As someone who dives deep into grand strategy games, I thought a whole month would be plenty of time to review the latest installment in the Europa Universalis series. Yeah, I was wrong.
While Paradox, the developer, gave reviewers an impressive window, I found myself overwhelmed. Their games are constantly evolving. With each update or expansion, core features and feelings shift, making it tricky to provide a relevant review right at launch.
Take Victoria 3 as an example. It’s undergone numerous tweaks since its release. Then there’s Crusader Kings III, which has transformed drastically from its initial version. In fact, it now seems like a completely different game compared to five years ago. This constant change makes early reviews feel almost pointless. By the time a review goes live, the game might be a wildly different experience.
Even in my pre-release time with Europa Universalis V (EU5), I noticed many updates changing how the game worked. For instance, certain bugs, like an overpowering Papacy, were swiftly patched. And even what’s currently offered feels like just the beginning, as it hints at future expansions that will add even more content.
Despite weeks of gameplay, I barely scratched the surface of EU5’s complexities. Some updates even broke my saved games, limiting my play to three nations: Holland, England, and Scotland. There’s so much depth that mastering the economic side alone might take months.
Europa Universalis games feel a bit like perpetual online games now. Many reviewers often revisit these titles months or years later to see how they’ve evolved. This ongoing exploration seems like the best approach for understanding them.
After spending over 100 hours with EU5, each session leaves me with the impression that there’s something genuinely interesting here. I’m not an EU expert, having last played EU4 back in 2019, so starting EU5 felt like learning from scratch. The tutorials were extensive, but I still struggled to remember the basics.
One feature I found particularly helpful was an automation system. Clicking a gear icon allows the AI to manage parts of the nation’s affairs. This option stole some tedium away, especially when managing a larger nation like England. I could focus on other tasks, like exploring new territories and managing conflicts.
As I continued to play, I discovered new gameplay features that surprised me. Simple tasks, such as upgrading towns to cities, weren’t apparent until I came across them while clicking through menus. It’s this depth that makes EU5 intriguing.
While the AI handled much of my nation’s administration, I still faced a plethora of engaging events. Playing as Scotland offered unique decisions that resonated with its history. Combat and diplomacy felt familiar, but exploration introduced a refreshing aspect, even if it was a bit gradual.
Even without diving deep into the intricate systems, I still felt the stakes. Choices about education or trade influenced how my nation thrived or struggled, illustrating a real-world connection between decisions and consequences.
Though EU5 might not carry the personal touch of Crusader Kings or the intensity of Hearts of Iron, it stands out as a classic Paradox experience. You’re placed in pivotal moments in history, having the power not only to navigate it but to fundamentally alter its course.
With so much left to discover, I can see myself delving into this game much more in the future. The depth is enticing, and I look forward to understanding it better over time.
For more insights on the evolving gameplay of Paradox titles, you can check out the Kotaku reviews that revisit these games to see how they change over time.
