Crusader Kings III Review (Chemical Burn)
I loved CK2. When I learned of CK3, I pre-purchased the royal edition before release, then I purchased the "Chapter 2" DLCs later.
After putting 400+ hours into the game, and holding out hope for the game to improve with more DLCs, I have abandoned this game. I uninstalled it, and have not purchased the "Chapter 3" DLCs.
My major problem with this game is "event spam". Whenever I try to do anything in this game, I am repeatedly bombarded with text pop-up boxes that force me to make some decision on a trivial matter. Not only do the events have little effect on the game, but after you have seen them 1 or 2 times, they become extremely repetitive and boring.
I have talked with other players on various forums who say they like this as it adds a "Role Playing" aspect to the game. I don't understand this at all. Back in the day with CK2, which had many fewer events, I was perfectly good at inventing stories in my mind for what was going on. I don't need constant interruptions of meaningless, repetitive events to make a story for what is going on. In fact, I think it distracts from my preferred way of Role-Playing.
Playing this game feels like one of those free-to-play mobile games that constantly interrupts you with pop-up advertisements that you have to click away to go on playing. The difference, is that I paid a pretty penny for this game and the DLCs.
With each new DLC, the "event spam" problem gets worse and worse. Instead of adding new play mechanics, the Devs seem to think that adding more and more glorified "text boxes" is somehow enjoyable content.
The one major play mechanic they have added since release is a failure. The "struggle" system as seen in the Iberian and Persian DLCs are too janky for a historical simulation. For example, you can conquer the Iberian Penninsula, and not be able to satisfy the conquest resolution because its in the wrong phase of the struggle.
I really wish the developers made a game with fewer, but more impact-full events. I was hopeful at release that the game would improve in time with more DLCs. However it is clear to me now, after the Royal edition, and Chapter 2, that the game is just going to keep bombarding the player with endless amounts of trivial, stupid, repetitive events. I have decided to move on and play other games.