Collection — The Stronghold

: Shifts the setting to the Arabian desert during the Crusades. It features historical leaders like Richard the Lionheart and Saladin and introduced the skirmish mode, allowing for head-to-head AI battles that the original lacked.

: A fantasy-themed departure from historical realism, featuring mythic campaigns like King Arthur and Siegfried alongside magical units and dragons. Critical Analysis of Design Evolution The Stronghold Collection

While the early titles are hailed for revolutionizing the genre, the collection captures a notable "slide in quality" as the series evolved. The Stronghold Collection - GamesIndustry.biz : Shifts the setting to the Arabian desert