1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
MilitaryCity BuilderMedieval
$9.99 ~58.2 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 97.5% of 21k
The Squirrel's verdictSame castle-building and siege economy as Stronghold HD, but the campaign shifts to desert warfare against named AI lords instead of the peasant-happiness balancing act. No co-op here, so it stays a solo or skirmish-AI experience. Best for players who want more scenario variety and combat scripting over city-management depth.
Not for you if you want cooperative multiplayer or prefer the original's economic and happiness-management focus over desert siege battles.
2
Classic ClassicOlder, proven, and still worth your time. Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
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 verdictCampaign-map conquest across dozens of factions is Medieval II's defining feature: diplomacy, faction management, and large-scale battles where morale and unit positioning determine outcomes replace Stronghold's single-castle economy loop entirely. Mod support — LOTR, GoT, KGCM among others — extends replayability well beyond the base campaign. Median playtime runs close to 100 hours.
Not for you if you want direct castle-building and resource-chain management rather than turn-based empire strategy over real-time battles.
3
City BuilderReal Time TacticsMedieval
$11.99 ~68.7 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 92.5% of 11k
The Squirrel's verdictSame castle-building and siege-warfare core as Stronghold HD, but built on the Crusader chassis: desert factions, named AI personalities, and skirmish-focused combat instead of the original's economy-and-siege campaign. Adds auto buy/sell at market, new troops, and co-op multiplayer. Median playtime is around 69 hours. For players who want Crusader's warfare over Stronghold's city-building emphasis.
Not for you if you prefer the original Stronghold's economy-and-happiness campaign structure over desert skirmish combat against AI lords.
4
City BuilderReal Time TacticsMedieval
$14.99 ~21.7 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 86.4% of 10k
The Squirrel's verdictSame city-building-plus-RTS core, same castle-siege campaign structure, and the classic Firefly formula of resource chains feeding wall defenses. This is the same game rebuilt with updated visuals, aimed at players who want the original loop refreshed rather than expanded. No co-op, and no skirmish mode against AI bots in multiplayer.
Not for you if you want skirmish mode against AI opponents or expect new mechanics beyond a visual overhaul of the original campaign.
5
City BuilderReal Time TacticsMedieval
$14.99 ~34.3 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 88.9% of 6k
The Squirrel's verdictEstate management, a punishment system, a church system, and an expanded population sim layer additional complexity onto the familiar castle-siege loop. Two campaigns plus a conquest trail provide around 34 hours of median playtime. For players who want Stronghold's resource-chain economy deepened with social and estate mechanics rather than widened into new settings or factions.
Not for you if you want multiplayer Kingmaker with AI enemies, which was removed from this Steam Edition.
6
Colony SimMedievalCity Builder
$9.99 ~12.4 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 85.2% of 5k
The Squirrel's verdictA rigid worker/soldier split defines Knights and Merchants: laborers and fighters are separate units, so the economy runs on dedicated chains rather than Stronghold's peasant-to-fighter pipeline. The pace is slower and the combat secondary to supply management. Single-player only, with a community remake patch recommended for stability.
Not for you if you want faster combat pacing, any multiplayer option, or a reliable out-of-the-box experience without a third-party patch.
7
Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar.
Lords of Magic: Special Edition
PC
RPGDwarfClassic
$4.99 ~29.2 hr median no co-op 92.2% of 551
The Squirrel's verdictSeven religions, turn-based empire conquest, RPG-style hero leveling, and permadeath stakes define Lords of Magic. Picking a religion and leader type shapes your units and playstyle across the whole campaign. There is no construction economy or siege engineering. At $4.99 with a 1990s interface and no hand-holding, it suits players comfortable with old-school difficulty.
Not for you if you want real-time castle building, resource chains, and siege combat rather than turn-based conquest with permadeath heroes.
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City BuilderReal Time TacticsColony Sim
$14.99 ~26.3 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 87.6% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictThree fantasy factions — Arthurian, Vlad the Impaler, and Dietrich von Bern — each bring hero units, cooldown spells, and mythical troops like dragons. Reviewers consistently describe it as combat-first rather than a castle-building sim: construction exists to produce units, but the hero and spell mechanics are central. Co-op is supported. Median playtime is around 26 hours.
Not for you if you want an economy-and-happiness-focused historical castle sim rather than fantasy combat built around hero units and mythical troops.