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Short review

Paradox Interactive continues to quietly unfold its wargames. It has been quite a few years since the Swedish studio acquired a certain expertise in the genre. But all of that was just practice. Hearts of Iron? A draft! Europa Universalis? A sketch! Victoria? Unfinished! Back then, the learning process finally acquired something almost perfect! With Crusader Kings II, Paradox delivers its magnum opus, its grand work, the culmination of its quest for the perfect wargame.
Alright, Paradox developers can retire! In fact, if one of them was to leave today, he could do so with a sense of accomplishment. The duty that the studio has imposed on itself for a long time was to deliver the ultimate wargame to players, and that's precisely what Crusader Kings II is. There's no need to reiterate what will be said in the review; I might risk excessive use of superlatives. Just know that if you even have a slight liking for the genre, you can't afford to miss this masterpiece. All things considered, let's hope Paradox developers wait a while longer before considering retirement. I want them to continue releasing games of this caliber for a long time!

Long review

From a historical chronology perspective, Crusader Kings II is the first among Paradox Interactive's wargames, spanning from 1066 to 1453 (from 867 with DLC). It is set just before Europa Universalis III (1453-1820 with the Napoleon's Ambition expansion), followed by Victoria II (1835-1936) and ultimately Hearts of Iron III (1936-1948). In four titles, the studio covers nearly nine centuries of European history. Such dedication is truly commendable, especially considering the established quality of the mentioned titles. However, some questions linger concerning Crusader Kings II. The game had seen only one iteration, which dates back to 2004. Moreover, its older setting, synonymous with less advanced technology, doesn't lead to a shallower gameplay, does it? Rest assured, it's not the case. There's no need for assault tanks to create a complex wargame; political and religious intrigues suffice. In fact, CKII was arguably the most ambitious game ever produced by the Swedish developer.
Ambition, you'll need it as a player as well. By having you embody a noble from Europe (or other regions with DLCs), Crusader Kings II entrusts you with the weighty task of developing your realm and, perhaps, building an empire through warfare, diplomacy, and intrigue across generations. It's worth noting that you can also start right at the top by playing as an established monarch; the task won't be any easier for that. In fact, it's often easier to begin as a small entity, gradually acquiring counties or duchies as opportunities arise. Managing an empire, on the other hand, can prove perilous, with numerous external borders to defend, peasant rebellions to suppress, and most importantly, internal divisions. It's important to remember that the grand political entities of the era exhibit only a facade of unity; in reality, they are disparate aggregates, fragmented into a multitude of provinces controlled by ambitious vassals, sometimes as powerful as their ruler. Consequently, you must contend with noble quarrels and internal power struggles, machinations, and even backstabbing. This is what gives the game its flavor.
You can access the profiles of all the game's characters to interact with them. The possibilities are numerous: you can imprison an unscrupulous conspirator exposed by your spy, bribe a neighbor to improve their opinion of you, or grant a land title to reward a deserving vassal. Let's not forget family relations: it's up to you to decide where to send a child for their education and with whom to arrange a marriage. There's nothing like a good union to secure a valuable ally; in times of conflict, your father-in-law will likely come to your aid. Each character has their own skills (stewardship, diplomacy, etc.), personality traits (humble, courageous, etc.), and, most importantly, their relationships within their lineage and alliances. Dealing with all these parameters is no small feat, but it's captivating. Playing Crusader Kings II is like donning the role of a puppeteer; you take great pleasure in pulling the strings. You sow discord between a vassal and their liege, send a fifteen-year-old cousin to marry an elderly count whose favor you seek, or even assassinate your own spouse if necessary! Machiavelli wasn't born yet, but he already had disciples.
Beside these political intrigues, war seems almost straightforward. There's certainly vigorous fighting, but it happens with rules. Yes, war had its very specific codes at the time. You couldn't just invade your neighbor because you liked their little piece of woodland! A valid casus belli, or in other words, a justifiable pretext for an attack was required. This is the role of your chancellor, who can fabricate claims by working in the shadows. Alternatively, you can target the enemies of God; no one will object if you pick a fight with a pagan Nordic kingdom or a Muslim caliphate! Religion plays a significant role in the game; you must ensure good relations with the Pope to earn piety points and perhaps request the excommunication of a nuisance... But let's get back to war. Once the casus belli is duly established or manufactured, you can raise your troops and those of your vassals, hire mercenaries if the treasury allows it, or call upon orders of warrior monks. All that's left is to march toward the enemy. Combat resolution is quite simple; apart from a few factors related to the terrain (rivers, terrain, etc.), the stronger army prevails. Nevertheless, you will need to occupy the enemy province for a certain period to eliminate all resistance. Afterward, your weakened opponent will likely offer you favorable peace terms. Now you have control of a new province and a healthy stock of prestige points, the accumulation of which is the ultimate goal.
Besides its military aspect, Crusader Kings II, like most wargames, has a management component. Laws, the economy, technological research... In this area, some players will probably lament the limited control over many factors. However, this is a deliberate choice by the developers to adhere closely to history. As mentioned before, even the mightiest emperor must negotiate with his vassals, or risk seeing his grand empire disintegrate. Thus, it is not possible to change laws or taxation without their consent, which can sometimes be challenging to obtain. The lack of direct control over these parameters, while realistic, can be frustrating initially; however, one learns to adapt. The same applies to the game's interface: it's not perfect, but you eventually get used to its minor flaws, which are not insurmountable. It's fair to say that the game is so outstanding that one is inclined to forgive all. The software is stable and smooth, which wasn't always the case with the studio's previous releases. In short, Paradox has truly outdone itself with Crusader Kings II. Every wargame enthusiast should give it a try!