Europa Universalis V Review

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Europa Universalis IV remained popular for a long time for good reason. When it came out in 2013, it quickly became the best game in its genre.

Paradox Interactive’s ongoing dedication to the game helped it thrive, as they remain the most skilled developers of grand strategy games. After more than ten years, the fifth installment is now available.

Europa Universalis V isn’t simply a sequel to a beloved classic grand strategy game; it’s poised to define Paradox’s game development for years to come.

If you’re looking at Europa Universalis V, you probably already pre-ordered it. It’s not the kind of game people just casually pick up.

I’ve played this game for a long time, and it’s made me really happy. I’ve lost a lot of sleep over this series, and it’s been worth it.

I questioned whether the new game could surpass Europa Universalis IV, but it’s not only better – it has the potential to be the best grand strategy game ever made.

Improving On Peak Is Actually Possible

For a long time, I doubted we’d even see a fifth game in this series. Europa IV was so well-made and set such a high standard for the genre, that I wasn’t sure Paradox could improve on it enough to justify making a new one.

In Europa Universalis V, Paradox has built upon the successes of the previous game and incorporated lessons learned from their more recent projects.

Every aspect of your nation is in your control.

The game clearly draws inspiration from titles like Crusader Kings 3, evident in both how it plays and its visual style. The development team are experts in this genre, having honed their skills through years of work on games like Europa Universalis IV, ultimately leading to this new release.

If you’re new to the game, Europa Universalis is a detailed strategy game where you have complete control over every part of your country.

Even if this story took place in a made-up fantasy world, it would be remarkable, but the fact is, it doesn’t.

It carefully brings the era, its look and feel, and the intense conflicts of those countries to life.

The game begins in April 1337 and follows your family’s story through many generations of rulers. You’ll have the chance to play as a large number of different leaders throughout the game.

It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed when you first see how many countries you can choose from. Even as someone who’s played this game for a long time, I was surprised by all the options!

It’s the incredibly small details that really define this series. You don’t just happen upon a game like this – it takes effort to discover it.

You’re probably interested in this game if you’re already a fan of the series and have spent a lot of time mastering its intricate details. Thankfully, Europa Universalis V doesn’t change that core experience – it keeps all the depth and complexity you enjoy.

An Interactive History Book

For my initial campaign, I decided to focus on a region that was personally meaningful: Munster in Ireland.

While playing the game for the first time, I noticed that even though it’s quite similar to past installments, Europa Universalis V really stands out in how it creates a unique atmosphere.

Many players see the Europa Universalis series as a more complex and serious counterpart to the Civilization games. And there’s some truth to that perception.

Europa Universalis V excels in its ability to create a distinct mood.

Civilization focuses on big-picture historical planning, whereas EU games emphasize a slower, more detailed and realistic approach.

Historical events directly influence your game’s story and the strategies you use in each campaign.

Ruling Ireland during the Hundred Years’ War put me in a difficult position, caught between England and France. If I’d been in charge of either of those countries, things would have been much simpler.

It’s these options and different systems that make each campaign so unique.

This show has always aimed for realism, and it gets that right when it comes to portraying kingdoms. Like in real life, things aren’t always exciting, and that’s actually a strength of the series.

Leading a country isn’t always about grand events; it’s often about the everyday tasks. And sometimes, the game Europa Universalis V feels that way – a lot of routine alongside the important decisions.

Honestly, I really love the quiet parts in their music. It’s so nice to just sit back, lose myself in the sound, and anticipate what they’re going to do next. It’s like a peaceful pause before something exciting happens.

This could be anything from welcoming a new baby to convening parliament for a crucial decision, or simply facing a challenge that demands all of your focus.

Options Upon Options

I’ve always loved the Europa games because they let you really run your country however you want. And this new one? Same deal – tons of choices and total control. It’s awesome!

Paradox games offer incredible customization, allowing you to fine-tune every aspect of your experience. They’ve clearly invested a lot of effort into ensuring you enjoy playing Europa Universalis and can tailor it to your preferences.

If you enjoy strategy games but prefer to let the computer handle things like trading and building, this game has you covered. It automates those tasks for you.

You can also set the game to handle almost everything except the most important choices, if you prefer a more hands-off experience.

Okay, so the game can get pretty complex with all the little things, but honestly, it’s really helpful because if you hover your mouse over anything you’re unsure about, a little explanation pops up! It’s a lifesaver when you’re learning the ropes, as a fan I really appreciate it.

It’s ironic – even the little help messages on the screen are packed with information. And often, those messages have their own help messages, creating a confusing chain. It’s just too much.

If you hate reading, this game will drive you absolutely bonkers.

What’s always drawn me to this game is its incredible depth and complexity. It takes a long time to truly master – don’t expect to become an expert right away!

The game even offers an observer mode. So if you just want to watch the chaos, feel free to do so.

The game knows it can be complicated, so it helps you learn in a variety of ways. It offers suggestions for starting countries and a detailed tutorial to explain everything you need to know.

To actually start the tutorial, you need to enable missions, and I found that the game didn’t always recognize that I had done so.

Parks and Specs

Europa Universalis V uses the Clausewitz Engine, a powerful tool developed by Paradox Interactive in 2007. They’ve consistently updated and refined it over the years, and the results are truly remarkable.

It does come with a cost, however.

Paradox games don’t always look flashy, but they need powerful processors to run well. These games heavily rely on CPU performance, so an older or slower processor can significantly impact your experience.

Okay, so the game doesn’t need a super powerful PC, but honestly, you’re going to want at least a six-core processor before you even think about launching it. Trust me on this one!

Falling behind early can make things very difficult later on. But if you switch to Flat Map mode, you should notice a considerable improvement in how the game runs.

This setting simplifies the 3D map into a 2D view. It won’t drastically increase your frame rate, like to 120 fps, but it can still provide a performance boost.

If your computer is powerful enough, you’re in for a visual treat! The game looks fantastic when it runs smoothly on a capable system.

Surprisingly, I think the game’s visual style isn’t quite as good as Crusader Kings III. While there are more ways to customize how your ruler looks, the 3D models actually seem less detailed.

Europa Universalis games have typically felt less dark and intense compared to Paradox’s other titles. If you were expecting Europa Universalis IV to include some of the more ruthless aspects found in Crusader Kings III, you might be let down, as I was.

Closing Comments:

Europa Universalis V is the latest installment in Paradox’s popular grand strategy series, and it’s fantastic. If you already enjoy Europa Universalis IV, this upgrade is a must-have – it refines and improves upon everything you loved in the 2013 version. For those new to the series, and looking for a challenging and immersive strategy game, now is the ideal time to start playing.

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2025-11-02 21:11