September 2020 NPD: Crusader Kings III has the best showing in franchise history

It’s no paradox to me — Crusader Kings III ranks 7th on the charts in The NPD Group’s September sales report today. This is not just the highest ranking for the franchise but also the highest launch month, in dollar sales, for any Paradox Interactive game. This shows that even niches like grand strategy can still find mass market followings.

Crusader Kings III launched August 31 on Steam, Valve’s PC gaming platform and store, and critics gave it high scores (it has a Metacritic rating of 91). It got the first 5/5 I’ve ever awarded in a review, and I think it’s the best game Paradox has ever launched. It’s a grand strategy game in which you control a ruling dynasty in either Europe, Asia, or Africa between the years 1060 and 1453. But really, it plays more like an RPG in how you make decisions guiding your kingdom or empire, with your ruler as the player character.