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Europa Universalis IV

An RTS for grown ups, Europa Universalis is brutal, difficult and annoying to learn, but its historical bent and rich strategy make it a glorious experience
83%Game Brain Score
humor
gameplay, graphics
88% User Score Based on 200 reviews
Critic Score 88%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSPCPCWindowsWindowsCloudCloudLinuxLinuxNVIDIA GeForce NOWNVIDIA GeForce NOW
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About

"Europa Universalis IV" is a grand strategy game that simulates the colonial era of European history from 1444 to 1821. As a leader of a chosen nation, players can expand their territories, manage their economy, and engage in diplomacy, warfare, and exploration. The game features a complex system of trade, politics, and religion, offering a high level of historical immersion and depth.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
Europa Universalis IV screenshot
+18

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews
humor2 positive mentions
graphics2 negative mentions
  • The game offers a deep and intricate strategy experience, allowing players to explore various mechanics and options.
  • It features a beautiful map and balanced options for diplomacy and warfare, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
  • The game is highly addictive and provides many hours of enjoyment, especially for fans of grand strategy games.
  • The learning curve is steep, making it overwhelming for new players without sufficient tutorials or guidance.
  • The game can be frustrating due to its complex mechanics and the punishing nature of the coalition system against expansion.
  • There are significant issues with compatibility on certain operating systems, particularly with Mac and Ubuntu, leading to crashes and poor performance.
  • gameplay
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of accessibility and depth, with some players finding the game too easy once they grasp the mechanics, while others appreciate the variety of options for difficulty. Although there are notable improvements in mechanics and visuals, issues such as glitches and AI performance have led some to deem the game unplayable. Overall, players familiar with previous titles may find the new mechanics engaging, despite some concerns about the initial lack of strong countries and reduced playtime.

    • “At the same time, though, there is a lot to explore in the game mechanics, and there are a lot of different options to pursue with regards to difficulty, mainly by choosing weaker countries to start.”
    • “In short, I think most people would be happy with the difficulty and complexity of the mechanics.”
    • “If you've played EU III, the new mechanics will take a little while to get used to, but in the end, I prefer them with just a few exceptions; fewer strong/playable countries at the beginning, loss of ~50 years of play time improved: obnoxious ship boarding times, coring, manufacturing of CBs, and no problems with playability of large nations because of stability or lack of magistrates.”
    • “I've found this game to be incredibly glitchy and buggy, even for a Paradox game. Combined with the changes to gameplay and the AI, I've found this game unplayable.”
    • “Before I bought it, I read some reviews that talked about how it was too easy, and once you figure out the game mechanics, there is no real depth.”
    • “If you've played EU III, the new mechanics will take a little while to get used to, but in the end, I prefer them with just a few exceptions: 1) fewer strong/playable countries at the beginning 2) loss of ~50 years of play time; improved: 1) obnoxious ship boarding times 2) coring 3) manufacturing of CBs 4) no problems with playability of large nations because of stability or lack of magistrates.”
  • graphics
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback; while some users appreciate the quality and interface, others feel it lacks significant improvement over previous versions and has issues with screen size. Additionally, there are suggestions that the graphics could be enhanced further, and players may want to consider adding their own soundtrack.

    • “This game has good graphics, content, and interface, but it wasn't really that much of an improvement over its predecessors.”
    • “Graphics could be better, and you might wish to supply your own soundtrack.”
    • “It also seems as if something is wrong with the screen size and graphics.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the reviews is characterized by a mix of frustration and amusement, with users finding irony in their experiences with marketing and community engagement while expressing a desire for straightforward access to purchased products. Additionally, the mention of amusing game mechanics, such as royal marriages and quirky national ideas, adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.

    • “I loved the different government types; I always thought having a royal marriage with the USA was hilarious in EU2. National ideas, spies, and colonial tweaks were great.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been widely criticized for its significant glitches and bugs, rendering it nearly unplayable for many users. This instability, particularly in gameplay and AI functionality, has led to a negative reception regarding its overall stability.

    • “I've found this game to be incredibly glitchy and buggy, even for a Paradox game. Combined with the changes to gameplay and the AI, I've found this game unplayable.”
    • “As a result, it is buggy.”
  • music
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally considered lacking, with some users suggesting that players might prefer to use their own soundtrack instead.

    • “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable.”
    • “The audio quality is poor, which detracts from the overall experience.”

88%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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