Crusader Kings III's New DLC Lets You Rule as the Pope
Medieval scheming has a new frontier. On September 30, Paradox Interactive released “Only God,” a fresh expansion for Crusader Kings III, the grand strategy game where players guide a dynasty across centuries of European history. The downloadable content turns its attention to the Christian church and religious power, giving players tools to govern bishoprics, manage church money and — for the ambitious — climb all the way to the throne of Rome.
The headline feature is playable papacy. In the Catholic world, the expansion introduces a College of Cardinals and a competition among papal candidates, so the election of a new pontiff becomes something players can influence rather than simply watch. Church finances, dioceses and new government mechanics round out the religious side of the game, turning the Vatican into a political arena with its own rules and resources.
Secular rulers are not left out. Kings and emperors can now back an antipope, a rival claimant to the papal seat, in a bid to control church resources and the lucrative trade in indulgences. It is a familiar historical tug-of-war between crown and mitre, and the expansion makes it a playable system rather than background flavor. Players who prefer to stay on the throne can use religion as a lever, while those who take the papal path must manage both faith and finance.
A new puppet system adds another layer of intrigue. Rulers can control key figures through blackmail, bribery and personal influence, then use clergy under their thumb to push excommunications, holy wars or claims on titles. The result is a game of soft power as much as hard conquest, where a well-placed bishop may be worth more than an army.
Alongside the paid expansion, Paradox rolled out a free 1.20.0 update codenamed “Crozier.” Free patches in Crusader Kings III typically adjust balance, fix bugs and lay groundwork for new systems, and this one is no exception. The dual release follows the studio’s usual pattern of pairing a headline expansion with a broad update that reaches every player, whether or not they buy the new content.
Crusader Kings III launched in 2020 and has built a loyal following by mixing map-painting strategy with role-playing-style stories about family, betrayal and ambition. Its expansions have steadily widened the scope of the medieval sandbox, from royal courts to travel and tournaments. “Only God” pushes that further by making the church a first-class power center rather than a source of modifiers.
For newcomers, the appeal is simple: few strategy games let you scheme your way into sainthood, or damn your rivals with a carefully worded decree. For veterans, the expansion offers new ways to play tall, building influence through institutions instead of conquest. Either way, the medieval world just got a little more complicated — and considerably more political, in the purely in-game sense.