Key Takeaways
1. Complexity Over Graphics: Europa Universalis IV prioritizes deep gameplay mechanics, mixing trade, warfare, diplomacy, and technology, over high-end visuals, resulting in a steep learning curve for players.
2. Ongoing Development: Since its release in 2013, the game has received consistent updates and expansions, enhancing its historical richness and replayability, with the game considered fully developed by summer 2024.
3. Positive Community Feedback: The game has garnered nearly 90,000 reviews on Steam, with 87% positive feedback, and a Metascore of 87 on Metacritic, indicating strong community reception.
4. Pricing and Discounts: Europa Universalis IV is typically priced around $50 but often goes on significant sales, with current discounts making it accessible for new players, alongside a Starter Edition and an Ultimate Bundle for more content.
5. Expansion Reliance: The game’s extensive content largely comes from expansions, which can make the base game feel limited; however, a subscription plan is available for $7.99 per month to access all DLCs while requiring the base game purchase.
In Europa Universalis IV, players take control of one of many nations from 1444 to 1821. The game takes place in a world map that is very detailed and shows historical situations at each starting date. Rather than focusing on real-time battles like Total War, the developer Paradox Interactive opts for a more straightforward graphical style.
Depth Over Visuals
While Europa Universalis IV may not dazzle with its visuals, it compensates for that with a remarkable amount of complexity. The game mixes trade, warfare, diplomacy, and tech advancements, making it one of the most intricate strategy games available. However, this complexity features a steep learning curve, demanding that players dedicate a lot of time to understand its systems. With over 40 expansions, players can expect a ton of content and easily hundreds of hours of gameplay.
Continuous Evolution
Released in August 2013, Europa Universalis IV has been consistently updated with patches and downloadable content (DLC). Recently, on March 9, the German magazine GameStar put out a video reviewing the game’s current status, which has been considered fully developed since summer 2024. You can watch the video in both English and German:
The video by GameStar showcases the game’s historical richness and how its world evolves dynamically. The wide-ranging scope, varied AI interactions, and diverse gameplay mechanics all contribute to a high level of replayability. However, the challenging learning curve may intimidate new players, especially since there are not many helpful tutorials. Moreover, with a multitude of DLCs, experiencing everything the game has to offer can get quite pricey.
Community Reception
Since its launch, Europa Universalis IV has accumulated nearly 90,000 reviews on Steam, with 87% of them being positive. Over on Metacritic, it has a Metascore of 87 and a user score of 8.7.
The typical price for Europa Universalis IV on Steam is about $50, but it’s currently on sale for only $5 with a 90% discount until March 20. The Starter Edition, which comes with ten essential DLCs, is also discounted by 80%, resulting in a price of $12 instead of $60. For those wanting the complete experience, the Ultimate Bundle features all major expansions at a 41% discount for $104. However, even this package does not include all cosmetic DLCs.
Content and Accessibility
Similar to many games from Paradox Interactive, a lot of content for Europa Universalis IV comes from expansions, which can make the base game feel somewhat limited at times. For players not wanting to spend over $100 on DLCs, a subscription plan is offered. For just $7.99 per month, subscribers can access all previously released content while still needing to purchase the base game separately.
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