Whenever I see Age of Empires or Command and Conquer, there’s a part of me that thinks ‘this is how all videogames should look.’ Those scaled-down, miniature buildings and units. The bright colors. The symmetry. It’s like looking at a perfect, supremely detailed model. Firefly’s Stronghold series is just as gorgeous – but the second and perhaps best game, Stronghold Crusader, is about to look even better. Almost a quarter of a century since it was originally released, Crusader is about to make a valiant return courtesy of a high-definition remake with new units, enemies, maps, and modes.
Released in 2002, Crusader transports the RTS game series from Middle-Ages England to the Holy Land during the eponymous Crusades. Ultimately, like C&C or Age of Empires, your goal is to amass an army and overthrow your rivals, but Stronghold is also part city-building game – constructing the perfect castle and connecting it with surrounding, supporting structures that help secure the economy is just as important as training your troops. It looked terrific 23 years ago. Stronghold Crusader Definitive Edition puts even more shine on your sword.
Created by Crusader’s original developers, the Definitive Edition upscales and adds detail to every single visual asset in the entire strategy game. The difference is huge – like the remastered versions of Command and Conquer, the classic, core aesthetic remains intact, but it’s crisper, sharper. You also get four new CPU-controlled opponents to battle against, eight new units, and myriad customizable settings so you can tweak the whole experience to your personal specifications.
Most significantly, however, there are new campaigns, new and larger skirmish maps, and a Crusader Trail – that is, a series of missions that are all linked together – that you can play in co-op mode. And we don’t even have to wait that long. The Stronghold Crusader Definitive Edition release date is set for Tuesday July 15, 2025. If you want to add it to your Steam wishlist, just go here.
Otherwise, you may want to try some of the best 4X games, or maybe the best grand strategy games ever made.
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