Choose Conquest of Empires 2
Choose Conquest of Empires 2 if you want a Massively Multiplayer game with MMO. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Conquest of Empires 2 launched in 2023.
Conquest of Empires 2 vs Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition
Conquest of Empires 2 and Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition both land in Strategy, Simulation 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 on Steam. Conquest of Empires 2 (2023) is 2 years older than Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (2025). Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (90.6% positive) than Conquest of Empires 2 (56.8% 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 Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition
Choose Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition if you want the Steam Leaderboards, Custom Volume Controls, and Playable without Timed Input side of the pairing. 3,339 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Conquest of Empires 2 and Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition sit in Strategy and Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op, 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
 Conquest of Empires 2 |  Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2025 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer | Strategy, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | Free to play | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 56.8% positive (44 reviews) | 90.6% positive (3,339 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Emotion Studio | Firefly Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Conquest of Empires 2 (2023) is 2 years older than Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (2025).
- Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (90.6% positive) than Conquest of Empires 2 (56.8% positive).
- Conquest of Empires 2 is free; Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is paid (19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Playable.
Conquest of Empires 2 vs Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition — FAQ
- Should I play Conquest of Empires 2 or Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition first?
- If you want chronology, Conquest of Empires 2 (2023) came out before Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (2025). 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 Conquest of Empires 2 and Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Simulation 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.
- Do both Conquest of Empires 2 and Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Conquest of Empires 2 ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is Conquest of Empires 2 free?
- Yes — Conquest of Empires 2 is a free-to-play Steam title. Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is paid (19.99 USD).