We Love It's Guide to…
Build a medieval settlement, balance its economy and defenses, then besiege rival lords and hold your castle against attack.
Released 07 Nov 2023
Build Medieval Castles
Balance Food And Taxes
Defend With Moats
Greetings sire! Your stronghold awaits you. Build a castle economy, besiege unforgettable villains and return to the 'castle sim' that started it all. Experience this classic RTS with upgraded visuals, modernised gameplay, Steam multiplayer and a new campaign.
Developed by Firefly Studios · Published by Firefly Studios
In a fractured medieval England, you command forces seeking to reunite the kingdom against rival lords. Campaign missions range from building and defending castles to breaking sieges and capturing enemy strongholds.
Develop a settlement by gathering resources, building farms and workshops, managing food, taxes, gold and popularity, and raising an army. Your economy supports your defenses and military, while castle walls, towers, moats and traps help protect your people from assaults.
The game includes two classic campaigns, a new 14-mission campaign, economic missions and a 10-scenario Castle Trail, along with free-build, siege scenarios, map creation and Steam multiplayer for up to eight players. It does not include a skirmish mode against AI opponents.
Players often enjoy the hands-on castle building and the way settlement management feeds into defense and warfare. Reviews also praise the medieval atmosphere, music and refreshed presentation, with many returning to the campaigns or taking on extra missions. Some players find the missions demanding, and the absence of AI skirmishes limits the kind of open-ended battles they wanted.
Relive the glory of Stronghold, the original BAFTA-nominated real-time strategy game, with this new definitive edition of the classic 'castle sim'. Witness the game that started it all, carefully rebuilt using the source artwork, remastered music, returning voice talent and veteran developers of the first entry in this legendary series.
Welcome to the fractured, war-torn frontier of medieval England. With the King betrayed by his treacherous lords and a realm on the brink of collapse, take control of scattered forces and reunite your kingdom against the monstrous Rat, Pig, Snake and Wolf!
Strike down each villainous Lord in missions ranging from breaking sieges and capturing enemy castles to building epic fortresses and repelling enemy assaults. Test the limits of your strategic mind with castle assaults and grand banquets in military and economic campaigns.
Dive into classic RTS and city builder gameplay now elevated with remade graphics, community requested features and remastered music from series maestro Robert L. Euvino. Gather resources, construct mighty castles, protect your townsfolk, manage your gold, raise armies and wage all out war!
Building on its 20 year legacy, Stronghold: Definitive Edition features two classic campaigns told across 26 missions, alongside fresh single player content in the form of a new narrative campaign designed by Firefly Studios founders Simon Bradbury and Eric Ouellette.
Exclusive to the definitive edition, this new 14 mission campaign sees players march across the devastated English hinterland in search of Sir Longarm's captured kin, before venturing beyond the story in a challenging new historical 'Castle Trail' of 10 unique scenarios.
With remade artwork, a higher fidelity soundtrack, full Steam multiplayer support for 8 players, Steam Workshop, modernised gameplay and more, Stronghold: Definitive Edition is the ultimate way to experience the game that started it all. Your kingdom awaits!
ZOOM INTO NEW VISUALS remade by the original artists with improved animations, textures and lighting.
REMATCH CLASSIC VILLAINS as you hunt The Rat and The Snake in a challenging new 14 mission campaign.
BATTLE OLD FRIENDS on Steam with 8 player multiplayer support and extra maps on which to wage war!
RELIVE HISTORY in a new Castle Trail with 10 challenging siege scenarios and famous historical fortresses.
LOSE YOURSELF in a remastered soundtrack, with fresh recordings from some of the game's original voice actors.
CREATE, SHARE & ENJOY new Stronghold community content with Steam Workshop support.
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 30 |
| Age ratings |
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| Players | 2–8 |
| Play modes |
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| Other modes |
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| Multiplayer | The game supports Steam multiplayer with online PvP. The store page states full Steam multiplayer support for 8 players. Reviews consistently indicate multiplayer is PvP-only, with no co-op and no AI opponents in multiplayer. |
| Multiplayer & mods | Steam Workshop and included editing tools support custom maps and community content. Reviews indicate mod/workshop support is mainly for maps, including multiplayer maps, and not broader gameplay modding. Reviews also state mods are only for siege/invasion/multiplayer maps. |
| Controller required | No |
| DLC / extras | 2 listed on Steam |
| Content notices |
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| Metacritic | 80/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |
