Reviewing the Latest Europa Universalis Game
As one of the most intricate grand strategy series from Paradox, you’d expect that having nearly a month to review the latest Europa Universalis game would suffice. However, that isn’t the case!
Despite Paradox granting reviewers ample time—comparable only to a few well-known Japanese series like Yakuza or Persona—as the embargo for Europa Universalis V approached last week, I found myself overwhelmed by notes and a blank page, questioning my ability to adequately review it.
This isn’t due to a lack of experience with grand strategy games—I enjoy reviewing them!—but rather because, whether by design or not, Paradox’s recent titles have become increasingly fluid, with fundamental changes occurring with each new expansion or patch.
For instance, Victoria 3 has undergone extensive modifications since its release, and Crusader Kings III, now over five years old, has transformed significantly, evolving from a polished version of Crusader Kings II to encompassing a grand narrative that spans multiple regions, including China and Japan. While these adjustments can be positive, they undermine the relevance of reviewing Europa Universalis V at launch, as the game could be vastly different by the time significant updates arrive.
Even during my pre-release trial of EU5, I noticed many changes and patches addressing bugs like an overpowered Papacy that disrupted gameplay. Furthermore, I sense there will be much more added over time, such as expanding minor nations’ storylines and introducing additional playable tribes.
Another obstacle to crafting a thorough review is that I barely scratched the surface of the game’s features despite weeks of playtime. Due to updates breaking older saves, I only managed to explore three nations (Holland, England, and Scotland), and navigating its complex systems, like economic management, may take me months.
In many ways, these games resemble continuous online experiences, diverging from traditional single reviews. As such, many outlets prefer revisiting these titles years later to evaluate their evolution, which often offers the most meaningful insights into the gameplay experience.
First Impressions of Features
After over 100 hours of gameplay, I can say that what I’ve experienced is promising! My background is primarily in Crusader Kings and Hearts of Iron, so diving into EU was a bit intimidating. I had forgotten much from the previous installments, causing me to relearn the game mechanics through extensive tutorials.
Feel free to ask if you need any more adjustments or additional sections!
