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 Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages
Crusader Kings II and Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages 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 5 years older than Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages (2017). Crusader Kings II scores higher on Steam reviews (91% positive) than Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages (49.3% 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 Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages
Choose Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2017) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages launched in 2017.
Both Crusader Kings II and Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages 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 |  Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2012 | 2017 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation, RPG, Free To Play | Strategy, Simulation, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91% positive (47,614 reviews) | 49.3% positive (69 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Paradox Development Studio | HeroLabs |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation, RPG on Steam.
- Crusader Kings II (2012) is 5 years older than Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages (2017).
- Crusader Kings II scores higher on Steam reviews (91% positive) than Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages (49.3% positive).
- Crusader Kings II is free; Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages is paid (14.99 USD).
- Crusader Kings II is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages has no Deck rating yet.
Crusader Kings II vs Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages — FAQ
- Should I play Crusader Kings II or Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages first?
- If you want chronology, Crusader Kings II (2012) came out before Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages (2017). 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 Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages 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 Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages have multiplayer like Crusader Kings II?
- No. Crusader Kings II supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages is listed as single-player only.
- Is Crusader Kings II free?
- Yes — Crusader Kings II is a free-to-play Steam title. Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages is paid (14.99 USD).
- Does Crusader Kings II run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Crusader Kings II is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Strategy & Tactics: Dark Ages doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.