Solid medieval strategy game. Offers you the ability to play as both a major player or as a minor noble.

Things to be aware of:
1) The tutorial is not great. You're better off watching a guide on Youtube.
2) You don't need DLC, but several DLCs in particular do greatly expand the game- Way of Life, Legacy of Rome, and Sons of Abraham expand the options available to you in the core game, while other DLCs offer new start dates or the ability to play as a member of a different religion. Cosmetic DLC is mostly unnecassary, although you might want to pick up the Mongol and African Facepack when they're on sale since by default they share the middle eastern appearance which rubs a lot of people the wrong way.
3) The game does not shy away from the more brutal elements of history. Death and Disease are prominent. Religious Intolerance and Xenophobia is the norm. Murdering children who are in the way of your plans is a valid option. Marriage is a political tool, not a matter of love (Although circumstances can lead to a very happy arranged marriage for all parties). Female rulers are at a notable disadvantage because they can't lead armies and many of your vassals don't approve of a woman sitting on the throne. And yes, as the other reviews you see here no doubt mention, Incest is a thing, and even infants can be bethrothed to old men (Although you can't actually marry someone until their sixteenth birthday, so at least the squick factor is toned down). That being said, you can choose to be better than all this, and be a fair and wise ruler. Or you can run around aranging for little children to be somthered with pillows while cuckolding half of England's nobility. It's your choice.

Solid medieval strategy game. Offers you the ability to play as both a major player or as a minor noble. Things to be aware of: 1) The tutorial is not great. You're better off watching a guide on Youtube. 2) You don't need DLC, but several DLCs in particular do greatly expand the game- Way of Life, Legacy of Rome, and Sons of Abraham expand the options available to you in the core game, while other DLCs offer new start dates or the ability to play as a member of a different religion. Cosmetic DLC is mostly unnecassary, although you might want to pick up the Mongol and African Facepack when they're on sale since by default they share the middle eastern appearance which rubs a lot of people the wrong way. 3) The game does not shy away from the more brutal elements of history. Death and Disease are prominent. Religious Intolerance and Xenophobia is the norm. Murdering children who are in the way of your plans is a valid option. Marriage is a political tool, not a matter of love (Although circumstances can lead to a very happy arranged marriage for all parties). Female rulers are at a notable disadvantage because they can't lead armies and many of your vassals don't approve of a woman sitting on the throne. And yes, as the other reviews you see here no doubt mention, Incest is a thing, and even infants can be bethrothed to old men (Although you can't actually marry someone until their sixteenth birthday, so at least the squick factor is toned down). That being said, you can choose to be better than all this, and be a fair and wise ruler. Or you can run around aranging for little children to be somthered with pillows while cuckolding half of England's nobility. It's your choice.