Best Total Conversion Mods For Crusader Kings 3

Key Takeaways

• Crusader Kings 3
  has become one of Paradox Interactive’s best games due to its approachability and popularity.
• The game has a strong modding community, with total conversion mods being the most popular and enhancing the gameplay experience.
• The best total conversion mods for
  Crusader Kings 3
  include AltEngland, Fodlan – A Fire Emblem Mod, and Lord Of The Kings, which offer new experiences and gameplay mechanics.

Paradox Interactive has been at the helm of developing some of the greatest grand strategy games ever made. However, some people could make the argument that their games were pretty hard to get into, and players had to do their homework before they even launched one of the many games released by this studio. Nevertheless, Crusader Kings 3 has managed to become one of their best games, mainly due to how approachable this title is.

The game has quickly shot up in the popularity charts as an incredible grand strategy experience that players can augment with a slew of mods as well. The most popular mods for this game are total conversions that add a whole different dimension to the series’ gameplay. The best mods for Crusader Kings 3 within this context are pretty engaging and can enhance the number of hours that players can spend in this game, which is already extremely high in its own right.

Updated on October 12, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Roads to Power expanding the options Crusader Kings 3 players have with the Byzantine Empire, new mechanics now allow them to navigate the Empire’s political scene, enjoy its unique culture, and even travel a reinvigorated world as an explorer. However, players who want a more dynamic take on their Crusader Kings 3 experience may appreciate total conversion mods that make games take place in different settings and even have different stories. Among must-try total conversion mods include a setting of a popular novel series, a post-apocalyptic premise, taking the game a little further back to the Bronze Age, and approaching the game from the perspective of nations in the East during the same time frame.

24 Eragon Total Conversion Mod

Subscribers: 2,482

While this mod may still be in its infancy, there’s no denying that the idea of playing a total conversion of Crusader Kings 3 that let players explore a fantasy world that was the rage back in the day is certainly appreciated by the masses. Sure, The Inheritance Cycle may not have reached the great heights set by the first two books, but Brisingr and Inheritance are still largely decent books in their own right that provide a satisfying conclusion to the events set up by Christopher Paolini.

The idea of playing Crusader Kings 3 in a fantasy world inspired by this universe is certainly an exciting one. Players should check this mod out if they love both Eragon and Crusader Kings 3.

23 Flogi’s Buildings And Technology Mod

Subscribers: 6,004

Out of all the conversion mods on this list, this one is perhaps the most vanilla-friendly of the lot. While it doesn’t change the layout of the map itself, what it does do is overhaul the system of constructing buildings and researching technology.

A bunch of new resources, buildings, and technologies are added to the game to make it feel fresh and unique once again. It makes for a great time that proves just how amazing the modding community is.

22 Age Of The Fifth Sun

Subscribers: 7,890

The age of the Precolumbinian Americas is a wonderful era to explore in a Crusader Kings 3 mod, making it clear why fans would be so hyped to the moon and back to check out a unique total conversion mod that immerses players in this setting via the tried-and-tested gameplay loops brought about by this game.

The mod starts in the year 1068 and lets players explore this diverse culture to their heart’s content as they come to understand the culture, heritage, and workings of these colonies before the eventual takeover of modern America. Despite being in an alpha state, Age of the Fifth Sun is a great total conversion mod for players to check out if they want to try out something new and different in a game they’re intimately familiar with.

21 Fodlan – A Fire Emblem Mod

Subscribers: 8,837

The Fire Emblem series is one of the most popular tactical role-playing games of all time. The lore and worldbuilding of this series are truly incredible, and players who want to interact more with this world can do the same with Fodlan.

This total conversion mod lets players roleplay as rulers in one of the many kingdoms present in Fire Emblem. Fans of this long-running series will have a great time with this well-made mod for Crusader Kings 3.

20 Crusader Universalis

Subscribers: 12,799

Paradox Interactive is also the developer of the Europa Universalis series, which is another critically lauded grand strategy series. This mod combines the character-driven storylines of Crusader Kings 3 with the state-building gameplay present in Europa Universalis.

The result is a complex and intricate title that might take some time to wrap one’s head around. However, players who get into this combined experience will enjoy a great time with the mod.

19 Lord Of The Kings

Subscribers: 18,385

Players who want to inject their copy of Crusader Kings 3 with a generous helping of fantasy will love what Lord of the Kings has to offer. It says something that this mod is still being played to this day despite the creator not updating it in quite some time now.

Even then, the sheer amount of content added in this conversion mod is wildly impressive. Players can roleplay several races as they help their kingdom prosper while making valuable allies and taking out any enemies that stand in their way. It has all the classic hallmarks of Crusader Kings 3, and the addition of new races makes events more intriguing than ever before.

18 The Way of Kings

Subscribers: 27,396

Fans of high fantasy literature will recognize The Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson, where the world of Roshar is constantly at risk of Desolations caused by mysterious Voidbringers, and only the Knights Radiant can stop them. In The Way of Kings, players can take their Crusader Kings 3 gameplay straight to Roshar itself, where the game’s geopolitics adapt to that unique setting. This comes complete with devastating highstorms, the magic of stormlight in gems, as well as the priest-wizards who use Soulcasters and warriors who use Shardblades to wield said magic.

Players who have not read the books can appreciate the open nature of The Way of Kings. While the mod is named after the first book of The Stormlight Archive (and the mod’s events are loosely based on the overarching plot), the creator has provided enough variation in outcomes that canon events can wildly diverge into unique setups. The conversion also added the series’ unique magic system, complete with game-changing Artifacts, a magic-based Investiture resource, and even unique Radiant Innovation.

17 Bronze Age Reborn

Subscribers: 28,056

While the premise of Crusader Kings 3 is to take players on the wild ride of geopolitics in the Middle Ages, Bronze Age Reborn takes players centuries back, proving that mankind’s struggle for power began in the earliest signs of civilization. This mod, created as a successor to the discontinued The Bronze Age: Maryannu mod, takes players back to the Bronze Age that features some of mankind’s earliest civilizations.

The mod gives players a custom map highlighting the Near East and Aegean, making room for Crusader Kings 3 versions of the Ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, Elamites, and Assyrians, as well as the Minoans and Mycenaeans. The mod also provides players with two start dates (2115, 1590 BCE) and new mechanics: exposure-based Innovations that have to be encountered before being researched, as well as new religious Tenets inspired by the culture of the times (Sumerian Mythology, Pharaohs, Oracles).

16 The Witcher’s Realms

Subscribers: 28,240

The Witcher is one of the more recent fantasy worlds to take over the world, with CD Projekt Red’s work on the third title catapulting the series to the mainstream. This led to the books becoming popular, Netflix greenlighting a show based on this IP… and a Crusader Kings 3 mod that lets players rule as one of the leaders in the Continent.

The Witcher’s Realms is a great total conversion mod that is pretty engaging in its own right. Fans of the series will love how loyal this mod is to the world, and there’s just something special about getting immersed as one of the rulers in the world and trying to either maintain a flimsy alliance with certain nations or go to war and try to attain as much glory as possible.

15 Apotheosis: The Hellenistic Age

Subscribers: 33,586

• Created by: Apotheosis: The Hellenistic Age Development Team
• Download Link

This mod takes a look at the Hellenistic Age, taking place during 275 BC. It was a herculean undertaking to incorporate this age and all the nuances it came with into Crusader Kings 3, and modders have done a brilliant job of replicating the same.

The fact that this mod adds new forms of government and also includes a corruption system of its own is pretty neat. It’s a great way to freshen up the experience of playing Crusader Kings 3.

14 Tales Of Ireland

Subscribers: 38,672

The idea of expanding on the hierarchy in Ireland might not sound all that exciting for some… but the vast majority of Crusader Kings 3 players are well aware of the rich history of this country. So, it’s easy to see why so many people love the Tales of Ireland mod.

The country’s realms have been expanded upon to a ridiculous degree, to the point where it almost holds as much detail as the entire play area in the base game! It’s a brilliant mod that Ireland history buffs will have a great time with.

13 Vampirism And Lycanthropy

Subscribers: 41,774

Princes of Darkness is an incredible total conversion mod, but some people might feel like it goes a bit too far in its bid to emulate the life of vampires and the lot. Thankfully, there’s a simpler mod to help emulate the same.

The Vampirism and Lycanthropy mod adds both these creatures of the night and werewolves to the game, adding a new dynamic to the gameplay. If that wasn’t great enough as is, then this mod also lets players become hybrids of both or slayers of these demonic races as well!

12 Warcraft: Guardians Of Azeroth Reforged

Subscribers: 49,936

• Created by: Warcraft: Guardians of Azeroth Modding Team
• Download Link

It’s a shame that Blizzard has done a lot of injustices to the studio’s most beloved IPs, especially given just how passionate most fans are when it comes to titles like StarCraft and Overwatch. One particular IP that was recently wronged is Warcraft, with the Reforged release of the third game being lambasted for being a huge downgrade from the original game. Thankfully, fans have integrated a mod in Crusader Kings 3 that lets players enjoy a good strategy game that uses Warcraft‘s established lore to great effect.

Warcraft: Guardians of Azeroth Reforged may still be in its beta phase, but the promise shown in the early stages is already pretty impressive. The sheer amount of love and effort that has gone into transporting the world of Warcraft into Crusader Kings 3 is mind-blowing, with this mod featuring a wealth of new races, bookmarks that let players jump into the game at critical points in the story, and engaging new mechanics.

11 Asia Expansion Project

Subscribers: 56,508

The Far East has been explored quite a bit in Crusader Kings 3, but some people feel like the adaptation of this area is still quite lacking. While it’s true that Crusader Kings 3 strives to balance the game out as much as possible so that other regions and cultures don’t feel more in-depth and engaging as compared to others, the Far East still feels woefully incomplete when it comes to conveying the rich culture that was prevalent in the area at the time.

This is improved upon with the Asia Expansion Project, which accomplishes exactly what most people assume. The attention to detail in this mod is its crowning achievement and something that will wow players when they boot into the game after installing this all-encompassing total conversion mod.

10 Godherja: The Dying World

Subscribers: 60,507

For the most part, total conversion mods take place in universes that already exist so that fans can play out their wildest fantasies within this setting. So, it takes a lot of bravery to release such a mod that takes place in a completely original world.

Godherja: The Dying World takes place in a unique setting where humanity has gone against their gods through powerful magic, leading to the world falling to the brink of ruin. It’s a great setting, and experimenting around with the new adventuring and magic systems is a blast!

9 More Bookmarks+

Subscribers: 71,844

Bookmarks are technically starting points where players can choose to jump in and play. While the initial selection of starting rulers is pretty decent, some players would want more default and recommended starts in the game.

This is where the More Bookmarks+ mod comes into the picture. Not only does it add more bookmarks to let players jump into the game easily, but it improves the historical accuracy of the game by adding more historically accurate rulers and cultures into the game too!

8 After the End

Subscribers: 72,082

• Created by: NullPointer, General MacMonika, Vakiadia, Archa3opt3ryx, Novaraptorus
• Download Link

While many total conversion mods in Crusader Kings 3 gameplay are often set in pre-existing worlds or have a historical basis, After the End takes things up by adapting the hit CK2 mod of the same name into the sequel game. This mod takes place centuries after a devastating calamity known only as the Event eradicated modern society as everyone knew it. From its ashes rose what its creators call a “neo-medieval” renaissance, where new factions have begun taking over what’s left of the land.

Set in 2666, After the End features a completely revamped – but incredibly detailed – map of the Americas. In place of the original Crusader Kings 3’s Religion and Government systems, there are entirely new faiths and government types based on what life could’ve been in this post-modern era. Factions in conflict include the Holy Columbian Commonwealth, the Empire of Brazil, the Eternal Living Guru of California, and even the Americanists, all from different faiths and forms of government. The mod is chock-full of new assets, illustrations, and icons, practically transforming Crusader Kings 3 into a Fallout-esque grand strategy title with more politicking.

7 Shogunate

Subscribers: 99,523

Speaking of iconic medieval ages, Japan is also one such country with an incredibly rich history. The amazing stories present within these lands have been adapted over and over again, and now Crusader Kings 3 can join in the fun as well.

The Shogunate mod allows players to assume the role of one of the many rulers during Japan’s Sengoku era. It’s a great way to freshen up the game without completely compromising the historical aspect of Crusader Kings 3.

6 The Fallen Eagle

Subscribers: 139,418

Crusader Kings 3 allows players to start playing anytime after the year 867. Most people would argue that this time period is more than enough for players to make their mark in history, but it’s only a given that players would want more from their games.

This is where the Fallen Eagle mod comes into the picture. It lets players take on the role of empires during the early medieval period. The starting periods now include the years 395, 476, 532, 632, and 768.

5 Princes Of Darkness

Subscribers: 166,148

Vampire: The Masquerade is one of the most unique fantasy role-playing settings that players can immerse themselves in. Most people were exposed to this setting for the first time with the release of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines.

Princes of Darkness takes this setting and incorporates it within the context of Crusader Kings 3. The sheer amount of work done here is impressive and makes for a great time as players take on the role of an immortal vampire.