HoI and CK are very similar but differ in purpose. While both are strategy games, the purpose of CK isn't just to conquer as much territory as possible, but create the strongest dynasty. In that purpose, the game makes you role play as the head of your house. This can be interesting or unique when your character dies and your hier takes over.

In medieval times, if a landed noble dies, their assets are divided up and given to the next in line to inherit. That land may not even be the same country that you were controlling, meaning that the focus of the game is less about making a strong country, but creating a political situation where the members of your house are secure, which often means making a strong country but could also mean marrying into your neighbor's family and making their heir's baby a part of your house, effectively taking over their territory.

There is also a stronger focus one roleplaying as an individual -- the current head of the house. You don't control your territory, you control the head of the house, and there are many events that occur during the game that are specific to your dude or dudette.

So that's what makes CK a bit of an outlier to the other Paradox grand strategy games. That and CK3 doesn't have $500 of DLC yet.

Wow that was really long. Managed to write it all during my restroom break tho 👍.