Crusader Kings III
PC requirements, performance and Steam Deck status
- Minimum
- GeForce GTX 660 · FX-4300
- Recommended
- GeForce GTX 970 · Core i5-8400
- 60 fps 1080p high
- GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (~70 fps, est.)
- Steam Deck
- Steam Deck Playable · ~45 fps ultra (est.)
- Genres
- RPG, Simulation, Strategy
- Release
- Sep 1, 2020
- Developer
- Paradox Development Studio
- Publisher
- Paradox Interactive
Love, fight, scheme, and claim greatness. Determine your noble house’s legacy in the sprawling grand strategy of Crusader Kings III. Death is only the beginning as you guide your dynasty’s bloodline in the rich and larger-than-life simulation of the Middle Ages.
StrategyMedievalGrand StrategySimulationRPGHistoricalManagementCharacter CustomizationLife SimSandbox
View on Steam →Will Crusader Kings III run on your PC?
What you need for Crusader Kings III
Crusader Kings III needs about a GeForce RTX 3050 6GB for 60 fps at 1080p high and a Radeon RX 9050 4GB at 1440p (pcgaming.io estimate, medium confidence, ±20%, model v0, data updated 2026-09-24).
| Target | Graphics card (at least) | Processor (at least) |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p · 60 fps · High | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB | Core i3-9100F |
| 1080p · 144 fps · Medium | Radeon RX 6600 | Core i3-12100 |
| 1440p · 60 fps · High | Radeon RX 9050 4GB | Core i3-9100F |
| 1440p · 120 fps · High | GeForce RTX 5060 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
| 4K · 60 fps · High | Radeon RX 6700 | Core i3-9100F |
Slowest current desktop parts (2020+ GPUs, 2019+ CPUs) our model expects to reach each target. Best GPUs for Crusader Kings III →
Estimated FPS on popular graphics cards (high preset)
| Graphics card | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce GTX 1650 | 48 | 34 | 20 |
| GeForce GTX 1060 6GB | 67 | 47 | 28 |
| GeForce RTX 2060 6GB | 101 | 71 | 42 |
| Radeon RX 6600 | 110 | 77 | 46 |
| GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 120 | 84 | 50 |
| GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU | 125 | 87 | 52 |
| Radeon RX 7600 | 139 | 97 | 58 |
| GeForce RTX 4060 | 142 | 99 | 59 |
| GeForce RTX 3070 | 166 | 116 | 70 |
| GeForce RTX 4070 | 209 | 146 | 88 |
| Radeon RX 7800 XT | 233 | 163 | 98 |
| GeForce RTX 5070 | 240 | 168 | 101 |
| Radeon RX 9070 XT | 300+ | 218 | 131 |
| GeForce RTX 4080 | 300+ | 227 | 136 |
| GeForce RTX 5090 | 300+ | 300+ | 217 |
Estimated FPS from our model (v0), based on the game's published requirements and relative GPU/CPU performance. Not measured. Real results vary with drivers, patches, and scenes. Values above 300 fps show as 300+. Data updated 2026-09-24.
Crusader Kings III system requirements
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows® 10 Home 64 bit | Windows® 10 Home 64 bit or Windows® 11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-750 | AMD FX 4300 | Intel Core i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 5 1600X |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 | AMD Radeon HD 7870 | Intel Arc A310 | Intel Iris Plus G7 | AMD Radeon Vega 11 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 | AMD Radeon RX 480 | Intel Arc A580 |
| Memory | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 20 GB | 20 GB |
Source: Steam.
Crusader Kings III on handheld PCs
Valve rating: Steam Deck Playable
Steam Deck · playable
- !Controller glyphs do not match Steam Deck device
- ✓Default controller configuration fully functional
- ✓Interface text is legible
- ✓Default configuration is performant
Steam Machine · playable
- !Controller glyphs do not match device
- ✓Default controller configuration fully functional
- ✓Default configuration is performant
SteamOS · playable
- !Game startup functional
| Handheld | Native resolution | Estimated FPS | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Deck OLED | 1280×800 | 45 ultra | Steam Deck Playable |
| ROG Ally X | 1920×1080 | 36 ultra | Steam Deck Playable · faster GPU |
| ROG Xbox Ally X | 1920×1080 | 42 ultra | Steam Deck Playable · faster GPU |
| Legion Go 2 | 1920×1200 | 37 ultra | Steam Deck Playable · faster GPU |
| MSI Claw 8 AI+ | 1920×1200 | 37 ultra | Steam Deck Playable · faster GPU |
Each handheld at its own screen resolution, on the best preset that holds 30 fps. Steam Deck verdicts are Valve's rating.
Details
- Controller support
- Keyboard & mouse
- DLC
- 33
- Steam achievements
- 188
- Metacritic
- 91
- Engine
- Clausewitz Engine
- Series
- Crusader Kings
- Features
- Single-playerMulti-playerPvPOnline PvPSteam AchievementsSteam Trading CardsSteam WorkshopAdjustable Text SizeCamera ComfortCustom Volume ControlsAdjustable DifficultyMouse Only Option#category_playable_at_your_own_pacePlayable without Timed InputSave AnytimeSteam CloudRemote Play on TabletFamily Sharing
- Languages (9)
- English, French, German, Spanish - Spain, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Polish, Japanese
Full audio: English
Latest news & patches
- "By God Alone" Dev Diary #7 - (Almost) Everything Else2026-09-22
- "Silk & Silver" Dev Diary #6 - Merchants, Republics, & the Silk Road2026-09-15
- "By God Alone" Dev Diary #6 - Performance2026-09-08
- "Silk & Silver" Dev Diary #5 - Iteration2026-09-01
- "By God Alone" Dev Diary #5 - Investiture Controversy2026-08-25
- PDX ModCon: July 24-262026-07-24
Official announcements via Steam.
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FAQ
Can Crusader Kings III run on a GTX 1650?
Yes, at lower settings. The GeForce GTX 1650 meets Crusader Kings III's minimum spec but not the recommended one. We estimate ~48 fps at 1080p high (range 38–58, medium confidence, ±20%), GPU-limited. For 60 fps at 1080p, use the medium preset. The cheapest current card for 60 fps at 1080p high is the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (~70 fps). Every preset on the GTX 1650.
Can Crusader Kings III run on Steam Deck?
Yes, with issues. Valve rates Crusader Kings III Steam Deck Playable. At the Steam Deck OLED's native 1280×800 we estimate ~45 fps on the ultra preset (range 36–54, medium confidence, ±20%). 60 fps is reachable on the medium preset. Presets for 30/40/60 fps on Steam Deck OLED.
What graphics card do I need for Crusader Kings III at 1440p?
For 60 fps at 1440p high, our model points to a Radeon RX 9050 4GB or faster: ~60 fps (range 48–73, medium confidence, ±20%). At 1080p high a GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is enough. 4K at 60 fps needs a Radeon RX 6700. All are the slowest current desktop cards per target. Best GPUs for Crusader Kings III by brand.
Can I run Crusader Kings III on a laptop?
Yes, with a fast enough GPU. Of the 30 laptop GPUs we list, the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU is the slowest expected to reach 60 fps at 1080p high: ~62 fps (range 50–75, medium confidence, ±20%). The slowest one that meets the minimum spec, the GeForce GTX 1650 Laptop GPU, gets ~65 fps at 1080p low. Crusader Kings III on the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU.
How much RAM does Crusader Kings III need?
The publisher's Steam listing asks for 8 GB of RAM minimum and 16 GB recommended for Crusader Kings III.
How much storage does Crusader Kings III take?
Crusader Kings III needs 20 GB of free storage according to the publisher's recommended spec on Steam. The minimum operating system is Windows® 10 Home 64 bit.