Strategy Sessions Weekly: Crusader Kings III’s New DLC Pass and a Big Week for City-Builders

Crusader Kings III just picked up a meaty new DLC pass, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is putting up sales numbers nobody expected from an early access title, and city-builders had one of their busier weeks in months. If you’ve been sitting on a few purchases, this is a good week to reconsider. Here’s what’s actually worth your time and what’s still just a tease.

🎯 Quick Wins

House Flipper Remastered Collection landed on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S on June 4. The modernized version folds in graphical updates and extra content, so there’s no reason to track down the original plus its scattered DLC anymore. If renovation sims are your thing, this is the version to buy.

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has been in early access since April 30 and it’s already a hit. The game sold roughly 250,000 copies in its first 24 hours, recouped its full development budget, and is getting weekly balance patches alongside a map editor that already has an active workshop scene. Classic Heroes 3 fans should jump in now while the modding community is still finding its footing.

NORSE: Oath of Blood released back in February but deserves a mention if you missed it. This Viking tactical RPG blends XCOM-style squad combat with settlement management and diplomacy, and it’s a finished game rather than a work in progress. If you want a complete campaign to sink into this week, this is the safer pick over anything still in early access.

🧠 Strategy Spotlight

Crusader Kings III’s new Chapter V pass is the biggest strategy news of the week, and it’s worth unpacking what you’re actually getting. Buying the pass now (around $43.99 / £36.99 / €43.99) immediately unlocks the Symbols of Authority cosmetic pack and the Songs of the Realm music pack, so there’s instant value even before the headline content arrives.

The real payoff comes later. By God Alone, landing sometime between July and September, focuses on religious life and lets you play as a theocratic ruler, Pope included. That’s a meaningful shift for a game that’s historically treated religion as a system you manage rather than one you can lead from the top. Silk and Silver follows between October and December with a trade and merchant republic expansion, which should finally give economic-focused players the depth that combat and succession have had for years.

If you’re already deep into your current CK3 game, the pass is a safe buy now with two clearly dated expansions to look forward to. If you’ve drifted away from the game, this is a reasonable moment to come back, especially if dynasty stability has ever been the thing that ended your runs early. Our dynasty management tricks for long-term CK3 success pair well with the new religious mechanics once By God Alone lands.

👀 Worth Watching

Anno 117: Pax Romana has a concrete DLC roadmap through the rest of the year. The first expansion, Prophecies of Ash, already shipped in April with a volcanic region and eruption mechanics tied to city stability. A second DLC arrives in August, with a third following in November. If you’ve been managing population happiness in Anno 1800, the systems carry over conceptually, and our guide to keeping residents happy at every tier is a useful refresher before jumping into Anno 117’s Roman setting.

A few announcements are worth wishlisting rather than buying yet. Star Wars: Zero Company, a turn-based squad tactics game from former XCOM and Midnight Suns developers, is confirmed for 2026 across PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. On the classic RTS side, Stronghold 4 was officially confirmed this week and Company of Heroes – Definitive Edition is set for Fall 2026, with early details on a Total War: Warhammer 40,000 crossover also surfacing.

💬 Community Corner

Manor Lords players are deep into speculation about the game’s still-unconfirmed 1.0 release, which signs point to landing sometime mid-to-late 2026. The big discussion point is castle-building, promised since early access began but still missing from the game. Community members are comparing notes on which existing systems they expect to get reworked alongside it, especially combat and late-game content. If you’re newer to city-builders waiting on Manor Lords to mature, our guide to starting your first city in Cities: Skylines II covers a lot of the same foundational planning instincts.

⏭️ Next Week’s Prep

We’re tracking the By God Alone reveal window closely as more CK3 details surface over the summer, and we’ll have a deeper Anno 1800-to-Anno 117 comparison piece in the works for readers bridging both games. We’re also keeping an eye on Transport Fever 3 to see whether Paradox’s involvement produces a firm release date soon. See you next Friday.

Continue Your Journey:

• Crusader Kings III: 7 Dynasty Management Tricks for Long-Term Success
• Anno 1800 Population Guide: How to Keep Your Residents Happy at Every Tier
• How to Start Your First City in Cities: Skylines II