Paradox Interactive has made a name for itself in the grand strategy genre with titles such as Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron and Victoria.
They have created their own space within the genre and decided to prioritize political and diplomatic simulations over typical war-oriented games.
Years later Crusader Kings 2remainsone of his most successful titles.
And the CK2 fanbase has only grown stronger over time, giving way to some great community content.
Conan even newer titleout there now is the perfect time to revisit Crusader Kings 2, enhanced with a ton of mods. Here are our top picks!
30colored buttons
It's quite common for fans to find small ways here and there to improve a game's graphics.
Crusader Kings 2 is no different as there are some cosmetic mods that make the game more visually appealing.
While some graphical modifications are purely cosmetic, the colored buttons also have a practical use.
It adds some color to the main game buttons, making everything a little easier to remember.
This is great for a game like CK2, as the sheer number of in-game menus and information screens can be quite overwhelming.
29Best Looking Outfits
Here is an example of such a mod, which is purely cosmetic in nature.
Better Looking Garbs overhauls every portrait in the game, adding variety in terms of character clothing and style.
By focusing on interpersonal political relationships, you get to know most of the characters in the game pretty well. So why not make sure they look their best while you're at it?
Faces, clothes, hair and even facial hair have been cleverly swapped out to create new combinations.
There's also some additional material, keeping cultural accuracy in mind.
28shields of the parents
Set in the Middle Ages, heraldry plays an important role in Crusader Kings 2.
Factions, dynasties, and religions are all represented by shields on banners that proudly display their traits and achievements.
Patrum Scuta improves on this by replacing these templates to make them more historically accurate.
Thousands of dynasties now have their crests available in-game.
27A larger interface
Upscaling the game to more modern resolutions can be quite difficult as the menus tend to get blurry and hard to understand.
The first "proper 1080p mod" for CK2 calls itself a larger interface.
And it makes it much easier to immerse yourself in 1080p gameplay.
Since you'll be spending most of your time in the game's numerous information screens, A Bigger Interface expands the necessary menus so that everything fits nicely in 1080p.
As a bonus, some keyboard shortcuts have also been integrated to make navigating between the different menu screens easier.
26A source of revolutionary tooltips
Here is a great mod to have in addition to A Bigger Interface.
While "A Bigger Interface" resizes the menus, some of the text is still pretty hard to read. Especially if you run the game in higher resolutions.
A revolutionary tooltip font is a quick and easy fix that makes text bigger and easier to understand without changing the overall look.
25Orange icon from Wikipedia
Another little quality of life mod here, we have the orange Wikipedia icon.
Modder iron0037 hated how difficult it was to determine if the Wikipedia icon was active or not, which prompted him to come up with the simple solution.
If you look at the direct comparison, active and inactive actually look pretty much the same.
This quick fix makes the Wikipedia icon appear orange when it's active, making it much easier to identify.
24In the Heavens Cartographic Map
Modder In Heaven has become popular for this particular map mod.
Not to mention that the basic 3D contour map isn't very nice to look at - this mod was created specifically for those who just want a different aesthetic.
As In Heaven explained, their card prioritizes fashion over function.
It just changes the look of the map to an old-school cartographic style.
While it may be harder to use, it actually makes the game stand outsomething more envelopingas the style of the map is much more appropriate to the period.
23Into the Sky Chart Review
If you want a little more detail, In Heavens also has a graphics overhaul that does just that.
The mod includes 34 brand new textures that add a lot more life to the map.
It includes dynamic atmospheres and water effects, as well as new frames and fonts for a completely different look.
As the creator of In Heavens himself explained, he imagines what the earth would look like from a satellite.
22Complete medieval music
Graphics aren't the only factor that makes a game immersive.
Audio cues also play a big part in this, and the Medieval Music Complete package ensures that the sounds you hear on CK2 are as good as possible.
Music is unique to different eras, and the Middle Ages also had their own unique flavor.
The mod not only adds contemporary music but also makes the music tracks more dynamic.
The music played suits your character traits and makes the game even more intense.
21Nicknames+++
As mentioned above, Crusader Kings 2 is all about the different characters.
With so many relationships between you and the characters you will meet, it can get pretty overwhelming.
Nicknames+++ makes it a bit easier by giving each character a special nickname based on their traits.
Instead of the generic "Duke Llywelyn of whatever nation he's from" he's given a nickname like "The Siegemaster" or "The Wine Bather".
Not only does this make it easier to remember the signs you come up with; It also makes them feel more alive in a sense since they are real people that you have interacted with somewhere before.
20rename to anyone
If you're still having trouble remembering all the important characters in your campaign (which isn't really crazy considering the sheer number of people you're dealing with), there's a mod that can really help you outcomplete controlabout the names of the characters.
And guess what, the mod is called Rename Everyone.
Is correct! It's entirely up to you to give each character a unique name.
You can name them as your friends or family if that's easier for you.
19Flogi building and technology mod
Because Paradox paid most of its attention to making the political aspects of Crusader Kings as deep as possible, it also meant that other aspects of the game had to take a backseat.
Technology is a perfect example as modder Flogi felt the game was lacking in that particular area.
His mod is supposed to fix that and addsmore than 50 new and extension buildingsto the base game.
This, in turn, increases the focus on technology, as you'll need to research some of them in order to build most new structures.
Overall it's an interesting mod that brings a whole new depth to this particular CK2 mechanic.
18Improved Genetics 2.0
As you play out your reign as king, you will inevitably grow old and must pass the crown to your heir.
This cycle is part of every Crusader Kings 2 campaign game, and preparing the next king is an inevitable part of it.
In this sense,Geneticplays a very important role in the game. This determines the skills and traits your successor will inherit.
Modder Crimson9 didn't think the vanilla genetic system was as good as it could be, so he took it upon himself to make his own improvements.
Takes a more scientific approach, making inherited traits less random and more reliable across bloodlines.
17rich childhood
Reaching the end of a king's cycle can be a rather arduous time if the timing doesn't match the successor's willingness to take the throne.
It adds 52 new childhood events, making your young heirs' growth and preparation much more interesting than before.
Rather than just sitting around waiting for your prince/princess to grow old, you play a much larger role in shaping them into the next ruler of your kingdom.
sixteen.abdication
Of course, you can be on the other end of the spectrum.
You may find that your king is ready to relinquish the crown, your heir is ready to take his place, but you have a few more years ahead of you and have no choice but to carry on until your death.
Well, what if you want to spend your later years relaxing and enjoying all the wealth you've accumulated over the years? Isn't that what most people want after years of hard work?
Abdication allows you to do just that: step down from your royal duties and let your heir take over.
Both this and the Rich Childhood mod add interesting new factors that affect gameplay, so I suggest trying both.
fifteen.Your personal lock
Owning your own palace is pretty boring if you can't customize it.
Well, Your Personal Castle allows you to do just that, introducing new expansions that can be built to expand your home.
This isn't The Sims, however, as building on your castle triggers new events related to each expansion, allowing you to enjoy various bonuses.
For example, you can create a personal study.
It doesn't introduce any bonuses at first, but allows for a new promotion to take advantage of the studio.
And investigate usage branches into new peer chains that could potentially earn you tech points or boosts to stats, traits, and opinions.
You can build anything from a chapel to an observatory, and each will introduce new events that give you different bonuses for each.
14CK2-Generator
For those looking to upgrade their CK2 experience, the CK2 Generator is a great way to get it.
We'll get into hotfix mods later, but for those who want to get more out of the game while keeping all the basics, CK2 Generator offers a lot.
It basically spawns a whole new world from scratch, with a completely different story along with random cultures and religions.
Basically, the mod gives you a completely unique fresh start where pretty much anything goes.
13Ephemeral cheat menu
If you're looking for something a little less random, Sketchy's cheat menu gives you complete control to customize your gameplay.
When I say full control, I mean itliterally.
The mod enables a cheat menu that gives you the ability to do almost anything.
Interaction cheats allow you to force a character to marry you, kill someone instantly, or even convert a character's religion.
There are even mind control tricks that force actions on other characters.
You can use the mod to make more money, create children or change their traits, basically anything under the sun. How you use it is up to you.
12Historical immersion project
The first of the review mods here is the Historical Dive Project.
Most strategy games have a specific fan base dedicated to historical accuracy. And CK2 is treated the same as HIP.
The main goal of the mod is to modify aspects of the game to make everything more in line with real historical events and characters.
While it includes some gameplay and mechanics changes, the main feature of the mod is thislarge number of exact charactersrelevant to the history of the time period.
This is something history lovers will surely enjoy.
11Mod CK2 Plus
Another common mod theme for strategy games is an improved vanilla version, where the community tends to download as many improvements as possible without changing much to the base game's mechanics.
This comes in the form of the CK2 Plus mod, which adds more content and options to expand what the original game has to offer.
Among other things, the mod offers you a revised faction system, new events and a unique map, which makes for a completely different and more challenging CK2 experience.
10unbeaten light
Lux Invicta is one of the lesser-known overhaul mods for CK2, but it's still worth checking out.
The mod features an alternate timeline where religion plays a much larger role in the story.
The cult of Sol Invictus is widespread in the Roman Empire, while Muslim expansion has not been as successful.
There are hundreds of new events to discover,What a2,000 new buildings, units and systems to create a completely unique game.
If you want a more relaxed political simulation with more focus on battles, you might want to check out Lux Invicta.
9.witch-kings
Witcher Kings transports your CK2 game into the Witcher universe.
The Witcher video game series is very popular, as is theCurrent Netflix TV Series.
Game fans will definitely enjoy this CK2 review.
The Beast Hunter setting offers a rich fantasy world where you'll find popular characters like Triss, Yennefer and of course Geralt of Rivia.
8.Warhammer: Mysterious Night
Another popular fantasy universe is that of the Warhammer series: Warhammer: Secret Night takes CK2 in a completely different direction.
Set in 2010 IC, you can play through some of the well-known Warhammer events, with almost every faction featured in Warhammer games.
The mod features a brand new map stretching from Naggaroth to the Wailing Mountains. Almost all races in the Warhammer series areinterpretable, each with their own unique traits and abilities.
You can become a wizard or a vampire, it's up to you!
7.King of Clubs Z
Crusader Kings Z is a fun minimod that introduces zombies to the world of CK2.
That's right, zombies.
Paradox actually released a sneak peek of Crusader Kings Z as an April Fool's joke back in 2013, modders SaintDaveUK and Korbah decided this was actually something they wanted to make happen.
Fast forward a few years and we have Crusader Kings Z.
You will play in a world where zombies are invading, bringing with them a deadly new plague. Ravenous hordes of undead are beginning to consume medieval Europe and you must find a way to help your kingdom survive.
6.older kings
Based on another popular video game world, this time it takes you to the universe of Elder Scrolls.
Elder Kings takes place across Nirn, where you can rule as the leader of Tamriel, Yokuda, Atmora, and Akavir.
The mod's events actually take place well before the timeline of the original Elder Scrolls games, so you'll be playingcompletely new scenarios.
The details have been filled in based on lore and fan fiction, giving you a completely original story.
You'll also find popular playable characters from the series such as Abnur Tharn, Jorunn the Skald King, and High Queen Ayrenn.
The mod already has 8 playable stages, so there's a lot of content to explore here. Skyrim fans can have a lot of fun waiting for TES6.
5.Game of Thrones-Modus
What better setting for intense political mind games than the world of Game of Thrones?
This Game of Thrones mod takes you to Westeros where the different houses compete for the Iron Throne.
The mod was mostly praised as it was claimed to be very well researched and to provide a full Game of Thrones experience in CK2.
If you are a fan of the books or the TV series, you should definitely get this book.
4.middle-earth project
Of course, our journey through the fantasy worlds of CK2 would not be complete without a stop in Middle-earth.
An immersive LotR experience that allows you to play as Humans, Hobbits, Dwarfs, Orcs/Goblins, Elves, Nazguls/Saurons or Istari.
The mod already has 5 playable stages and will be easily recognizable for fans of the series.
The mod also includes a stunning map of Middle-earth with 650 provinces, full dynasties and history of Middle-earth including genetic traits and lineages, along with new artwork to match.
3.When the world stopped making sense
Another great mod for history buffs, When the World Ceased to Make Sense takes you back to 476 AD, just before the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.
The new timeline presents new events and decisions to be made with them, while maintaining the historical accuracy of the time period.
The events of that time are interesting in and of themselves, so it's not surprising that most fans consider this mod a must-have.
It is also very well done where much research has been done on the historical accuracy of the events taking place. Here you will be busy for hours.
2.after the end
After the End is probably one of the most popular CK2 mods, and also one of the most imaginative.
Instead of the usual alternate timelines that take us further back in time, After the End takes usfar in the future.
Specifically, in an alternate reality where you're trying to rebuild a post-apocalyptic America after barely recovering from extinction.
It's an interesting version of CK2. And it introduces many original ideas in the form of religions, tribes and much more.
Try it and see what you think!
1.After the last bifurcation of the fan
After the End was such a fan favorite that it actually already has a fan-made sequel.
After the End Fan Fork builds on the original version and makes it compatible with newer versions of CK2.
It adds some new religions, heresies, provinces and locations to add spice to an already great mod.
The mod is still under development as of this writing, so there's probably a lot more to look forward to here.