Stronghold is a combination of realistic Castle building and real-time strategy plus maintaining a happy population. Charging taxes upon the population decreases their happiness and providing large rations of food increases their happiness. When happiness levels drop below 50%, the population decreases, sometimes leading to loss of the game. Takes skill to maintain a good population. Combat side of game includes crossbowmen, knights, pikemen, and seige equipment such as trebuchets. Can design own maps to play on, using the map editor included in the game. Famous castles can be downloaded from the Internet, including the Tower of London, and all castles use their original designs.