

In this game, they are separated into two groups – European and Arabian lords. As in the original game, the battlefield can be severely impacted by the presence of unique historic characters. Brand new mercenary units featuring a wide array of Arabian units can be purchased from mercenary posts. While the building, maintaining and reinforcing your fortresses and strongholds can lead to victory, to successfully win battles, you will have to take care, organize, micromanage and set supply paths not only for your warriors and military equipment, but also food producers, merchants, craftsmen, weaponsmiths, and the rest of population of your medieval settlements. The core gameplay loop of Stronghold: Crusader closely follows the systems set in its predecessors, with numerous changes being placed because of the move of the game setting from fertile Europe to the deserts of the Middle East. During the extensive singleplayer campaign of Stronghold Crusader, you will be able to reenact the largest battles of First, Second and Third Crusade, take control over the military leaders such as Richard the Lionheart and the Saladin, Sultan of Syria, and find a way to victory in the battles of Nicea, Heraclea, the siege of Antioch, Krak des Chevaliers and the famous Siege of Jerusalem.

This eagerly anticipated sequel moved the stage from the medieval sieges of kings and their armies to the historic conflict in the middle east – the famous Crusades. Stronghold Crusader is a sequel to a surprise strategy and simulation hit Stronghold from 2001.
