Crusader Kings is one of Paradox’s larger series of historical grand strategy games, sitting alongside Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron in plotting the history of Europe and the surrounding nations. Crusader Kings 3 specifically marks the Middle Ages, covering a period of multiple centuries. Plenty of time to build a legacy to last.
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With updates and DLC, the beginning dates can change, be they earlier or later, but the ultimate end date never changes. There’s a pretty good reason for this historically, though it would be helpful first to know when exactly it ends, and what happens when you reach that date.
What Is The End Date In Crusader Kings 3?
Crusader Kings 3 follows the Medieval period, stretching as far back as the 9th century and going as far as the 15th century. The exact date the game ends on though? That would be 1453. A rather specific year, right? That is because 1453 is historically marked as the fall of Constantinople, and with it the ultimate collapse of the Roman Empire.
With Europa Universalis encompassing Europe’s expansion into the Americas and the expansion of the known world (by European standards) with the Renaissance, some debate that Crusader Kings 3 should instead end at 1492 with Columbus’ journey. Of course, another 40 years isn’t a dramatic length in the grand scheme of things, especially when those events are already covered by Europa Universalis.
Crusader Kings 2 could be imported directly into Europa Universalis 4 once you hit the end. For Crusader Kings 3, a mod to convert those saves is also available if you want your campaign continued in another game.
What Happens After You Reach The End Date?
When you finally do reach the end date of 1453, one of two things will happen, entirely dependent on how you set up your game. The first of which, which happens naturally, is that the game just ends. A screen pops up to inform you that you have reached the end date, shows you some details on your house and dynasty, and gives you the singular option to return to the main menu.
The other possibility is for the game to keep going. When setting up a new game, you can choose for the game to run forever, meaning it will keep counting up the years past 1453, though no new events will occur. It’s a bit like pressing One More Turn in Civilization after already meeting the win conditions. It’s just for fun, with no new historical events popping up again.
You cannot change this option in the middle of the game, however, so make sure to check it in advance if you plan on playing for a few more centuries.
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