Europa Universalis IV

 PC
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1463 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,250 out of 1463
  2. Mixed: 115 out of 1463
  3. Negative: 98 out of 1463

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. K1ller
    Oct 23, 2013
    10
    Excellent continuation of Europa Universalis series. I started as my hime country, Bohemia, and the level of historical details authors introduced is really excellent.
    Oh and a small notion to all of those complaining about hard to get UI. Please, go back to you consoles or tablets and leave PC games to people with brains. Thank you.
  2. hakyer
    Sep 16, 2013
    10
    This is a first edition of Europa Universalis which I have ever played. I must say that it was really hard for me to get started. I've spent few hours trying to understand the rules and interface of the game. I also watch few movies on youtube to see how others play and I realize that I am not alone. But after this time I started to really enjoy the game. It is not as complex as I thoughtThis is a first edition of Europa Universalis which I have ever played. I must say that it was really hard for me to get started. I've spent few hours trying to understand the rules and interface of the game. I also watch few movies on youtube to see how others play and I realize that I am not alone. But after this time I started to really enjoy the game. It is not as complex as I thought initially, but it is challenging especially on ironman mode. One thing that is missing for me is an autopause when something very important happen (such as alliance offer). I must keep my finger on top of space bar and hit it every time when I see a tiny image on top of the screen. To conclude it is a nice, challenging game for strategy game lovers.… Expand
  3. Kirq
    Aug 24, 2013
    10
    It's like playing history simulation on google maps, with deep and complex gameplay. Yet, very user friendly UI and smart hint system, makes it highly playable and easy to get in. Probably one of the best strategy games I've ever played.
  4. Ragintt
    Aug 13, 2013
    10
    Great game. The fourth iteration of Europa Universalis is the best Paradox game to date. I played more than 5 hours on first day of release and the game was stable, fast and better looking then their previous titles.
  5. Nerdlife
    Aug 20, 2013
    10
    Easily one of the best grand strategy games ever released. After Crusader Kings 2 i thought that Paradox wouldn't be able to release EU IV without bugs, but they did. A highly polished and amazing game. Worthy of every praise.

    If you are into the genre, it's a must buy. If you are not, it's still a must buy.
  6. tobas1
    Aug 22, 2013
    10
    Wow. And I thought that Crusader Kings were good and there is no more place for improvements in this greatest series of strategy games from Paradox. Its sometimes so nice to be wrong. I'm checking out every EU game and their clones (like HOI, Victoria etc) since EU1 and with few small exceptions and few bad ideas in my opinion this series is constantly improving! I have to say KUDOS myWow. And I thought that Crusader Kings were good and there is no more place for improvements in this greatest series of strategy games from Paradox. Its sometimes so nice to be wrong. I'm checking out every EU game and their clones (like HOI, Victoria etc) since EU1 and with few small exceptions and few bad ideas in my opinion this series is constantly improving! I have to say KUDOS my beloved Paradox and please surprise me even more in future improving things that are already good.… Expand
  7. jon-h86
    Sep 17, 2013
    10
    What a fantastic game. It is utterly engrossing. If you are a fan of civil 4 then you will love this game. An addictive masterpiece. It looks good too. The biggest down side is that it is too hard to stop playing once you get into a game. I have never played an EU game before. It took me about about 5-7 hours to learn how to play. It was a worthy investment and one I don't think anyWhat a fantastic game. It is utterly engrossing. If you are a fan of civil 4 then you will love this game. An addictive masterpiece. It looks good too. The biggest down side is that it is too hard to stop playing once you get into a game. I have never played an EU game before. It took me about about 5-7 hours to learn how to play. It was a worthy investment and one I don't think any serious arm chair emperor would regret.… Expand
  8. TheProvost
    Aug 16, 2013
    10
    This is grand strategy at it's finest. Long time Paradox fans will find this piece of armchair general candy the best tasting yet, and newcomers will never be as welcomed. The newly streamlined gameplay makes everything you do a bit more understandable, but doesn't make the game shallow in the least bit, quite the contrary. You could play the old games for hundreds of hours and still beThis is grand strategy at it's finest. Long time Paradox fans will find this piece of armchair general candy the best tasting yet, and newcomers will never be as welcomed. The newly streamlined gameplay makes everything you do a bit more understandable, but doesn't make the game shallow in the least bit, quite the contrary. You could play the old games for hundreds of hours and still be guessing in the dark at some of the hidden gameplay mechanics that went on beneath all the decisions you made and buttons you pressed. Now after only a few hours you can have a well rounded understanding of the game as a whole, which makes it much more enjoyable in the sense that you can easily formulate your strategies and never have to question what's going on. A good example of this would be the new trade system that's set up. Your power in a trade node is determined by three very well spelled out things, how many trade effecting ships you have protecting trade in the node, how much power your own provinces output to the node, and your nation's overall trade efficiency which is dependent on how much priority you put on trade, among other things. In the older games, particularly EU3, figuring out what was going on in the world markets was like navigating through a gator infested swamp at night, you'd throw your merchants where you hoped they would do best and pray you didn't ruin your economy with your choices. That is just one of many things that's been improved though. I speak from the heart when I say the new idea and national values system is one of the sexiest things ever introduced in strategy gaming. It actually makes nations feel like the nation your playing, a minor problem I've always had with Paradox games back in the day. If you're playing as Great Britain now, you'll easily have the best navy around, likewise if you're playing as Russia you'll have 10x the manpower reserves of any regular sized nation, and kickin' cossacks to boot. I could literally go on and on about the improvements they've made thus far, but I believe that's better left for people's own opinions and the such so I'm going to stop it right here. It's a proud time for the grand strategy gamers though, a proud time indeed.… Expand
  9. Isaksson
    Aug 13, 2013
    10
    Amazing game that really makes Civilization 5 look kind of boring in comparison.
    The huge depth and the cheer size of the map makes this game one of the best games I've ever played, and with 300+ hours spent on Crusader Kings 2, I bet I got plenty of game time ahead of me.
  10. Montavious
    Sep 26, 2013
    10
    Another great game from Paradox. Im more of a Crusader Kings guy, but this game is still great. If you are into grand strategy make sure you pick this up.
  11. Miskin
    Oct 9, 2013
    10
    EU4 is a hardcore strategy game. Immense, but also minimalistic. It has a high replayability, which is a guarantee to devour your free time.There are always new things to master, to explore and to do.
    Furthermore, the game is polished. Some bugs are there, but they are insignificant.
    However, the tiny fonts hurt my eyes. I hope they include a font size, which is scales to match screen    EU4 is a hardcore strategy game. Immense, but also minimalistic. It has a high replayability, which is a guarantee to devour your free time.There are always new things to master, to explore and to do.
    Furthermore, the game is polished. Some bugs are there, but they are insignificant.
    However, the tiny fonts hurt my eyes. I hope they include a font size, which is scales to match screen size.
    Please fix this Paradox!
    EDIT: I have installed the font mod and gave it a 10. After all it deserves it!    … Expand
  12. bitcrusher
    Aug 13, 2013
    10
    Best Paradox game to date. Multiplayer hotjoin added makes it the easiest grand strategy game to play with a friend.

    Full of depth and history it will make CIV5 seem like child's play.
    With over 250 nations to play you will never be bored.
  13. cdrwrecorders
    Sep 9, 2013
    10
    i had fun with this one. game is balanced and polished (almost no bugs). however i don't know if oversimplification is good direction to go, you can't chop of to much because you risking hurting a strategy heart of this game. i give it a 10 as badass seal of approval not real score
  14. BeatHour
    Dec 16, 2013
    10
    I've been playing since EU3 IN, and while this game lacks the labyrinth of content featured in EU3, its much more focused, much more accessible, much less boring. Its decidedly easier to play from the start date to the end, and gameplay stays pretty playable and constant throughout, where I would usually quit EU3 by the 1600s.

    All in all, its a fun game, and a nice change of pace from    I've been playing since EU3 IN, and while this game lacks the labyrinth of content featured in EU3, its much more focused, much more accessible, much less boring. Its decidedly easier to play from the start date to the end, and gameplay stays pretty playable and constant throughout, where I would usually quit EU3 by the 1600s.

    All in all, its a fun game, and a nice change of pace from other PI titles. Before EU3 was like a dumbed down version of Victoria 2, but now the EU franchise stands on its own among the PI titles.    … Expand
  15. nebz
    Mar 17, 2014
    10
    Wow, just wow! Paradox have really stepped up their game. It took 10 years, but they finally did it! I am a hardcore fan of all the older EU games, but this simply takes it to the next level. The sheer amount of detail and work that went into this game is on a grand scale. Ignore the nostalgia fools comparing it to the earlier games.
  16. bwheatley
    Aug 16, 2013
    10
    "Europa Universalis IV is the game you graduate to when you’re tired of Civilization" Edge

    I completely agree with this sentiment and will echo what others said. This is a big jump up in terms of tutorials and learning. The game has yet to have any major bugs that ruin the game for me. It's been a total blast so far to play and i'd have paid $60 bucks like a typical AAA game. In my    "Europa Universalis IV is the game you graduate to when you’re tired of Civilization" Edge

    I completely agree with this sentiment and will echo what others said. This is a big jump up in terms of tutorials and learning. The game has yet to have any major bugs that ruin the game for me. It's been a total blast so far to play and i'd have paid $60 bucks like a typical AAA game.

    In my play through with england there were many times where i felt my back was up against the wall. I was bordering on bankruptcy then had to fight hordes of rebellions but i managed to make it through and rebuild. There was a war with France vs the rest of the world, me (england), Spain, Portugal, Vienna, Scotland, etc and they had about 130 ground units. They had occupied most of the typical french territory plus almost all of spain. I had to make a seperate peace and give up some of my territory in NW europe on the mainland but it stopped the horde. Fast forward 50 years later with the start of the Protestant religion and France starts pulling itself apart from religious strife. The same coalition is able to go in and dismantle France piece by piece. All that remains now is ile-de-france and the area all around it are the smaller sovereign regions.

    This game is an amazing roller coaster you have to try to believe.    … Expand
  17. Invino
    Sep 18, 2013
    10
    2nd Review: Giving it a 10 (+1 over 1st score). The 1920x1200 resolution small text has been fixed now too.

    After 226 hours played, still playing got most the Ironman achievements with England. It really needs 100 hours just to get the hang of it all. Game gets more and more amazing, the complexity the random factor means never will you have the same game twice (and I started    2nd Review: Giving it a 10 (+1 over 1st score). The 1920x1200 resolution small text has been fixed now too.

    After 226 hours played, still playing got most the Ironman achievements with England. It really needs 100 hours just to get the hang of it all.

    Game gets more and more amazing, the complexity the random factor means never will you have the same game twice (and I started Ironman about 20x until I got it just right).

    Yes, one needs to speed time up when things are slow, but that's why there is a time shift. The complexity depends on starting nation. England has it easy on their little island, but try stopping Ottomans with Serbia for instance, or playing Native American tribes in Ironman.    … Expand
  18. Yyrkroon
    Sep 14, 2013
    10
    Paradox somehow managed to keep this game incredibly grognardy, while at that same time smoothing out the learning and accessibility curve. Where are the normal paradox launch bugs? This game has been smooth and solid.
  19. caliphamid
    Sep 18, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very detailed and enjoyable gameplay, fantastic in-game dynamics, and elegant graphics absolutely prove that this game completely deserves to be called grand strategy.… Expand
  20. Jcourtney
    Mar 18, 2016
    10
    There isn't anything else like this game and the game is still getting support with DLC even years after release. Once of the best Grand Strategy games ever made so far.

    Just buy the DLC on sale.

    10/10
  21. Noxious
    Aug 17, 2013
    10
    Paradox managed to get into the fourth installment of a game/series and make it better than the previous one. That is rare. Distinct graphic/visual upgrades without being too taxing on the computer, and overall well-rounded changes to the games "common sense" and fluidity. It's just more fun and feels right.
  22. Hurzdligh
    Aug 24, 2013
    10
    I don`t usually give a 10/10 for games that still have minor flaws, but after i bought this game i think I have sunk almost all my free time in it. And the time flies and you realize you need to work, to eat. And this happened for days.

    It is a splendid game, a marvel I might say, very well balanced, the difficulty scales with expansions, what can I say more than a superb strategy    I don`t usually give a 10/10 for games that still have minor flaws, but after i bought this game i think I have sunk almost all my free time in it. And the time flies and you realize you need to work, to eat. And this happened for days.

    It is a splendid game, a marvel I might say, very well balanced, the difficulty scales with expansions, what can I say more than a superb strategy game.

    And it scales in such a realistic way. For example, playing as the ottomans, I find out that after the initial blast, the powerful ottomans tend to remain behind in the 18th century and the 19th century, so even after i am one of the greatest power around the globe (land), I still consider if I should attack another nation. The coalition system and the technology points investment are so well designed that will enhance your gameplay with hard thought decisions. To invest in buildings, in technology, in expanding and so much more.

    What can I say more than a strong 10/10. One of the best, if not the best strategy game i have ever played.    … Expand
  23. georgio
    Oct 13, 2013
    10
    After seeing this game several times on Steam and passing it I finally decided to give it a try thanks to user reviews here on Metacritic. And I was not prepared for what was coming.

    This game is a pure blast! I've put 40 hours so far into the game only playing tutorials and my first playthrough as Ireland and what a ride it was. I am nowhere near the end, but I can say that this game    After seeing this game several times on Steam and passing it I finally decided to give it a try thanks to user reviews here on Metacritic. And I was not prepared for what was coming.

    This game is a pure blast! I've put 40 hours so far into the game only playing tutorials and my first playthrough as Ireland and what a ride it was. I am nowhere near the end, but I can say that this game is amazing! As a fan of grand strategy games who played them since the very first Civilization and through all Total War games I have to say that EU IV one is the best one so far. They just got it right. Diplomacy, research, warfare, trade, rebellions, religion, colonization it is all very well balanced mix that not fits together incredibly well from the gameplay point of view but also from the historical perspective. Even though the game is a sandbox it is so well balanced that you see many historical events occurring even if they are not really scripted like Rise & Fall mod for Civilization IV.

    Additionally there are so many aspects of the game that I did not even approached in my first playthrough where I focused on exploring new world that promise a lot of replay value a thing very scarce these days. Do you wish to play as part of Holy Roman Empire and unite it under one umbrella to become a dominant power as Germany? Check. Or do you wish to be spearheading counter-reformation that is threatening the stability of Europe? Or do you want to play as one of the less advanced civilizations and wage a fight for your very existence? Check and check. There are endless opportunities and all of them real and well thought off.

    On the top of all of it I did not encounter a single bug or any other issue. The gameplay is smooth and in spite of so many people criticizing the user interface I find it very useful the end game management of dozens of provinces which was always a chore to do with other games is breeze in this game. It lets the game keep holding you from the beginning to the end so that you do not want to go to sleep because you just want to win this battle or set up the trade in that node.

    For me this is the game of the year and it is something that many people may have expected Rome Total War. That it was Paradox interactive, a company that I admire for other great titles such as Mount&Blade, who achieved this is surprising but also refreshing. That I support such a good gaming company by purchasing this superb game is just an icing on the already incredibly tasty cake.Do not wait and if you ever liked any of the grand strategy title go and buy EU IV. It is a must have for any even remote grand strategy fan because this is how such a game should look like.    … Expand
  24. Orctownorc
    Aug 13, 2013
    10
    WOW! For about ten years Paradox Development have been a small team of nice guys working hard to give us good games and mostly failing. Their games have been for the most part tedious, pretentious and ugly, with cluttered mechanisms, and hideous micromanagement. Most of the Paradox efforts suffered from terrible tutorials and ridiculous learning curved that discouraged any vaguely casualWOW! For about ten years Paradox Development have been a small team of nice guys working hard to give us good games and mostly failing. Their games have been for the most part tedious, pretentious and ugly, with cluttered mechanisms, and hideous micromanagement. Most of the Paradox efforts suffered from terrible tutorials and ridiculous learning curved that discouraged any vaguely casual gamers. But beyond inaccessibility, the games were finally not that good, because even when you figured out the mechanisms they were still too MECHANICAL: not even really worth learning in the end because they were all variations of a sausage machine. However something miraculous happened with Crusaders Kings 2, and echoes of the good things we saw in earlier games (Hearts of Iron 2) reappeared: Better looking graphics. Simpler, yet DEEPER gameplay. The machine kept churning away but Paradox learned to save us from the worst of it, and the gameplay began to blossom. Europa Universalis IV seems to demonstrate that Paradox has really turned the corner. The game is beautiful. Gameplay is fluid. The depth and complication is welcome, but it has been softened with a more thoughtful and gaming friendly structure! GREAT WORK PARADOX! Good things take time, and your grand ambitions are finally bearing fruit. I'm very excited about where this will lead with the Hearts of Iron series, because all the design wisdom that we can see in CK2 and EU4 is leading in the absolute correct direction. If you love strategy gaming please go and buy this game and support this developer! This is a FAR, FAR superior game to Civilizations 1-5 as well as anything put out by Creative Assembly. It's been a long wait but worth it. Can't wait to see what we get when the final few pieces of the game design puzzle fall into place. If they get the budget to build something with a more solid multiplayer experience we will see the PERFECT game.… Expand
  25. Chongychoo
    Aug 16, 2013
    10
    If you like your game to be clever, unpredictable & rewarding. If you are frustrated by CIV V & Total War's thin attempts at diplomacy. If you like astonishing depth & diversity. If you want to be awed by the intricate complexity & myriad ways to play. If you adore gorgeous maps an excellent interface & a huge numbers of options at your fingertips (get the larger font mod though). If youIf you like your game to be clever, unpredictable & rewarding. If you are frustrated by CIV V & Total War's thin attempts at diplomacy. If you like astonishing depth & diversity. If you want to be awed by the intricate complexity & myriad ways to play. If you adore gorgeous maps an excellent interface & a huge numbers of options at your fingertips (get the larger font mod though). If you want to understand exactly why some manoeuvre went brilliantly or totally sideways. If you don't mind that the dev will continue to tweak the rules for years to come. If you want an army of devoted and frothing conquistadores massed in a thriving online community desperate to support you and if you're smart enough to endure the steep learning curve btw forget the manual just let Quill18 et al teach you on youtube. Then what are you waiting for? After 30 hours of play & 10 hours watching the experts show me I'm convinced this is THE grand strategy game I've been waiting for. Yeah baby… Expand
  26. speeDRunner
    Sep 19, 2013
    10
    Incredible! Just impressed by the new EU IV! I had enjoyed the preceding title a lot, and this one just becomes better. They simplified aspects that needed simplification, and made some things and mechanics even more interesting like trade, the ideas and technology system etc. without making all that too over complicated, confusing or buggy.

    This game is just perfect, it deserves a 10!
  27. Dorimi
    Aug 15, 2013
    10
    Another awesome game from paradox! A great improvement from EU3. But CK2 is still my favourite!Amazing game that really makes Civilization 5 look kind of boring in comparison.
  28. Contingencee
    Aug 16, 2013
    10
    If you liked EU III you'll definitely like EU IV. It looks very similar, but the game mechanics are actually quite different, so the experience as a whole is a lot different. Some aspects of the game are a little easier, but as a whole I think the game is a little bit harder than its predecessor.
    I think new players would find EU IV a little easier to learn than EU III. The new hints    If you liked EU III you'll definitely like EU IV. It looks very similar, but the game mechanics are actually quite different, so the experience as a whole is a lot different. Some aspects of the game are a little easier, but as a whole I think the game is a little bit harder than its predecessor.
    I think new players would find EU IV a little easier to learn than EU III. The new hints system is quite informative and well made.

    There really isn't anything bad to say about the game except the performance which hasn't been improved. If you are a strategy fan don't hesitate just get the game.    … Expand
  29. maiq
    Sep 23, 2013
    10
    The best Paradox game so far, and I've played a bunch of them. Micromanaging is solved in an elegant way so you don't have to spend much time building new buildings (can do it from a fancy building map or directly from the ledger), you can convert provinces religion or make new cores directly from a list, and you don't have to micromanage the trade neither. To be successful on trade you'llThe best Paradox game so far, and I've played a bunch of them. Micromanaging is solved in an elegant way so you don't have to spend much time building new buildings (can do it from a fancy building map or directly from the ledger), you can convert provinces religion or make new cores directly from a list, and you don't have to micromanage the trade neither. To be successful on trade you'll have to plan your empire growth on the long term, and eventually build a big light ships fleet, also some national decisions help, but you will only need to give new orders to your traders once in decades.
    Armies can be set to auto defeat rebels, so when they appear anywhere in your country that army will seek and destroy them.
    The only thing you have to micromanage as much as before is your armies during a war.
    Diplomacy is amazing, now you can know exactly why the others empires likes you or why they don't, and act consequently.
    The game is so awesome I had to uninstall it as I was playing more than 12 hours a day for several days.    … Expand
  30. valentino
    Aug 21, 2013
    10
    Love strategy, Gal Civ, Civ, TW, but it's the first time I've played a paradox game. It seems I really missed out on some of their earlier titles. If you like strategy, buy this game. It makes TW and Civ 5 seem like they are aimed at 6-10 year olds.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best PC Game of 2013
34
#34 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
1
#1 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. DarkStation
    Dec 12, 2013
    80
    Once players overcome the initial learning curve, Europa Universalis IV will prove a memorable strategy experience that provides as much fun stories as it does sheer tactical complexity.
    Read full review
  2. PC PowerPlay
    Oct 28, 2013
    90
    Somehow retains the series' trademark braininess and complexity while being clearer, simpler and far more fun. [Nov 2013, p.92]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Oct 24, 2013
    100
    The ultimate strategic simulator of an early modern history state with wide options for both success and failure. Do you want to unite Britain under Scotland, thwart the Spanish Reconquista or maintain the Inca empire? Suit yourself. [Issue#234]
See all critic reviews »