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Watch trailer on Steam ↗Sword & Siege Crusades: Book I
Wargame Design Studio · Published by Wargame Design Studio · Official site ↗
Positive — 100% positive (45 reviews)
Last updated 28 Sept 2026
Fight through the 1st and 2nd Crusades and the conflicts between them in Crusades: Book I, a tactical medieval wargame of sieges, field battles, and frontier warfare. Command Crusader armies or Islamic alliances across 74 scenarios and two branching campaigns.
£29.73
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Price history
Simulation, Strategy · 2026 · More £15 - £30 games
About this game
Crusades: Book I
March east into one of history’s most consequential medieval conflicts in Crusades: Book I, a detailed tactical wargame covering the battles and campaigns of the First and Second Crusades and the battles fought between them.
Beginning with Pope Urban II’s call to arms in 1095, Crusades: Book I follows the rise of the crusading movement from its explosive beginning through the capture of Jerusalem, the creation of the Latin states, and the growing pressure of increasingly organized resistance that culminated in the failed siege of Damascus in 1148.
Take command in Crusades: Book I, where 40-meter hexes and 10-minute turns place you in control of medieval armies fighting for cities, fortresses, roads, and passes. Every battle is shaped by the realities of the age: detailed siege warfare, difficult terrain, fragile supply, and the constant struggle to hold a frontier with limited manpower. Bring medieval sieges to life with Mangonels, Onagers, Ballistae, Trebuchets, Siege Towers, Battering Rams, and ladders.
Command the Armies of the Crusading Era
Recreate the major campaigns of the 1st and 2nd Crusades and the battles between from either side of the conflict.
Lead the forces of the Crusader states and western armies, including:
Knights
Men-at-arms
Spearmen
Crossbowmen
Archers
Pilgrims and levy forces
Or take command of the Islamic alliances and regional powers, including:
Turkish cavalry
Infantry armed with spears and swords
Archers
Garrison troops
Regional field armies
The historically accurate Order of Battle includes the major forces that fought across the era, allowing you to experience the strengths and weaknesses of both sides — from heavily armed western knights and determined infantry to fast-moving eastern cavalry and defenders fighting for cities and fortresses.
Siege Warfare and Frontier Conflict
The Crusades were not decided by open battle alone. Crusades: Book I captures the full nature of medieval warfare in the Levant and Anatolia, where strongholds, roads, and relief operations often mattered more than simple battlefield victory. Conduct detailed siege operations using Mangonels, Onagers, Ballistae, Trebuchets, Siege Towers, Battering Rams, and ladders to break fortified positions or defend them against assault.
Fight across a harsh and contested landscape where:
Cities and fortresses dominate operations
Roads, passes, bridges, and ridgelines shape every maneuver
Supplies and frontage can decide the fate of an advance
A delayed relief force can doom a city, while ample supply can save defenders
From the sieges of Nicaea, Antioch, Jerusalem, Tyre, Edessa, and Damascus to smaller clashes, marches, ambushes, and defensive stands, Crusades: Book I recreates the military realities of an era where every victory had to be held against inevitable counterattack.
74 Detailed Scenarios
Crusades: Book I includes 74 scenarios covering a wide range of actions and engagements, including:
A solo tutorial scenario
Five training scenarios
Historical battles
Variant scenarios
What-if scenarios
Specialized versions for both head-to-head play and play against the AI
The game covers major and lesser-known actions from across the 1st and 2nd Crusades and between, including battles such as:
Nicaea
Dorylaeum
Antioch
Ma'arat al-Numan
Jerusalem
Ascalon
Heraclea
Ramla
Acre
Harran
Tripoli
Tyre
Aleppo
Edessa
Ephesus
Damascus
Two Branching Campaigns
Two dedicated campaigns containing 23 scenarios allow you to follow the major events of the era through a connected series of battles and strategic decisions.
Play through the First Crusade or the Second Crusade, from either the Crusader perspective or the Islamic alliance perspective. These branching campaigns allow player choices to shape the path forward, with strategic decisions influencing which scenarios follow and how the campaign unfolds.
Extensive Maps and Medieval Visual Detail
A range of historically accurate maps are included covering the major locations fought over during the 1st and 2nd Crusades, as well as lesser-known battlefields.
The game also includes extensive 3D unit graphics representing the major armies of the era, bringing the crusading world to life on the battlefield.
Powerful Editing Tools
Customize and expand your experience with a full suite of editors, including:
Campaign editor
Scenario editor
Sub-map editor
Use these tools to modify existing content or create new medieval engagements of your own.
Multiple Ways to Play
Multiple play options include:
Play against the computer AI
Play-By-Email (PBEM)
LAN and live Internet play
Two-player Hot Seat mode
System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: 2 Ghz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: 512MB VRAM
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- Additional Notes: Windows 11 fully supported, running the game at higher resolutions requires more processing power
Recommended
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Supported Languages
Latest news
Patch NotesOfficial
Crusades Book I 4.04.5 Changelog
Enhancements Added the SoLoud sound engine. This now provides a control panel (under Settings > Sound) to adjust volume by each type, or for all at once. Bug Fixes Fix for FOW leak when in DirectPlay / Network mode. Fix for CTD where opportunity fire resulted in the unit being eliminated. Fix for various scenario Editor routines. Fix for Invalid Objective error for on-going PBEM match under new code base. Fix for various Column of March situations. Fix for units in Column not being able to cross hex side bridge when CoM rules active. Fix for flank charge penalty being applied when charge initiated from adjacent hex. Fix for AI Column of March routines. Fix for CTD relating to Objective memory allocations. Content Changes Updated documentation.Read full article on Community Announcements (Wargame Design Studio)Patch NotesOfficial
Hotfix
Bugfixes Resolved Campaign launch bugRead full article on Community Announcements (Wargame Design Studio)Patch NotesOfficial
Crusades Book I 4.04.4
Enhancements Added the ability to copy an AI script in the Scenario Editor. Added highlighting and organizational level designation for AI scripts in the Scenario Editor. Added ability to Fix an entire command by selecting only the Leader, in the Scenario Editor. Added new objective hex types. Capture, Unknown, Accrual. See User Manual or Scenario Editor Manual for more details. Added Leader Command Level indicators for 2D Graphical Unit file set. Various AI performance adjustments. Added AI check to the scenario editor which checks the status of all units for the presence of AI orders, either by the scenario header or specific scripting. Added display of objective hex values on map. Improvements to A* pathfinding routines. Supply wagons now have an 8 hex supply radius in Company Level scenarios. Bug Fixes Fixed for Leaders moving from Water to Bridges when stacked with units that Have Boats. Fix for Threat Checks being applied to units on Water hexes. Fix for CoM path-finding issue. Fix for Melee calculations not taking into account Armor ratings when multiple units involved on one side. Fix for Captured Gun range display error when using Shift + F. Fix for artillery not being able to fire when combined commands stacked together. Fix for captured artillery ammo not being deducted from original owners total. Fix for artillery having the incorrect modifier applied with certain weather entries in effect. Fix for Supply not being able to move on water when it is assigned the Has Boats flag. Content Changes Updated documentation. Scenario revisions for AI scripting improvements and other adjustments. Main.ai & PDT updates to refine army behavior. Added new config.ini file to the Saves folder to retain game settings for Steam users and sych with Steam Cloud. This is in addition to the normal registry method.Read full article on Community Announcements (Wargame Design Studio)AnnouncementsOfficial
Crusades Book I on sale!
Wargamers, Crusades: Book I will be 25% off from June 12th through June 26th. This is the perfect opportunity to march into one of history's most fascinating medieval conflicts and command armies across the First and Second Crusades. Featuring 74 detailed scenarios, two branching campaigns, historically researched orders of battle, and deep tactical gameplay and authentic medieval siege warfare including trebuchets, mangonels, siege towers, battering rams, and ladders, Crusades: Book I recreates the brutal struggle for the Holy Land in unprecedented detail. Fight across iconic battlefields such as Nicaea, Antioch, Jerusalem, Tyre, Edessa, and Damascus, or create your own campaigns and scenarios using the included editing tools. Whether you prefer single-player or multiplayer, now is an excellent time to add this title to your collection at a discounted price.Read full article on Community Announcements (Wargame Design Studio)Patch NotesOfficial
Crusades Book I 4.04.3 Changelog
Bug Fixes Fix for wall mounted artillery not firing when under AI control. Fix for units being unable to enter an open gate when stacked with a deployed Ladder or Siege Tower. Several fixes for AI behavior in certain circumstances. Fix so that Sapper units will not auto enter Siege Towers or Ladders. Fix for Leaders on a different Gate level providing melee/rout modifiers. Fix so that Skirmishers will not auto change formation on Walls. Fix for units retreating into Water hexes with no bridge. Fix for CoM child unit movement point cost error. Fix for Night Fatigue not being applied evenly when changing to/from CoM. Fix for rare frontage calculation bug. Fix for Alt CoM movement issue. Fix for Formation Fail Probability check. Disabled the Save as feature when in Campaign mode to prevent campaign functionality corruption.Read full article on Community Announcements (Wargame Design Studio)
