We Love It's Guide to…
Build a desert stronghold, manage its economy and command troops through campaigns, skirmishes, sieges, and multiplayer battles.
Released 22 Sep 2014
Build Desert Castles
Capture Vital Oases
Defend With Castle Traps
Stronghold Crusader 2 is the long awaited sequel to the original castle sim. After 12 years Stronghold returns to the desert with a new 3D engine and powerful Havok Physics. Crusader 2 recaptures the original game’s addictive, fast-paced gameplay and authentic castle simulation.
Developed by Firefly Studios · Published by Firefly Studios
Set in the Middle East around 1189, Stronghold Crusader 2 casts you as a Crusader knight or Arabic fighter. Its two single-player campaigns follow leaders including Richard the Lionheart and the Sultan of Syria.
Develop a desert settlement by managing food, resources, taxes, and population, while claiming vital oases. Build walls, towers, and traps to defend your castle, then command more than 25 unit types and siege equipment in battles where troops' abilities and positioning matter.
Play campaign missions, custom skirmishes against AI lords, or multiplayer matches with human and AI opponents. Co-op lets players share castle building, troop control, and resource management; Free Build and a map editor offer ways to create castles and maps without enemy attacks.
Players who enjoy the game often praise the satisfying loop of building a castle, managing its economy, and preparing for attacks. Skirmishes and large sieges are recurring highlights, and some players value the options for multiplayer with friends and the familiar feel of the series. Reviews are mixed: common complaints include AI that seems to gain resources or troops unfairly, and comparisons that find this entry less deep than earlier games; some players also report bugs or crashes.
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 81 |
| Age ratings |
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| Players | 1–8 |
| Play modes |
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| Other modes |
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| Multiplayer | Stronghold Crusader 2 supports online multiplayer skirmish play with up to 8 total slots composed of human and AI players, with a stated maximum of 4 human players. It includes online PvP and online co-op. Co-op mode allows players to share control of one castle's building, troop control, and resource management. Single-player campaigns are separate, and co-op campaign support is not stated. |
| Multiplayer & mods | Steam Workshop support and a level editor are listed. The descriptions and reviews indicate players can create and share maps and custom missions, which can be used for skirmish and multiplayer scenarios. No evidence is provided for gameplay-changing multiplayer mods beyond custom maps/scenarios. |
| Controller required | No |
| DLC / extras | 6 listed on Steam |
| Content notices |
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| Website | Official website |
