Europa Universalis 5

Without the Europa Universalis board game released in 1993, the ‘global strategy’ genre of video games would have lost a lot. Why? Because in 2000, Swedish company Paradox Interactive released a computer adaptation of this board game. And for twenty-five years now, players have been diligently colouring digital contour maps in different colours, trying to achieve the cherished goal of world conquest on their own terms. Sometimes they even succeed.

The usual joke has been made, so let’s get down to business.

Although, in general, it’s not even a joke. Without the board game and without the first ‘digital’ Europa, the genre would look completely different today. Nowadays, it is very difficult to imagine a gaming industry without Crusader Kings, Hearts of Iron or Stellaris — and they would hardly have happened if the original Europa Universalis had turned out to be unwanted.

It took only six months from the announcement to the full release of the fifth Europa. However, this does not mean that we are looking at a hastily cobbled together carcass, reminiscent of the gnawed carcass of the previous part, squeezed into the clothes of a new engine. No, Europa Universalis 5 looks and plays great, and in many ways resembles the work done to fix the mistakes… not of the fourth instalment, but of Victoria III, which had a number of problems at launch. Here, spoiler alert, there are none — so if you want to start creating your own history of Medieval Europe, then welcome.

We’ve done more – Free Spin homepage

What is it and how does it work?

Europa is a global strategy game covering a very long period of time — from 1337 to 1837. What you will create, how you will create it, and for what purpose… well, that’s entirely up to you.

The game doesn’t put any obstacles in your way — for example, despite the name, you can play as more than just representatives of Old Europe. No, the choice is quite wide: if you want, go to France, Spain or Byzantium, which is falling apart before your eyes. Want something exotic? Here you go — China. Or maybe you want to personally sit on the Moscow throne, break free from the Tatar-Mongol yoke and build the Russian Empire? Or, on the contrary, take control of the Mongols, preserve their conquests and multiply them?

You can also choose from the city-states of the Holy Roman Empire and such wild options as the opportunity to go to America and try playing for the Incas or Aztecs. Have you always believed that the conquest of America, which began with the arrival of Columbus, was a dark page in world history? Well, go ahead and rewrite that history!

All this — and, of course, the systematic painting of the map of Europe (and then the entire globe) in the desired colours — is provided by the game. Moreover, you will have to manage not just an abstract state, as in Civilization. You will have to keep track of every aspect of its life: from the size and satisfaction of the population to who you trade with and how. There are a great many details in the game, and someone unfamiliar with the genre will inevitably find their eyes darting in different directions.

Countries, of course, differ in their form of government, unique improvements, state principles and laws, as well as units and buildings. Culture and religion, which also have their own distinctive features, add extra spice.

Taming the interface

So, let’s say you’ve managed to start the game. You’ve chosen the difficulty level, roughly decided who you want to bring reason, kindness and eternity to your neighbours today, and loaded the map. There you are greeted by His Majesty the Interface. Not with a smile, but with the swing of a heavy tombstone, where instead of an epitaph there are a hundred notifications.

Alerts, in the best traditions of Paradox games, rain down. About unassigned advisers, unmet needs of the population, and so on. At first, it always seems that the developers are giving out too much information. Everywhere you look, there are piles of numbers, values, bonuses, and penalties. However, we must give Paradox Tinto credit: the developers promised to work on the interface, and they did. It is now… well, not exactly simple, but it has become much easier to navigate. And more convenient.