Sword & Siege Crusades: Book I

Finally, Wargame Design Studio is on Steam! I’ve been playing their games for some time, and they have some of the best wargames on PC. This game is perfect for people who like hex-and-counter strategy. I’m happy to see them on this platform and I hope they bring more of their games to Steam! 10/10

I had this game from release at the WDS store, so don't let the little play time on Steam fool you. It is a great wargame and a piece of historical art. Granted, the graphics and UI can seem a bit outdated but they work smoothly and give you full control over your forces. The game itself is a marvel, a playable history book with the accurate order-of-battles being unique. For everybody who wants to re-live history in authentic game this is the way to go!

Recommended. (Dont mind my playtime. I play this game since its original release) Crusades: Book I is exactly the kind of serious historical wargame I am glad to see arriving on Steam. It is not a flashy mainstream strategy title, and it does not try to be one. This is a detailed, old-school operational/tactical wargame built around historical scenarios, careful order-of-battle work, and a rules engine that rewards patience, planning, and a real interest in the period. The strongest point is the sense that you are not just playing a generic medieval battle game. The maps, leaders, formations, and scenario situations give the battles a real historical shape. If you enjoy reading about the Crusades, then playing a scenario here can make the history feel much clearer: who was where, why the terrain mattered, how command decisions shaped the battle, and why things did not always unfold as neatly as they do in a book. There is a lot of content here, including many scenarios and campaign play, and the game also supports PBEM, which remains one of the best ways to experience this kind of wargame. The interface is traditional WDS/John Tiller style: functional, dense, and not especially modern. New players should expect to spend some time with the manual, the quickstart guide, and the tutorial scenarios. Once the system clicks, though, there is a very substantial game underneath. The graphics are not the selling point, although the game looks good for this style of traditional digital wargame. The real appeal is the research, the depth, the scenario variety, and the long-term support that Wargame Design Studio is known for. Highly recommended for grognards, history readers, PBEM players, and anyone who wants a serious Crusades-era wargame rather than a lightweight medieval strategy game.

Extremely fun and easy to grasp war game with included tutorials and beginner's documentation. Has made a WDS fan out of me. Thank you.

I've been playing the non-Steam version for the past year, and the game is stellar. The research behind it, combined with the sheer amount of content, is incredible. I don’t think you’ll find another game where medieval warfare is so well represented. I especially appreciate the artwork, music, and sound design. WDS continues to improve its games years after release. As a solo player, I’ve been very satisfied with the challenge the AI provides. Highly recommended.

I've been playing WDS games (and their predecessors Talonsoft and John Tiller Games) for over 20 years and I love their work. Well researched, well designed, fun to play, and a tried and true movement and combat system. The new Sword and Siege series uses many of the traditional UI elements that have worked for WDS' WWII, Napoleonic, and Civil War titles, with some tweaks and new improvements for medieval combat. Really enjoyable game covering a period that most designers have ignored. Try the demo, and explore more of WDS' titles!

Ignore my play time, I've been playing WDS titles off Steam for years now, with easily thousands of hours into their various titles. I'm so glad that they're finally coming to Steam, hopefully giving them better acknowledgement amongst gamers and wargamers alike. It might seem daunting at first, but once you get the controls down and a general feeling for the game rules, these old graphics come to life in an amazing simulation of battles all throughout the last one thousand years of human history. I've loved these games since playing the old Talonsoft Napoleon and Civil War games as a kid alongside my dad. In a few years time, I hope to do the same with my own children when they're old enough.

Been playing this (& its companion) since their initial release. Great game system that can cope with everything from set piece battles to siege assaults to meeting engagements to ambush/rear-guard actions. The two sides play very differently, learning how to set up a solid infantry line, exploit the horse archers or set up a devastating knightly charge all create a unique feel.

Glad to see WDS is finally coming to Steam. Overall I'm pretty pleased with this entry, it's not as flashy as Field of Glory 2 and lacks some of the ease of that game, but it more than makes up for it with the granular sieges, something FOG doesn't have. This entry is definitely siege focused with a couple of major set piece battles like Ascalon, but that's the first crusade for ya

Very fun game with a plethora of well-researched historical scenarios.