It’s official: one of the best strategy games of all time – in my own humble opinion, of course – is finally getting a sequel! Crusader Kings 3 has been officially announced via a cryptic teaser, coupled with a few screenshots for the sake of whetting our appetite for more medieval, backstabbing, warmongering, infanticide-filled fun!
Huzzah!
As we eagerly await the sequel, it would be wise to make the most out of our time by attempting to breathe new life into the 7-year-old masterpiece that is Crusader Kings 2, and what better way to do so than through mods? Paradox Interactive is known for cultivating an embracing approach towards their games’ modding communities, and such is the case with both CK2 and Europa Universalis 4 among others.
There are heaps upon heaps of mods to choose from, and keeping in line with our rigorous criteria, your trusty pals at Game Gavel have compiled a list of meticulously selected mods to consider giving a go, ranging from minuscule tweaks all the way to complete, fully-blown conversions. As with basically any mods list on our website, bear in mind that many of the mods mentioned below are being constantly updated as we speak (unless told otherwise), meaning that many of their potential problems are bound to be fixed sooner or later.
Without more ado, sharpen your swords, saddle your thoroughbred steeds, and let’s ride to victory! Do be careful not to cut yourself on your sword, that gangrene sure is a dynasty killer…
Related: Best Hearts of Iron 4 Mods
#1 Historical Immersion Project
Absurdity is one of the keywords that come to mind when we think about Crusader Kings 2. Every playthrough becomes a story of its own, riddled with preposterous scenarios and nonsensical curveballs that make you press on just to see how the history-bending plot will unravel. But maybe you’re growing a bit tired of getting into homosexual affairs with the Pope or stretching the Mongol Empire all the way to Belfast. Maybe you’re looking to smooth the waters and ease up on the medieval lunacy. We’ve got just the thing!
Historical Immersion Project represents an assortment of mods catered towards the more realistic depiction of the medieval times. The list of features that this set of modules brings to the table is quite extensive, the biggest of which are the inclusion of various new historic characters and dynasties, an overhauled world map boasting new provinces and redrawn terrain, improved gameplay mechanics, and so much more (click here for a full list of modules and improvements).
This project is well and truly alive thanks to a team of dedicated modders who keep the updates coming in on a monthly basis. Fans of the vanilla game are all but obliged to download Historical Immersion Project faster than you can say Deus vult!
#2 Warcraft: Guardians of Azeroth
It’s astonishingly rare to see a game series that manages to tackle two radically different genres (three if you count Hearthstone) and emerge triumphant on both fronts, as is the case with Warcraft. Regarded as the king of both RTS and MMO games, Warcraft was given an opportunity to unofficially claim the throne among grand strategies through Guardians of Azeroth.
This total conversion mod provides a unique insight into the more political, backstabby aspect of interfactional relations, and delivers a very believable depiction of the conflict-ridden world that is Azeroth. Aside from the obvious changes in presentation, underneath it lies the same old CK2 that we know and love, with a few changes to boot.
Every race comes with its own unique set of traits that you’d come to expect, which will affect your character’s perception among its voters, depending on the culture/faction in question. Orcs are valiant and courageous, goblins remain a rapacious and greedy lot, elves often act arrogant and noble, and so on. The addition of interracial marriages is a significant element of this mod, and can also be your best chance at unifying the realm. The offspring of such a marriage will inherit the traits of his/her second parent, whose race you can attempt to sway to your cause, thus gaining a powerful ally. This option can be toggled on or off depending on your preference, though I find it a definite highlight of this mod.
If you want to take it a step further, I highly suggest taking a look at Guardians of Azeroth: Unlimited, a sub-mod that makes almost every single race playable, albeit with a slew of bugs and balance issues that are yet to be ironed out.
Lok’tar ogar, my dudes!
#3 Elder Kings
By Azura, by Azura, by Azura! Probably my personal favourite out of the bunch, Elder Kings is a total conversion mod that lets you craft the rich lore of the Elder Scrolls to your liking, spanning across 1600 years of the tempestuous Second Era. Everything you’ve grown to love (and tolerate) about Bethesda’s fabled franchise is present in Elder Kings, from guild societies, mystic elder gods and races, to powerful spells, ancient artifacts, and legendary creatures. Happen to hold a grudge against the whole realm? Align yourself with one of the Daedric Princes and lead an all-out invasion straight from the Planes of Oblivion.
Growing fond of the Khajiit? Take up their cause in founding Elsweyr and expanding it across all of Nirn… you get the gist.
It goes without saying that anyone who considers himself (or herself, we see you ladies) an Elder Scrolls fan should definitely give this mod a test drive. The familiar characters and locations, tons of TES lore and a stellar soundtrack by Jeremy Soule will undoubtedly ease one’s transition into the world of grand strategies.
#4 CK2: Middle Earth Project
It’s CK2 but coated in brand new Lord of The Rings attire, making it everything a Tolkien fan could ask for. All that was said about the preceding total conversions apply here: expect new characters, factions, locations, music, and lore. Though not much has changed on the gameplay aspect, and the changes present are mere of cosmetic nature, that still doesn’t take away from one the best LOTR strategy experiences to date (Battle for Middle-Earth 2 still rules, though).
MEP’s scenario range is all-encompassing in theory, meaning that, while you’re able to start your game from virtually any point in time, much of the history and settings are left underdeveloped outside the War of The Ring. Thankfully, a submod called Quenta Silmarillion is currently in development, with the goal of remedying this issue and letting players experience the entire Tolkien timeline in all its orc-slaying, Nazgul-shrieking glory.
In conclusion, there’s oodles of fun to be had with MEP, and any LOTR fan worth its salt is obligated to start downloading it as we speak. Reshaping the history of Middle-Earth has never been so satisfying, and I highly recommend starting off your first campaign as Morgoth and putting your moral convictions to the test.
Fingers crossed for the Númenor update. We want it, we need it!
#5 CK2: A Game of Thrones
What do you get when you combine Game of Thrones with the treason-filled, murderous, incestuous theatrics of Crusader Kings 2? Well… you pretty much still get Game of Thrones, I mean have you seen the show?
Being easily the most extensive CK2 mod out there to date, AGOT strives and successfully manages to translate everything that made the show such an inveterate spectacle, and then some! What makes this mod stand out from the rest is its unique shift in focus: instead of fighting for territories, independence, and religious reasons, the main goal is gaining control of the infamous Iron Throne, whatever the cost may be. Alliances are hard to forge, conflicts are rarely peacefully resolved, and it’s anybody’s game. The addition of a brand new dueling engine allows you to engage rival rulers in all-or-nothing 1-on-1 battles, adding an emergency exit of sorts should your war conquest start to go awry.
The biggest game-changer (from my personal experience) has to be the inclusion of powerful pets that may turn the tide of your battles if you utilize them correctly. A swarm of venomous maticores or a clowder of shadowcats is a terror-inducing sight to any opposing force, provided Daenerys doesn’t show up with a dragon and turn your realm into a kebab.
As of March 2019, the mod has been updated to version 1.9, and we’re eagerly awaiting the next update to see what else the modders can bring to the table. As it stands, AGOT proudly sits on the throne reserved for the best GoT-themed game ever. Not that there’s much competition, though…
Conclusion & Honorable Mentions
Though we would gladly talk in detail about at least 20 more mods out of hundreds of them out there, time is money, and we’re kind of broke. On a positive note, we’re happy to list out a couple more mods that are worthy of taking up your precious hard drive space, in no particular order:
- Witcher Kings
- CK2: Wizarding World
- Lux Invicta
- Warhammer: Geheimnismnacht
- Western Europe 410-962 – The Winter King
- After The End Fan Fork
We’re sure that we missed out on more than a couple of gems due to our hastiness, so feel free to enlighten us with your discoveries in the comments below. We’re all ears!