Stronghold Games in Order & Where Stronghold 4 Fits
Last checked: 2026-10-28
Three mainline titles (2001, 2005, 2011), a web of spin-offs, and a 2026 prequel: the full roadmap.
The mainline, in order
| # | Game | Year | Engine generation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stronghold | 2001 | 2D isometric |
| 2 | Stronghold 2 | 2005 | First 3D engine (buggy at launch, fixed in Deluxe) |
| 3 | Stronghold 3 | 2011 | New engine under a new parent company |
| 4 | Stronghold 4 | 2026 | Unreal Engine 5 — a prequel to the 2001 original |
The spin-off web around them
Crusader (2002) and its sequels, Legends (2006), Kingdoms (2012), Crusader II (2014), Warlords (2021), plus HD and Definitive remasters of the 2001 original (2013, 2023) and Crusader (2025).
Do you need to play 1–3 first?
No — the studio calls Stronghold 4 a self-contained narrative prequel: Penryn's tale starts years before the 2001 game, written to stand alone. Series veterans pick up familiar names (Sir Longarm appears in the demo) and the "green roots" return; newcomers lose nothing required.
Source: Wikipedia — Stronghold (series) · checked 2026-10-28
Not yet documented
Statistics, cost and balance details have not been published. They will be added — with the build they came from named — once the game is playable.