Choose Crusader Kings II
Choose Crusader Kings II if you want a Strategy, Simulation, and 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 Darklands
Crusader Kings II and Darklands both land in 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 are RPG games on Steam. Crusader Kings II (2012) is 2 years older than Darklands (2014). Crusader Kings II scores higher on Steam reviews (91% positive) than Darklands (89.6% 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 Darklands
Choose Darklands if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Darklands launched in 2014.
Both Crusader Kings II and Darklands sit in RPG on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (91% vs 89.6% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Crusader Kings II |  Darklands | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2012 | 2014 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation, RPG, Free To Play | Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | Free to play | 6.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91% positive (47,614 reviews) | 89.6% positive (183 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Paradox Development Studio | MPS Labs, MicroProse |
Side by side
- Both are RPG games on Steam.
- Crusader Kings II (2012) is 2 years older than Darklands (2014).
- Crusader Kings II scores higher on Steam reviews (91% positive) than Darklands (89.6% positive).
- Crusader Kings II is free; Darklands is paid (6.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Crusader Kings II vs Darklands — FAQ
- Which is better, Crusader Kings II or Darklands?
- On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: Crusader Kings II sits at 91% positive (47,614 reviews), Darklands at 89.6% (183). The choice usually comes down to genre fit and the platform features each one supports — see the comparison table above.
- Should I play Crusader Kings II or Darklands first?
- If you want chronology, Crusader Kings II (2012) came out before Darklands (2014). 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 Darklands similar?
- They overlap on 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 Darklands have multiplayer like Crusader Kings II?
- No. Crusader Kings II supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Darklands is listed as single-player only.
- Is Crusader Kings II free?
- Yes — Crusader Kings II is a free-to-play Steam title. Darklands is paid (6.99 USD).