Stronghold Video Game Series

Strategy 07 November 2023

A remastered version of an iconic BAFTA-nominated RTS, and the beginning of a legendary series. Stronghold: Definitive Edition updates the 2001 original and adds some entirely new content.

PC

Strategy 09 March 2021

Another full-fledged installment of Stronghold, a popular strategy game series developed by FireFly since 2001. As always, the game takes us to medieval times, and allows us to assume the role of a lord with a small castle and a poor village at his command. Our job is to grow the area to become a powerful domain. Stronghold Next doesn’t differ much from the previous installments of the series – we are occupied with expanding the village and the titular stronghold, as well as engaging in wars with other lords. However, Stronghold Next contains a number of new elements that have enhanced the gameplay. The game mainly focuses on economic (village management) and military aspects (battles that employ various siege techniques). The players can also design and expand their fortress using a wide range of ready-made elements.

PC

Strategy 05 October 2017

A special version of Stronghold 2, developed for the Steam platform. The players can once again assume the role of a steward of a medieval fortress. Their task is to expand, defend and conquer the titular strongholds while also managing the technological and economical aspects of large and varied armies.

PC

Strategy 15 September 2016

A special edition of the standalone expansion to the second installment of the Stronghold series under the title Stronghold: Legends. The Firefly Studios team is responsible for the production's development. Besides a number of changes and improvements introduced in its basic version, this particular expansion also features exclusive content available on Steam, including bonus maps, campaigns, a set of achievements and trading cards. Just as in the case of its predecessor, the core of Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition consists of three single-player campaigns, during which we step into the shoes of King Arthur, Siegfried and Vlad Dracula. In contrast to the main series, the game focuses on the typical RTS aspects, simplifying the economic and administrative elements. In addition to the classic units, magical and flying troops will also appear on the battlefield - we therefore will get to experience skirmishes with werewolves, ice giants, and even dragons and spellcasters. The Glory Points are a new resource awarded to the player upon emerging victorious in a battle. The game also features a highly competitive multiplayer mode. The developers managed to improve the overall quality of the visuals, which is primarily reflected by the greater detail of textures and improved lighting.

PC

Strategy 23 September 2014

An RTS set in medieval and a sequel to the 2001 hit strategy game, Stronghold. In Stronghold: Crusader II, players once again take role of a leader of medieval armies fighting in the Middle East during the crusades. Similarly to is predecessor, the gameplay focuses on ruling one's fortress, including the management of resources and workforce, building fortifications, and building an army to defend your stronghold, but also laying siege to enemy castles. Developers from FireFly studio aimed to implement bigger maps and many new types of units. Another novelty is a multiplayer co-op mode, which effectively allows you to divide ruler's duties between a military commander and an administrator.

PC

Strategy 01 November 2012

Refreshed version of the first installment of the popular real-time strategy set in the Middle Ages. We play the role of one of the contenders to the throne and expand the title fortress trying to ensure the welfare of the subjects and eliminate all the rivals thanks to the large army. Compared to the original model, the resolution has been significantly increased and the operation of the camera has been improved.

PC

Strategy 01 November 2012

An improved edition of a popular RTS game created by FireFly Studios and originally released back in 2002. The HD edition increases the maximum resolution supported and adds zooming in and out in the isometric view. The game offers the entire content of the original release, supplemented with additional units, scenarios and tactical options introduced in the Stronghold Warchest and Stronghold Crusader Extreme editions. The player assumes the role of a castle's administrator living during the first three crusades. Throughout several single player campaigns, the player completes a series of story missions, familiarizing themselves with subsequent game mechanics. Balancing between prosperous economy and powerful army is the core element of gameplay here. Apart from standard campaigns, the game offers a set of individual scenarios and multiplayer missions for up to 8 players. Beyond the aforementioned technical improvements, the audiovisuals as such were not changed.

PC

Strategy 17 October 2012

A side entry in the Stronghold series, created and developed by Firefly Studios. The game is a free-to-play MMO with microtransactions and, just like any other game from the series, it takes the players into a dark, medieval world, in which they have to create their own kingdoms. During the game we can join one of European countries and political groups and we can establish our status by getting special honor points. Depending on our preferable style we can focus on military and gain influence by using a strong army or focus on economic aspect and defeat our enemies in a peaceful way. We can choose from many specializations such as diplomacy, espionage or agriculture. Trade and creating alliances with other players are very important aspects of the game. The game also has special bonus cards which can be acquired during the game or bought with real money.

PCANDiOS

Strategy 25 October 2011

The third installment of a bestselling strategy game series introduced in 2001. After the previous titles which experimented with the game mechanics, the devs at Firefly studios decided to return to the roots. Therefore, the player’s task is the development of a medieval village, along with the titular stronghold and the system of fortifications which ensure the safety of its residents. Following the formula of the previous game, the gameplay was divided into military and economic parts. We can focus on the economical aspect, ensuring a steady supply of the necessary raw materials, providing jobs for our subjects in progress. We can also focus on the military aspect, expanding the army and participating in battles, involving different specialized units and heavy siege machines. Aside from the typical game modes, a completely new mode, called free building, was introduced. The new graphic engine offers an improved visual layer, and the ability to wage battles during the night.

PC

Strategy 28 May 2008

A refreshed version of Stronghold Crusader, a 2002 strategy game. The new edition was developed by the creators of the original game – Firefly Studios. The game starts when the story of the first Stronghold ended and player is once again moved to the times of the medieval crusades that were supposed to reclaim the holy city of Jerusalem from the hands of the infidels. The player is tasked with creating a powerful army of knights and leading it against the infidels from the East. Gameplay mechanics haven’t changed, only new tactical options were introduced, giving the player greater control over the battle. New maps and units that once were available only in special edition of the game were added as well. The new edition uses improved engine of the original title, allowing for up to ten thousand units to fight simultaneously. The game has improved compatibility with newer operating systems.

PC

Strategy 13 October 2006

A standalone expansion for the second installment of the popular strategy game series, which is a remastered and extensively modified version of the original. The developers introduced a number of changes into the gameplay mechanics, making the game closer to a full-blooded RTS. This time around, the game's extensive economic aspect was abandoned, introducing simplified economy and castle building in order to focus on combat. Contrary to its predecessors, the plot is saturated with strong fantasy elements. The gameplay is divided into three independent campaigns dedicated to the eponymous legendary heroes: King Arthur, Sigurd, or Vlad the Impaler, known better as count Dracula. In every one of them, we will find events characteristic of the given character as well as unique units, siege engines, and defense system. Changes were also introduced in multiplayer which now features a completely new mode of war for resources, among other things.

PC

Strategy 19 May 2006

Deluxe Fortress is a special edition of the popular real-time strategy (RTS) in medieval climates. This edition includes Fortress and FireFly's official Excalibur Pack, which includes legendary and historic strongholds including Camelot Castle and the famous Tower of London.

PC

Strategy 19 April 2005

The second installment in the series of strategy games which was started in 2001 by Firefly studio. The developers decided not to experiment with gameplay mechanics and instead only expanded the best features of the original. The player can once again choose from two separate campaigns which focus on either the economic or the military aspects of the gameplay. The list of available siege machines and defense tools was expanded, the realism of the game was improved and a possibility to use various battle formations was introduced. The economic part of the game was improved as well – now it offers almost 140 buildings and 20 different production chains. The necessity to keep the stronghold clean was introduced. Ignoring this can lead to plague or an epidemic outbreak. The most visible change is a fully three-dimensional graphics engine. Thanks to it one can observe the settlement from top-down perspective and the battles, in which up to 1000 units can participate, now take place also inside buildings.

PC

Strategy 11 July 2003

Stronghold Warchest is a package of two games from the Stronghold series, i.e. an excellent strategy taking place in medieval Britain called Stronghold and its sequel, set in the realities of the Crusades - Stronghold: Crusader, extended by over 50 premiere maps and eight new computer opponents to be defeated.

PC

Strategy 24 September 2002

A sequel to Stronghold, an economic strategy game set in the Middle Ages and developed by FireFly Studios in 2001. This time we travel to the Middle East of the crusades period in the late 11th and the early 12th century. The game mechanics are not much different from what fans of the series know and love. The game's biggest innovation is the setting, albeit it features also some minor gameplay adjustment, such as dealing with limited water supplies. The developers offered four campaigns, in which you can lead the crusader army as Richard the Lionheart or command the Arabic soldiers as Saladin. The already wide spectrum of military units was expanded even further, featuring several units unique for each side of the conflict. In addition, the game offers a wider selection of clever siege weapons and defensive measures to be used in battle, a functional scenario editor, and a new Skirmish Mode.

PC

Strategy 18 October 2001

A medieval strategy which combines, in a rather unusual way, a castle builder simulator with a Settlers-like economic game. The player assumes the role of one of medieval lords whose task is to transform a small settlement into a powerful and well fortified stronghold and then protect it from the invaders. The castle can constructed by using various premade elements such as walls, towers, bridges or moats. Economical infrastructure is important as well since it provides constant income of resources and food as well as job for the peasants. The game is divided into two main modes: the economical one in which the most important part is to expand the settlement; and the military one where during epic fights one must defend his castle or siege enemy stronghold. The game also has a multiplayer mode for up to 8 players.

PC