23 Games Like Europa Universalis
Our collection of grand strategy games like Europa Universalis offers other deeply satisfying strategy experiences in various settings as you acquire resources and expand through war or alliances.
The Europa Universalis franchise started in 2000 and offers players a historical based 4X grand strategy challenge. Focusing on mostly medieval eras between 1400 and 1800 the games are known for their blend of military, diplomacy and economic elements with historical accuracy. The gameplay of the series has fundamentally remained the same although each has added additional depth to the core grand strategy experience.
From a historical starting point the games in the Europa Universalis franchise challenge players to take control of the various nations and provinces. Balancing your economic, diplomatic and military efforts players will utilise limited resources across your objectives to conquer the land. With players able to take various paths to this end game you'll find a sandbox and strategic challenge across the Europa Universalis titles.
The games like Europa Universalis selected below will you have devising unique strategies as you seek to take on the world and other objectives with grand strategy gameplay. From medieval to fantasy and science fiction settings each of these requires a balance of military, diplomacy and economy.
Endless Legend
Taking everything that they learned from their pervious 4X space strategy game (Endless Space) Amplitude Studios revisits the genre with a fantasy twist this time to create Endless Legend. Challenging players to dominate the fantasy game world known as Auriga you’ll command over a dozen factions to a number of varied game win conditions. With a standard core gameplay loop of exploration, founding of new cities, researching technology and ending the game through diplomatic or aggressive mea...[Read Review]
Crusader Kings II
Crusader Kings II offers a Middle Ages grand strategy experience and builds on the solid foundations established by the original game. With plenty of historical figures making an appearance you’ll be able to live out their legendary stories and carve out your own story at the same time across the European backdrop. Uniquely while Crusader Kings II launched as a paid title in 2012 the base game went free to play in 2019 with players able to access additional content through purchases. At the core...[Read Review]
Shogun: Total War
Shogun: Total War is the very first in the long series of games in the Total War series. The game is set in Japan and blends turn based gameplay with real time battles. The game incorporates many realistic historical elements into its gameplay. This includes references to the popular war book, The Art of War by Sun Tzu which features heavily in strategic advice presented to the player. Shogun: Total War takes place during the warring states period of Japan’s history which lasted from the 15th to...[Read Review]
Rome: Total War
Rome: Total War (RTW) is a strategy game that blends turn based strategy with real time elements. It is part of the highly popular and successful Total War series and is available for PC and Mac. The game is the third game in the series and also one of the highest rated among fans and critics. As the name suggests the game takes place during the Roman Empire and has players taking on the role of one of the available Roman families in the campaign game mode. These families (Scipii, Julii and Brut...[Read Review]
Victoria II
Set within our own universe but allowing players to influence their own historical events is Victoria II, the second game in the Victoria franchise and developed by Paradox Development Studio. The game spans approximately 100 years from 1836 to 1936 and tilts towards economics or diplomacy rather than solely about war although this is still an option for those that want to take the difficult path and go against the grain. Featuring a number of improvements over the original Victoria title such a...[Read Review]
Sengoku
Patient gamers that take the time to explore what Sengoku has to offer will be treated to a character orientated grand strategy along the same vein of Crusder Kings. Set during the warring period of Japanese history (1460s in this case) this 2011 released title players will take on the role of a noble as they find the path to victory by utilising their available resources. In typical grand strategy fashion this path will involve plenty of deadly conflicts and cunning diplomacy to bring others un...[Read Review]
Making History: The Great War
Making History: The Great War is the first game in the acclaimed Making History franchise to move away from World War II and instead go further back in time to explore the challenges of World War I. Offering the same impressive depth of other Making History games players will unlock a wealth of decision points that lead to equally diverse strategies and challenges. While set within the World War I era this title does let you shape some of the game story and potentially change the course of histo...[Read Review]
Hearts of Iron III
Hearts of Iron III brings World War II to the grand strategy genre while also marking the third title in the popular strategy video game franchise. While a dark era of history Hearts of Iron III explores it with historical accuracy and allows you to take command of your country from over one hundred options in this world scale strategy challenge. Beyond the initial release players also have access to three expansion packs; Semper Fi, For the Motherland and Their Finest Hour amongst a number of o...[Read Review]
Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients
Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients takes you to the ancient lands as you create your own empire by using military tactics and careful resource management to reach the heights of the ancient empires. Lead the Greeks, Romans, Etruscans or one of a dozen other ancient factions to glory with each having their own unique designs and strategy options. This title joins the large list of other historical Hegemony RTS games that have a similar design and was first released in 2010. With Hegemony III rel...[Read Review]
Napoleon: Total War
If you’ve ever wanted to step into the shoes of the great Napoleon then you’ll love the experience waiting in Napoleon: Total War. Just like the other games in the Total War series it blends turn based gameplay with real time tactics. In the game you’ll get the follow some of Napoleon’s great battles from Europe to the Middle East and North Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries. You’ll be assuming the role of Napoleon Bonaparte himself as you take to the campaign map and try to overcome your...[Read Review]
Total War: Shogun 2
Total War: Shogun 2 is a strategy game in the Total War series, it was developed by The Creative Assembly and released in March of 2011. Shogun 2 is one of the highest rated games of the series and takes place in a 16th century Japanese setting. This feudal Japan setting is set after the Onin War leaving the country fractured with various warlords fighting for control. Players will pick one of up to 11 clans (9 core, 1 limited edition, 1 DLC) and attempt to dominate their enemies and claim Japa...[Read Review]
Medieval: Total War
Medieval: Total War is the first game in the Total War series to feature a medieval setting and is the second game to be released in the franchise. The game has plenty of improvements over the very first Total War game and offers the same blend of turn based and tactical combat that the series is well known for. For the fans of historical accuracy in their games you’ll definitely find it in Medieval: Total War as you expand your empire over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East (a setting tha...[Read Review]
Age of Wonders
Age of Wonders is a turn based game that blends with role playing features in a fantasy realm with an endless wealth of mythical creatures. Spanning two campaigns (or multiplayer) Age of Wonders puts you in a world where chaos has been born as humans break the fragile peace that existed between the other races. Races you’ll find familiar such as elves, dwarves and orcs make an appearance in Age of Wonders but you’ll also enjoy some more unique races for a total of a dozen on offer. T...[Read Review]
Endless Space 2
Revisiting the wide darkness of space yet again with a turn based strategy game is Endless Space 2 that offers the same science fiction setting of the original while expanding on the universe and strategy options. Released in 2017 for Windows and Mac it’s been five years since the first Endless Space 4X strategy title with the sequel seeking to offer similar addicting one more turn gameplay and self describes itself as a “strategic space opera”. Endless Space 2 takes place in a...[Read Review]
Empire: Total War
The fifth game in the Total War series takes you to the 18th century and even includes a special United States campaign which will have you participating in some of the most well-known and historical battles in American history. Empire: Total War is similar to all the other games in the series in that it blends real time tactic battles with turn based strategy. The game was the first in the series to add real time naval battles which often prove to be an explosive experience. During the main cam...[Read Review]
Medieval II: Total War
Medieval II: Total War is the second game in the Total War series to take place in a Medieval setting and is the overall fourth game in the highly tactical strategy series. Just like the previous instalments in the series the game combines turn based and real time elements as you make your way across the map through conquest and allegiance. Fans of the original Medieval: Total War will enjoy the familiar setting as players once again battle across Europe, the Middle East and Africa using medieva...[Read Review]
Civilization V
The Civilization series has always been at the pinnacle of the 4X game genre and Civilization V is no exception to this rule expanding on the solid foundations set in previous games in the franchise while tweaking things as necessary to deliver some fresh strategy at the same time. Expanded with two expansion packs (Gods & Kings and Brave New World) that added additional civilizations to control and game mechanics Civilization V includes all the core aspects of a 4X strategy game. In Civiliz...[Read Review]
Endless Space
Endless Space is a science fiction 4X turn based strategy game that was released for Windows and Mac in 2012. The game was developed by Amplitude Studios and has drawn comparison to the Civilization series, Space Empires, Master of Orion and Alpha Centauri. Endless Space is packed full of content with 9 different civilizations that each offer their own unique playstyle. The civilizations available to the player vary dramatically based on military power, scientific capabilities, diplomatic resolv...[Read Review]
March of the Eagles
March of the Eagles adds another grand strategy title to the growing collection of video games published by Paradox Interactive with similar mechanics and style. Set during the Napoleonic Wars March of the Eagles was originally intended to be a sequel to AGEOD Napoleon Campaigns it slowly took on a life of its own during development. Due to the setting play focuses on the major European powers of the 1805-1820 era which includes the likes of France, Ottoman Empire, Sweden, Russian, Great Britain...[Read Review]
Expeditions: Conquistador
Expeditions: Conquistador is a historical turn based strategy experience with a focus on tactical role playing gameplay that will take you to a time long past. Released in 2013 players will also be required to balance their resources as they advance through a branching story adventure that requires you playing as a Spanish conquistador who embarks on an expedition in the early 1500s. While this story is fictional it draws real world inspiration and features real world location which adds an impo...[Read Review]
Warlock: Master of the Arcane
Warlock: Master of the Arcane is a turn based game with some core similarities to the popular Civilization series albeit with a fantasy theme instead. Released in early 2012 by Paradox Interactive the game has since been expanded with a number of downloadable content pieces that build on the race and unit foundations of the core game to add additional strategy variety. Set in the same universe as the Majesty series of games from Paradox Interactive known as Ardania which features all manner of f...[Read Review]
Eador: Genesis
Restore a universe split into shards across the Great Nothing in Eador: Genesis an experience that walks the line between Heroes of Might and Magic and the Civilization series to offer a turn based strategy framework. The level of depth and steep difficultly beyond the simple base mechanics will keep you engaged for hours on end as you jump from one shard to another optimising and tweaking your strategy to conquer the broken game world piece by piece and eventually inspired a sequel also based o...[Read Review]
Total War: Rome II
Total War: Rome II continues the strategy based Total War series and takes you back to Rome once again with a large number of improvements over the original Rome adventure and other titles in the franchise. The game was released in late 2013 and takes the Total War series up to a total of 8 large scale strategic games. Total War: Rome II is set during 272 BC with the main campaign spreading 300 years from that starting point although players can continue beyond this if they wish. Unlike the prev...[Read Review]