Choose Crusader Kings II
Choose Crusader Kings II if you want a Free To Play game with Multi-player. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 47,614 Steam reviews back the pick.
Crusader Kings II vs The Vagabond Emperor
Crusader Kings II and The Vagabond Emperor both land in Strategy, Simulation, RPG on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Strategy, Simulation, RPG on Steam. Crusader Kings II (2012) is 9 years older than The Vagabond Emperor (2021). Crusader Kings II scores higher on Steam reviews (91% positive) than The Vagabond Emperor (69.2% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose The Vagabond Emperor
Choose The Vagabond Emperor if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2021) and ships with the modern feature baseline. The Vagabond Emperor launched in 2021.
Both Crusader Kings II and The Vagabond Emperor sit in Strategy, Simulation, and RPG on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Crusader Kings II |  The Vagabond Emperor | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2012 | 2021 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation, RPG, Free To Play | Strategy, Simulation, RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91% positive (47,614 reviews) | 69.2% positive (13 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Paradox Development Studio | WigglingEyebrows |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation, RPG on Steam.
- Crusader Kings II (2012) is 9 years older than The Vagabond Emperor (2021).
- Crusader Kings II scores higher on Steam reviews (91% positive) than The Vagabond Emperor (69.2% positive).
- Crusader Kings II is free; The Vagabond Emperor is paid (19.99 USD).
- Crusader Kings II is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; The Vagabond Emperor has no Deck rating yet.
Crusader Kings II vs The Vagabond Emperor — FAQ
- Should I play Crusader Kings II or The Vagabond Emperor first?
- If you want chronology, Crusader Kings II (2012) came out before The Vagabond Emperor (2021). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Crusader Kings II and The Vagabond Emperor similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Simulation, RPG on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does The Vagabond Emperor have multiplayer like Crusader Kings II?
- No. Crusader Kings II supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while The Vagabond Emperor is listed as single-player only.
- Is Crusader Kings II free?
- Yes — Crusader Kings II is a free-to-play Steam title. The Vagabond Emperor is paid (19.99 USD).
- Does Crusader Kings II run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Crusader Kings II is rated Deck Playable by Valve. The Vagabond Emperor doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.