Choose Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)
Choose Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) if you want a Simulation game with Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP. 6,146 Steam reviews back the pick.
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) vs Castles
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) and Castles both land in Strategy 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 Strategy games on Steam. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) (2013) is 4 years older than Castles (2017). Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) scores higher on Steam reviews (97.3% positive) than Castles (63.6% 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 Castles
Choose Castles if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2017) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Castles launched in 2017.
Both Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) and Castles sit in Strategy 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) |  Castles | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2017 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation | Strategy, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 97.3% positive (6,146 reviews) | 63.6% positive (11 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Firefly Studios | Quicksilver Software |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) (2013) is 4 years older than Castles (2017).
- Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) scores higher on Steam reviews (97.3% positive) than Castles (63.6% positive).
- Castles 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; Castles has no Deck rating yet.
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) vs Castles — FAQ
- Should I play Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) or Castles first?
- If you want chronology, Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) (2013) came out before Castles (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 Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) and Castles similar?
- They overlap on Strategy 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 Castles have multiplayer like Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)?
- No. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Castles 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. Castles doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.