1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. Classic ClassicOlder, proven, and still worth your time.
Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition
PCMacLinux
MedievalHistoricalTurn-Based Strategy
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$4.99 ~99.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 95.7% of 36k
The Squirrel's verdictSame medieval setting and real-time tactical battles, but Medieval II drops the Paradox-style diplomacy and lineage systems entirely for full Total War campaign layer and deeper unit/faction variety. Morale-driven combat rewards tactics over auto-resolve. Suits players who want KoH2's battles pushed further, without the CK-lite court politics.
Not for you if you specifically wanted the dynasty, lineage, and diplomacy layer KoH2 borrows from Crusader Kings rather than a pure Total War campaign.
2
Field of Glory: Empires
PC
Grand StrategyTurn-BasedHistorical
$39.99 ~82.2 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 82.1% of 866
The Squirrel's verdictField of Glory: Empires links grand-strategy province management to a separate tactical battle interface via Field of Glory II, meaning every engagement is resolved in a dedicated wargame layer rather than a built-in RTS engine. The ancient setting is historically restrictive — reviewers note factions funnel toward Rome — and province management runs deeper than KoH2's, tracking decadence and loyalty. Median playtime sits at 82 hours.
Not for you if you want dynasties and character politics, or dislike historically restrictive faction pools and randomly generated building tiles.
3
Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say. Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
Grand StrategyRTSMedieval
$4.49 ~16.1 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 75.9% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictCo-op multiplayer and Stronghold-style building set Medieval Kingdom Wars apart from KoH2: the same medieval RTS framework gains a co-op layer and building mechanics drawn from castle-management games. The strategic overworld and real-time battles are recognizable, but AI quality and interface clarity are persistent complaints across reviews. Suits players who prioritize the co-op campaign hook over combat depth or political simulation.
Not for you if you came for competent battle AI or an explained interface — reviewers consistently flag both as weak.
4
Kingdom, Dungeon, and Hero
PC
WargameGrand StrategyFantasy
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$29.99 ~21.2 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 77.8% of 176
The Squirrel's verdictTurn-based hex combat and dungeon-raiding replace KoH2's real-time battles: hero parties raid dungeons for gold and magic shards that feed the kingdom economy, and co-op is supported. The kingdom-management layer is present but reviewers are split on whether it coheres, with some calling systems clunky and others logging 50-hour sessions. Median playtime is 21 hours.
Not for you if you want real-time battles rather than turn-based hex combat, or need tightly integrated systems rather than elements reviewers describe as disjointed.
5
RPGSci-fiTurn-Based Strategy
$30.99 ~22.3 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 72.3% of 499
The Squirrel's verdictStar Dynasties keeps the dynasty-and-lineage focus KoH2 borrows from Crusader Kings, but drops Total War-style battles entirely and drops the map to a sci-fi setting with houses instead of kingdoms. No real-time-with-pause armies here: it's turn-based dynasty management, vassal politics, and event-driven succession, with reviewers split on whether the systems underneath actually hold up.
Not for you if you came to KoH2 for the battle layer, since this replaces it with spreadsheet-heavy dynasty management and vassals reviewers call broken and railroaded.
6
Renaissance Kingdom Wars
PC
Grand StrategyRTSWargame
$13.99 ~3.2 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 72.6% of 168
The Squirrel's verdictPike-and-shot unit dynamics, camp logistics, and siege setup are the focus here: Renaissance Kingdom Wars trades KoH2's Crusader Kings-style character layer for combat and siege mechanics set in the early sixteenth century. Reviewers note heavy asset reuse from earlier entries in the series. Suits players drawn to the siege and infantry-formation side of KoH2 rather than the political simulation.
Not for you if you valued KoH2's dynasty and diplomacy systems, or are put off by reused assets and a long-running series critics call repetitive.
7
Grand StrategyRTSCity Builder
$4.94 ~6.5 hr median co-op complexity: light 66% of 238
The Squirrel's verdictKingdom Wars 4 organizes its co-op around attack-versus-defend siege scenarios, with base-building on fixed plots replacing KoH2's dynasty and diplomacy layer. The overworld map handles army movement and city upgrades; battles resolve separately in real time. Priced under $5, with a median playtime of 6.5 hours.
Not for you if you want lineage and diplomacy depth rather than plot-based building and attack-versus-defend co-op sieges.
8
Great Houses of Calderia
PC
Grand StrategyRPGFantasy
$1.49 ~12.5 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 61.2% of 428
The Squirrel's verdictBoth blend Crusader Kings-style lineage and politics with kingdom management, but Calderia drops the Total War battles entirely, leaning into House customization, social trees, and political intrigue like spying and daughters inheriting rule. Median playtime is 12.5 hours, priced at $1.49, so this suits players who wanted KoH2's dynastic side more than its combat.
Not for you if you picked up KoH2 for the real-time battles, since Calderia has no combat layer at all, just politics and city management.