10.8%, Base Building 8.5%

Total War: ROME REMASTERED lets you relive the legacy that defined the award-winning strategy game series. Remastered to 4K with multiple improvements to visuals as well as refinements to gameplay, it’s time to revisit a true classic. Not everyone gets a second chance to conquer the Roman Empire.

Why similar: Real Time Tactics 29.2%, RTS 24.6%, Strategy 15.9%, Historical 15.4%, War 15%

Eyes of War is a real-time strategy game set in the medieval era, offering both single-player and multiplayer experiences where you can control every unit in character mode. Build your castle, lead your army, and dominate the map. Eyes of War invites you to epic battles of the medieval era!

Why similar: RTS 18.6%, City Builder 16.4%, Real Time Tactics 12.4%, Isometric 11%, Base Building 10.3%

Age of Mythology is back! Choose your god and take to the battlefield in this classic, upgraded with full Steamworks integration and enhanced features.

Why similar: RTS 55.8%, Strategy 32.9%, Historical 7.1%, Simulation 2.6%, Atmospheric 1.6%

Age of Darkness: Final Stand is a dark fantasy survival RTS where you must illuminate, build and defend humanity’s last bastion against hordes of Nightmares. Set in the remnants of a kingdom consumed by a deadly fog, you decide. Will you hide in the light? Or take back your world.

Why similar: Tower Defense 20.1%, RTS 19.3%, Base Building 15.7%, Medieval 14.5%, Building 12.8%

Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown is a complex city builder, where the fate of your kingdom hinges on your every decision. Explore this medieval land alone or with friends, make tough moral choices and conquer your foes in RTS combat. Will you struggle to survive, or find the strength to Thrive?

Why similar: City Builder 17.7%, Colony Sim 17.1% ★, Real Time Tactics 13%, RTS 11.3%, Medieval 10.1%

One of the most innovative Real-Time Strategy Games comes back totally renewed and improved to the smallest detail, with epic large scale battles, new civilizations, unit customization system never seen before in a game, 8K support, and much more.

Why similar: City Builder 19.7%, Real Time Tactics 15%, RTS 14.8%, Economy 9.3%, War 9.1%

An intense real-time strategy game set in a dark fantasy world of Orcs, Elves and Dragons. Kingdom Wars 2 combines the best of Zombie survival and crafting with complex fast-paced city building. Fight massive siege battles that turn beautiful landscapes into gory blood-soaked battlefields.

Why similar: Colony Sim 15.9% ★, City Builder 14.7%, Real Time Tactics 12.7%, RTS 11.5%, Base Building 9%