Paradox‘s Europa Universalis 5 Delivers a brutally Honest, Deeply Complex Grand Strategy Experience
London, UK – Paradox Interactive’s Europa Universalis 5 isn’t offering players a sanitized or romanticized version of history, according to a new review from Rock Paper Shotgun. The game, a sprawling grand strategy title, throws players into the tumultuous era of early modern history, demanding they grapple with the complexities - and frequently enough the uncomfortable realities – of global power struggles, including colonialism.
The review emphasizes that Europa Universalis 5 presents history as a “top-down atlas of a world ready to carve up,” largely designed to be played as a colonizer, even with alternative paths available. The author acknowledges the game abstracts the horrors of the period into “numbers games” of maps and statistics, but notes the series has previously engaged with arduous historical topics, referencing a prior Rock Paper Shotgun article on how historical games integrate (or ignore) slavery. “Historical simulations can encourage thoughtfulness as much as they can reinforce sticky notions about our globe’s history,” the review states. ”and Europa Universalis as a series at least has some experience in this regard.”
While deeply engaging, the game’s complexity presents a significant barrier to entry. The reviewer contrasts Europa Universalis 5‘s learning curve with the more approachable tutorials found in Paradox’s Stellaris and Crusader Kings 3, noting the sheer ambition of the simulation makes simplification difficult. Players are advised to “bathe in that sense of overwhelm and learn to accept disaster and confusion as part of the fun.”
Despite the steep learning curve and the potential for catastrophic, decades-delayed consequences (“Everyone in Sweden will die as of a button you forgot to press twenty years ago. And that’s fine.Italian kings do it all the time.”), the reviewer finds the game “moreish, deep, and long-lasting.” A single playthrough,even for a seasoned player,can easily consume dozens of hours – the author estimates needing another 40-50 hours to complete a campaign as Naples,which took a century to even discover the existence of the Southern Hemisphere.
Ultimately, the review concludes that Europa Universalis 5 is a challenging but rewarding experience, a “huge messy map monster” that demands respect – and a significant time commitment.
Image Credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Paradox Interactive.
