Paradox Interactive announced the launch of their new historical grand strategy game Europa Universalis V. It has been over twelve years since the release of the previous title in the series in August of 2013, and although there has been a consistent stream of DLC, updates, and community content produced for Europa Universalis IV since then, the release of this fifth entry is a major milestone for fans. There looks to be a massive amount of depth Paradox have implemented, and in addition to the base game, they’ve also put out a roadmap extending into 2026 promising additional content packs. Game Director Johan Andersson declared earlier this year in a behind-the-scenes video that:
What EU5 is doing is something that we’ve really never done before. We’re aiming to create the complete GSG [grand strategy game].
Although the current critical reception of Europa Universalis V is very positive, it’s unclear if the popular reception of the game will agree with Andersson’s claim. But there’s certainly many shiny bells and whistles Paradox put in this entry. The developers have stated that on top of the “core” of the game that’s still present, they’ve made vast improvements to its many complex systems.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Europa Universalis places the player in the shoes of a real leader in a historically accurate simulation of the pre-industrial world, and presents it as an almost complete sandbox for them to do what they wish. Players can live out their ultimate “what if” scenarios through military conquest, diplomatic domination, economic prosperity, and more. And in this latest entry to the series, Paradox seems to have massively expanded player possibilities by honing the most meticulous details of their simulated history. One example provided by the developers in the same video mentioned above is the new “drowning mechanic” they’ve implemented for when troops cross frozen bodies of water–an ode to both the updated military logistics in the game as well as the expanded climate system. Another never before seen mechanic they’ve added to Europa Universalis is the detailed overview of populations, which now features different cultures, religious practices, social classes, and resource requirements, and you will need to keep track of all of those in order for your civilization to function. Of course, neither of these examples provide a complete overview of what the new game provides, but it does offer players a glimpse into what this ambitious entry is aiming to accomplish. Whether or not Europa Universalis V has the same lasting impact and lifespan as its predecessor remains to be seen, but even at launch the game appears to be a faithful attempt at creating an excellent evolution of what made the series so great.