Welcome to the ranking for best Crusader Kings 3 DLCs ever. As I wrote this article, there are total 8 Crusader Kings 3 DLCs released, Tours & Tournaments being the last. Also, 2 more DLCs are on the way. One is a flavor pack called Legacy of Persia which will cover the lands between the Euphrates and the Indus. The second is a content pack called Wards & Wardens. It’ll be like Friends & Foes DLC.
Damn, Paradox… Your DLC policy suck and encourage piracy. I can’t get enough of CK3, HOI4, EU4, Stellaris, etc. But DLCs are draining my money… It’s a love and hate relationship actually.
All that being said, you need to buy all the DLCs to fully enjoy the game. A serious CK3 player will play with all DLCs, one way or the other…
1. Tours & Tournaments
Tours & Tournaments DLC is one of the best things happened to Crusader Kings 3. It’s absolutely amazing. You can see it on the comments, reviews, reddit discussions, and in-game by playing with it yourself.
It personalized your relationship with your vassals, gave you a sense of location with travelling mechanic, grand tours, grand weddings, tournaments, and more! Now that I think, CK3 is not even worth playing without Tours & Tournaments. Vanilla CK3 is an empty shell.
Now hunts, feasts, and pilgrimages are not just buttons activate instantly. Characters must literally travel the map with their entourage and face the possible dangers!
All in all, Tours & Tournaments is a must have Crusader Kings 3 DLC.
Tours & Tournaments description:
Re-write history as you journey across treacherous medieval lands to bask in the glory gained from hosting and partaking in Grand Tournaments, Grand Weddings, and Grand Tours.
2. Royal Court
Don’t mind the bad reviews, it’s great. The reason Royal Court DLC has many bad reviews is the pricing. The DLC doesn’t add enough content for its price. In fact, royal court should’ve been free and included in the vanilla game. However, as we all know, that’s not the policy of Paradox.
Royal court, interactions, petitions, artifacts, decorations, grandeur, culture reformation, etc, all added with royal court. It’s an amazing DLC. Especially if you’re into role-playing. But the price should’ve been much lower… Anyways, do get this DLC to truely feel like you’re the ruler.
If money is no problem, I say go for it!
Royal Court description:
The Royal Court expansion to Crusader Kings III adds new ways to interact with the characters in your kingdom or empire, as well as major changes to cultural system of the game, adding greater dynamism and historical fluidity.
3. Northern Lords
Let me tell you first, it’s not an amazing DLC unless you’re going to play up north. However, you need to own Northern Lords if you’re going to play an Asatru Norse character in 867 starts. Developers of this game are Scandinavian, that’s why they made the best and first flavor pack for northern characters.
Northern characters have different mechanics, events, units, laws, decisions, and more with the Northern Lords flavor pack. It’s absolutely a must if you’re going to play 867 start. However, all that being said, this DLC has zero to none use in 1066 start because it’s the date where Viking age ended.
As a fan of TV series Vikings, I endorse this DLC and absolutely love it!
Northern Lords description:
Ferocious raiders from a frigid north or a complex society filled with intrepid explorers, traders, and poets? Discover the true richness of the Norse world with Crusader Kings III: Northern Lords, the first in-depth flavor pack for the critically acclaimed Crusader Kings III.
4. Fate of Iberia
Fate of Iberia is the only region specific DLC other than Northern Lords. I hope the next region specific DLC would be about HRE or Anatolia. Anyways, if you like to play in Iberian peninsula, you want to have this DLC.
This adds unique events, decisions, flavor, looks, mechanics, and more to the entire Iberian region. Therefore, I consider it a must buy DLC for those who like to play in Iberia. In fact, anyone should play in Iberia once or twice because its so interesting.
Will you form Al-Andalusia and avenge the battle of Tours or will you start Reconquista with the help of El-Cid? Let the struggle begin.
Fate of Iberia description:
The sun-kissed lands of Iberia await your glorious rule with Crusader Kings III: Fate of Iberia flavor pack. Deeply rich in history, culture and people, the peninsula’s medieval destiny is ready to be shaped by your majestic hand, be it clad in conciliatory velvet or as an iron fist.
5. Friends & Foes
Friends & Foes is a flavor event pack. It adds around 100 new events to the game related to friends, best friends, rivals, and nemesis. But yeah, it’s really outdated and doesn’t add really much to the game. The problem of CK3 is the repetitiveness of the events. Friends & Foes DLC should have added +1000 events not +100. Is it unrealistic? Don’t think so.
As a result, it is the lowest rated CK3 DLC on steam. Look at all the negative reviews…
The worst part of it the house feuds. If you get into a feud with a house, they will murder all your dynasty and destroy your save.
It adds a little bit of role-playing value though!
Friends & Foes description:
Beware, rule – tread carefully with those you call friend or enemy; they are two sides of the same coin. Your relationship matter more than ever, and with Crusader Kings III: Friend & Foes, witness those closest to you come alive in the most intimate detail.
6. Garments of the Holy Roman Empire
How can one DLC be more useless than the Friends & Foes. Well, this one and the rest of the DLCs on this page are cosmetic DLCs and they don’t add any value to the game.
In fact, Garments of the Holy Roman Empire DLC is a pre-order bonus that adds couple of clothes and accessories.
The idea that a DLC is exclusive to pre-order is stupid.
Garments of the Holy Roman Empire description:
Immerse yourself in the Holy Roman Empire with a collection of outfits for both commoners, warriors, and rulers of Central Europe.
7. Elegance of the Empire
Another cosmetic only DLC… This one is exclusive for those who bought chapter II bundle.
I really don’t need to say much about it. DLC description is self-explanatory.
Elegance of the Empire description:
Dress your rulers in the finest of finery with this clothing pack. Based on the garments and regalia of Emperor Henry II and the Empress Cunigunde, this pack includes not only new robes and dresses, but historically appropriate crowns and other items. Exclusively available to owners of Chapter II.
8. Fashion of the Abbasid Court
Paradox added Fasion of The Abbasid court as cosmetic DLC for Muslim nations. And that’s okay but why don’t you add anything for the mechanics? Muslim nations are literally no different than Christian European ones. They should’ve much different mechanics and gameplay to be honest.
This DLC is included in the Royal Edition and can’t be bought separately.
Fasion of the Abbasid Court description:
Give your court a dashing new look with a set of outfits and cosmetic clothing options for the Middle East and North Africa.