Victoria II

 PC
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 224 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 177 out of 224
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 224
  3. Negative: 13 out of 224
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  1. smijatov
    Dec 20, 2010
    10
    This is definitely one of my favourite games!! It is rather detailed, visually beautiful and it is a historic strategy - what more can a history geek want??
    It does have some problems, like the insistence of Russia to conquer Oman in EVERY game, but that is (hopefully) something that will soon be addressed with the patches.
    I haven't played it since before the patch 1.2 so we'll see -    This is definitely one of my favourite games!! It is rather detailed, visually beautiful and it is a historic strategy - what more can a history geek want??
    It does have some problems, like the insistence of Russia to conquer Oman in EVERY game, but that is (hopefully) something that will soon be addressed with the patches.
    I haven't played it since before the patch 1.2 so we'll see - hopefully it'll be even better. Even without the patch, I loved it! Excellent game!!    … Expand
  2. granderoho
    Apr 19, 2011
    10
    I consider myself well read of history. I love to read about the period which this game takes place and have always done the 'what if' senarios in my head. What if the CSA won the Civil War? What if Germany never unified? In this game I set out to play those what ifs. I played as the House of Lippe (a german province) never unifying with the rest of germany. Instead I conquered it.I consider myself well read of history. I love to read about the period which this game takes place and have always done the 'what if' senarios in my head. What if the CSA won the Civil War? What if Germany never unified? In this game I set out to play those what ifs. I played as the House of Lippe (a german province) never unifying with the rest of germany. Instead I conquered it. conquered parts of poland and later became a great power. I ended the game colonizing africa and being a super power. This game is full of those what ifs.… Expand
  3. asdfdsasdfdsa
    Jun 7, 2011
    10
    great game i loved it even though it had some bugs it was able to keep me happy due to the large about of countries and 100 years of game play long live the Punjabi empire
  4. Makorov
    Jul 31, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game has lots of depth and really impressed me! But I think it was kind of falsely advertised, as from first glance I thought is was part of the total war series, or at least something similar. When I got it home I had a shock but in many ways a good one! This Game was memorable, but not as good as the total war series. Close though… Expand
  5. myst2000
    Dec 28, 2012
    10
    I consider myself well read of history. I love to read about the period which this game takes place and have always done the 'what if' senarios in my head. What if the CSA won the Civil War? What if Germany never unified? In this game I set out to play those what ifs. A veryy good game! A very good Stratgie Game!
  6. IdleMuse
    Jun 24, 2013
    10
    So many of these reviews seem to focus so much on the release product! I'm gonna review the game as it stands now; It's superb; you can pile hours and hours into this game with different experiences for any country you wish to play as. Yes, it's difficult, ys, you should watch a Let's Play beforehand to get how it works, and no, it's not a sandbox game where you can do anything you like,So many of these reviews seem to focus so much on the release product! I'm gonna review the game as it stands now; It's superb; you can pile hours and hours into this game with different experiences for any country you wish to play as. Yes, it's difficult, ys, you should watch a Let's Play beforehand to get how it works, and no, it's not a sandbox game where you can do anything you like, you are limited by realism factors. But it's simply the best game at doing what it does for the era it represents.

    Plus, excellent modding support for people who do want to mess around with the default formula.    … Expand
  7. maor4774
    Jan 23, 2014
    10
    if you like pardox games this is 10/10 rating for you, just like the rest of pardox games this is other pice of art, the game it a grand stratgey game, leading a nation in the 1800s and make it a super power, create you own massive colonial empire or take a exsisting one and expend it even more, the game have so many things to do and it is one of the best games i ever played, i recomemdedif you like pardox games this is 10/10 rating for you, just like the rest of pardox games this is other pice of art, the game it a grand stratgey game, leading a nation in the 1800s and make it a super power, create you own massive colonial empire or take a exsisting one and expend it even more, the game have so many things to do and it is one of the best games i ever played, i recomemded that you buy it i give it 10/10… Expand
  8. SteeHill
    Jun 24, 2014
    10
    With over 1000 hours on this game it dwarves my next favourite game. Best game ever In my opinion. That being said it is NOT for everyone this is a 'Grand' Strategy and so is quite hardcore.

    Its also worth noting that the 'POP Demand Mod' greatly improves this game and tackles almost everyone's complaints about game features.
  9. wasabiguy
    Aug 31, 2015
    10
    This game is still rough around the edges, but without doubt the best one made. The only thing Paradox should be ashamed of when it comes to this game is just compeletely abandoning it while going on the add tonnes of expansion and bug fixes to the inferior Europa Univeralis, and just completely dedicating all work to the RGP (not even real strategy) Crusader Kings. The company has aThis game is still rough around the edges, but without doubt the best one made. The only thing Paradox should be ashamed of when it comes to this game is just compeletely abandoning it while going on the add tonnes of expansion and bug fixes to the inferior Europa Univeralis, and just completely dedicating all work to the RGP (not even real strategy) Crusader Kings. The company has a backward investment policy. As naive as I sound, hopefully they can one day turn back and actually pay more attention to this title, and make the other titles more like this one. This game is like the misunderstood child at school, that one day grows up to become a genius. Unfortunately this day hasn't come yet.… Expand
  10. Hugaunda
    Oct 15, 2019
    10
    This game is so good, when I start to play I don't understand nothing of the game but playng I understend the game, with 300 hours of game I can say that is the best game I have played
  11. woozstar
    May 16, 2020
    10
    **** just make vicky 3 ...........................................................................................................
  12. Wivaz
    Jul 27, 2020
    10
    Хорошая игра,инетерсно играть особенно с друзьями
  13. kitru
    May 23, 2021
    10
    Боже мой лучшая стратегия на планете земля, не хотят делать третью часть, прям как с Half-Life'ом, ну за что :((((((((((((
  14. Micek_Pro
    Apr 8, 2021
    10
    This is literally masterpiece, the best game from Paradox. The only bad thing about is that you have to get all dlcs, but they are cheap
  15. cipkasvay
    May 24, 2021
    10
    Regardless of whatever these reviewers said 11 years ago; today (2021) Victoria 2 -with both DLCs that is- known as the best game Paradox made to date, and for good reason. This absolute masterpiece of a game shows how to make a grand strategy. Even with Victoria 3 getting announced, this game is still a must-play for any grand strategy fan.
  16. StarkAgentos
    Jul 22, 2022
    10
    Прошёл игру за 6 с лишним часов, играя за Россию (дошёл до временного лимита). Всю игру у меня были проблемы с армией, и со мной все пытались воевать, и даже одна революция прошла успешно, ко власти пришли либералы. Крутой аналог хойки в другой историческом диапазоне.Прошёл игру за 6 с лишним часов, играя за Россию (дошёл до временного лимита). Всю игру у меня были проблемы с армией, и со мной все пытались воевать, и даже одна революция прошла успешно, ко власти пришли либералы. Крутой аналог хойки в другой историческом диапазоне.
  17. jeraldjunkmail
    May 10, 2012
    9
    Victoria 2 was a game that I bought on a steam sale, booted up, and than after about 30 minutes of tutorials, shut down and didn't revisit for six months. That short experience left me baffled. That said, I saw that there was something to the game, and promised to devote a Saturday afternoon to it one day. About a month ago, I did just that. I spent a full day doing the tutorials andVictoria 2 was a game that I bought on a steam sale, booted up, and than after about 30 minutes of tutorials, shut down and didn't revisit for six months. That short experience left me baffled. That said, I saw that there was something to the game, and promised to devote a Saturday afternoon to it one day. About a month ago, I did just that. I spent a full day doing the tutorials and trying out a game of it in earnest. I was left baffled. Confused. Humbled like no other strategy game ever has. Strategy is my genre, and this was the most monstrous game I have ever seen. But it left me utterly compelled. Fast forward a month, and I am STILL learning how to play this game. But it is worth it. I would give this game a 10, but it is simply not accessible to the average STRATEGY gamer. If I was to rate is as a game for whoever, it would be lower, simply because of the ludicrous learning curve. That being said, for those that take the time to learn the game, kudos. You have discovered a classic. It is stable, the ai is a reasonable challenge, and there is only victory in your own eyes. For those who claim there is a problem with the underlying game mechanics, they have not scoured the forums and found out why the game works like it does. For the vast majority of things, this game was designed to work like it does, and after understanding why it was designed the way it is, you will say to yourself "Oh, now I see why they did that." I give it an 8.5 out of 10, siding on a 9. If you buy the DLC, A House Divided, it improves the game to an even further extent.… Expand
  18. mattaki
    Dec 5, 2010
    9
    The other reviews have said it all Yes, version 1.0 was buggy, but version 1.2 has made this a remarkable game - and Paradox doesn't stop adding to their games for long after their release, so prepare for it to get even better!
  19. horseheadmask
    Jul 26, 2011
    9
    Victoria II was a mess when it was originally released, but the latest patches have fixed most issues. The game is focused on the social and economic changes that occured in the 19th and 20th century, and you job is to guide your nation through them. Victoria II does not focus so much on combat as other Paradox titles, but there is enough depth in the rest of the game for it to still beVictoria II was a mess when it was originally released, but the latest patches have fixed most issues. The game is focused on the social and economic changes that occured in the 19th and 20th century, and you job is to guide your nation through them. Victoria II does not focus so much on combat as other Paradox titles, but there is enough depth in the rest of the game for it to still be really entertaining. If you are a fan of other Paradox Interactive Titles, Victoria 2 is a must have!… Expand
  20. Azi0
    Aug 19, 2012
    9
    Victoria II is a game that makes you able to change history, the easy (and boring way), or the hard (and interesting way). The possibilities are all up to you and the decissions you make. One thing Paradox excels in, is their long support for their released games and their commitment to create easily modable games. They have recieved a lot of acclaim because of this from all over the worldVictoria II is a game that makes you able to change history, the easy (and boring way), or the hard (and interesting way). The possibilities are all up to you and the decissions you make. One thing Paradox excels in, is their long support for their released games and their commitment to create easily modable games. They have recieved a lot of acclaim because of this from all over the world and Victoria II is a prima example of this. The most apparent difference of Victoria II over its predecessor Victoria I, is that it's graphically improved a lot, this in my opinion is a good thing. I really appreciate the fact that you can now actually see crisp borders, instead of random blobs all over the map which should portrait your country. Another part is gameplay, with which combat and diplomacy have been improved considerably, but also some differences have been made in the overall economy and pops. These changes cannot cater to everybody, but to an extend I appreciate most options. However, I really miss the possibility to buy and sell provinces. The AI is also a bit stale, but every game I play, I notice all the other countries are building their armies to prepare for the Great War, which is quite interesting. Colonizing is very dependant upon what and how you research, making it more of a rat race around 1870, rather than colonizing Africa/Asia at a steady pace. England is also massively overpowered for a long stretch in the game, but it's your call if you'd like to keep it that way, or bring them down by force.. The combat makes it possible to keep better track of your armies and also (very important) keeping them supplied and reinforced. In total, Victoria II is a great update on the original. It doesn't give my the ultimate observer feel I've had in part one though, so it's not perfect, rather pretty close..… Expand
  21. desiretheright
    Feb 7, 2013
    9
    Originally pretty buggy, but patched well and a great game with continual updates. Somewhat intimidating. Focuses more on economic and cultural development than simple combat which gives it still quite a bit of depth. Substantially better graphics than the original.
  22. 200Ponies
    Mar 5, 2013
    9
    First of all, yes, version 1.0 was really buggy but now almost all of the bugs are ironed out.

    Onto the review: This is an excellent grand strategy game. Similar to a Total War game, except it focuses less on war and combat and more on politics, economy, production, trade and colonisation. You can play literally any nation in the world, no matter how small. I recommend this game to    First of all, yes, version 1.0 was really buggy but now almost all of the bugs are ironed out.

    Onto the review: This is an excellent grand strategy game. Similar to a Total War game, except it focuses less on war and combat and more on politics, economy, production, trade and colonisation. You can play literally any nation in the world, no matter how small. I recommend this game to anyone who likes grand strategies or any other Paradox game.    … Expand
  23. Qwanzar
    Sep 28, 2013
    9
    Is a great game if you are into history and alternative history. There are a Few AI bugs but no serious game-breaking bugs. The game can lead to some interesting scenarios without the player doing anything, an example is that Europe will look different at the end of the campaign than at the beginning even if the player didn't send over ships, troops, ect.
  24. LordMOrion
    Sep 17, 2017
    9
    Prior disclosure, I am a History graduate so I am little biased. This game is incredibly addictive, as many nations as you can imagine, a thousand different journeys to take in a world map that is largely 'alive' and changes without directly player involvement, an important feature in this type of game. Is this a historically accurate game? No, is this going to teach anyone about thePrior disclosure, I am a History graduate so I am little biased. This game is incredibly addictive, as many nations as you can imagine, a thousand different journeys to take in a world map that is largely 'alive' and changes without directly player involvement, an important feature in this type of game. Is this a historically accurate game? No, is this going to teach anyone about the history of the 19th century? No. Will you enjoy it? Yes… Expand
  25. Manuel258
    Nov 11, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Lets be honest, this is not a game for everyone, it can be over complex and sometimes it feels like artificial difficulty, that is 1 of 2 reasons why I think its not perfect, you can play as almost every country, the game obtains mantain loyalty to real life, and at the same time it obtains to mix them with the ficticius things, every single thing is important to keep you empire, and the battles are very simple, contrasting with the rest of the game… Expand
  26. MPGSpotter
    Dec 15, 2020
    9
    There's a reason people want Victoria 3. This is by far the best Paradox game, and maybe the best grand strategy game too. It's hilarious to see people trying to mod more modern Paradox games to add something Victoria 2 did flawlessly 10 years ago - interesting and intricate geopolitics and economy.
  27. Wilson468
    Dec 30, 2020
    9
    Absolutly great to play now (with dlcs obviously), you get to manage a country's politics, economy, military and society and feel how hard it is. But, don't forget : its a Paradox Game
  28. HeitorCampos
    Mar 13, 2023
    9
    Needs both dlcs and a flavor mod to be enjoyable, but goddamn, with those things, this game is amazing. The fact that there are only 2 dlcs which are cheap makes the fact that the base game sucks not hige deal. It has issues but it is great.
  29. GentlemanHunter
    Jul 16, 2023
    9
    Things I like:
    -Satisfying Economy Mechanic
    -Great modding community, especially considering how old this game is -Amazing Soundtrack -Good amount of countries that have content -Non-Linearity Things I dislike: -Army management -Constant revolts (seriously, **** Jacobin rebels all my homies ****ing loathe Jacobin rebels) -No real way to dramatically change the way your country    Things I like:
    -Satisfying Economy Mechanic
    -Great modding community, especially considering how old this game is
    -Amazing Soundtrack
    -Good amount of countries that have content
    -Non-Linearity
    Things I dislike:
    -Army management
    -Constant revolts (seriously, **** Jacobin rebels all my homies ****ing loathe Jacobin rebels)
    -No real way to dramatically change the way your country functions outside of relying on revolts (there is a mechanic that allows you to change the electorate vote but that's practically useless)
    -Clunky UI

    Conclusion: this game stands the test of time and is a must-have for anyone that is a fan of strategy games; however, I would recommend getting at least the "Hearts of Darkness" DLC (and waiting for a sale if you aren't a fan of grand strategy games).    … Expand
  30. CivforBrains
    Jun 4, 2011
    8
    I quite enjoyed it although it has it's share of issues including a persistent problem with the world market and a few other pesky bugs. The game has tremendous potential though. I think with a strong expansion pack, it'll become a classic.
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Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best PC Game of 2010
42
#42 Most Discussed PC Game of 2010
28
#28 Most Shared PC Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. PC PowerPlay
    Oct 27, 2010
    70
    Addictive, nerdy and totally epic strategy. [Dec 2010, p.56]
  2. GamingXP
    Oct 25, 2010
    85
    Victoria 2 is a very complex strategy-game, which offers you a very complex and exciting gameplay.
    Read full review
  3. CPUGamer
    95
    Saying that it stands head-and-shoulders above all of the scant competition for grand-strategy kingship almost goes without saying.
    Read full review
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