Family Feud[alism]: Exploring the Intricacies of History Through Crusader Kings II

This Well Played presentation will focus on Crusader Kings II, a grand strategy game released in 2012 by Paradox Interactive. In this game the player assumes the role of a medieval ruler operating under the feudal system. When this ruler dies (naturally or otherwise), the player continues as the ruler’s heir, effectively controlling the fate of an entire dynasty over the span of centuries.
When the player starts a new game, he or she must first choose a starting date (from 769 to 1337 CE). For each of these dates, the player may choose to play as one of hundreds of historical figures, and the designers of the game have made great efforts to remain faithful to history wherever possible. Individual rulers’ family trees are painstakingly reconstructed, and players interested in the historical background of any figure can readily do so through Wikipedia links built into the game’s interface. This ability to step into the shoes of an authentic medieval ruler has long appealed to many gamers, and Crusader Kings II takes this appeal a step further by actively encouraging players to explore the history that underlies its setting.

It is important to note, however, that the game’s fidelity to historical dynasties and relationships ceases as soon as the player takes control. This phenomenon introduces an additional attraction for players: as interesting as it can be to learn about history, it is equally interesting (and empowering) to rewrite it. After a few hundred years in-game, the world map will be quite ahistorical, due in no small part to the player’s agency in conquering, marrying, and assassinating his or her way through the medieval world.