Choose Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)
Choose Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) if you want the Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP side of the pairing. 6,146 Steam reviews back the pick.
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) vs Colonization Simulator
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) and Colonization Simulator 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. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) (2013) is 11 years older than Colonization Simulator (2024). Colonization Simulator is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) (9.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD). 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 Colonization Simulator
Choose Colonization Simulator if you want an Indie and Casual experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2024) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Colonization Simulator launched in 2024.
Both Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) and Colonization Simulator sit in Strategy and Simulation 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
 Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) |  Colonization Simulator | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 97.3% positive (6,146 reviews) | 6 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Firefly Studios | Imperian Online Rakovnik |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) (2013) is 11 years older than Colonization Simulator (2024).
- Colonization Simulator is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) (9.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Colonization Simulator has no Deck rating yet.
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) vs Colonization Simulator — FAQ
- Should I play Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) or Colonization Simulator first?
- If you want chronology, Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) (2013) came out before Colonization Simulator (2024). 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 Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) and Colonization Simulator 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.
- Does Colonization Simulator have multiplayer like Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)?
- No. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Colonization Simulator is listed as single-player only.
- Does Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Colonization Simulator doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.