Firefly Studios, the name behind those legendary siege RTS titles, saw their Stronghold remaster rake in praise back in 2023. Not content to rest on their laurels, they dropped the Stronghold: Crusader Definitive Edition on July 15, reigniting that old-school fire among the faithful.

Stronghold: Crusader Definitive Edition takes the classic standalone expansion of the 2002 original and gives it a proper polish. As the name implies, it trades European greenery for the harsh, sun-drenched sands of the Crusades. Following the successful November 2023 launch of the first Definitive Edition, Firefly Studios announced the Stronghold: Crusader Definitive Edition project in 2024, keeping the updates coming until the full release on July 15.

Beyond the expected visual and animation upgrades, the developers added four new Lords—Kahin, The Sentinel, The Nomad, and The Jewel—into the mix. Players can now command eight unique unit types, including scouts, engineers, and camel archers. The update also brings larger maps, a shiny new leaderboard, a UI overhaul, Steam Workshop support, and improved multiplayer functionality.

The reception has been Very Positive, with 92% of the 1,316 user reviews singing its praises. It is heartening to see a 20-year-old classic find its second wind, though some players have flagged annoying input lag in multiplayer. Firefly Studios has already promised further support, including autumn and winter DLC, free updates, and general quality-of-life tweaks.

Elsewhere in the charts, the upcoming EA Sports FC 26 secured fourth place with the launch of pre-sales, though players in Korea are blocked from purchasing the Ultimate Edition due to its microtransaction features. Meanwhile, Ming-Dynasty: Feather of the Void climbed back into the top ten at ninth place following a community showcase.

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