Game Information
Game Title: Europa Universalis V
Platforms:
- PC (Nov 4, 2025)
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 87 average - 100% recommended - 20 reviews
Critic Reviews
But Why Tho? - Matt Donahue - 8 / 10
Europa Universalis 5 is a fantastic addition to the franchise that will likely only improve over time as bugs and UI issues are addressed. There are so many different possibilities for replayability, not only from the selection of nations, but even playing the same nation over again will result in a different game.
CGMagazine - Eduard Gafton - 8 / 10
Europa Universalis V ushers in what will likely be a new golden age for this grand strategy franchise, even if it currently needs some fine-tuning.
Digital Chumps - Will Silberman - 9.5 / 10
I want to live in a world where games retain their core gameplay all the while becoming more accessible to new players with minimal compromises. Paradox is making that true with Europa Universalis V. With its automation, friendlier UI, and fleshed out playstyles outside of expansion, it’s a grand strategy game that is innately fun, endlessly engaging, and worth the decade’s wait.
Digitec Magazine - Simon Balissat - German - 5 / 5
Europa Universalis 5 is a dream come true for history buffs and strategy enthusiasts. The initial hurdle is enormous; I haven’t even mastered a tenth of it myself. I’ve failed dozens of times due to minor oversights. If you need clear goals and predetermined challenges, then this game is not for you. If you like to be thrown in at the deep end and are keen to live out your medieval power fantasies behind complex mechanisms, then “Europa Universalis 5” is the strategy game for you.
DualShockers - Maddie Fisher - 9.5 / 10
Europa Universalis V is the thrilling next iteration of Paradox’s long-running grand strategy series. If you’re still playing EU IV and wondering whether the upgrade is worth it, I’m here to tell you that you absolutely need to play this game. It takes everything about the last entry from 2013 and improves on it. If you’re a newcomer with an interest in complex, deeply involved grand strategy games, then now is the perfect time to jump in.
Europa Universalis 5 isn’t just an evolution, it’s a true rebirth. Paradox has modernized its classic without losing its soul, delivering a deeper and more dynamic historical simulation than ever before. The game feels more alive, clearer, and more coherent, with reworked systems for population, trade, and warfare that add incredible depth. Sure, it’s still complex and can slow down in the late game, but the journey is worth it. Every decision matters, every century tells a new story, and when you finally close the map after dozens of hours, it truly feels like you’ve shaped history.
IGN - Leana Hafer - 8 / 10
Europa Universalis 5 is definitely hurting for some balance tuning at the moment, but its depth of simulation and ultra detailed map might make it the most on-paper impressive historical strategy game of all time.
NoobFeed - Mezbah Turzo - 95 / 100
Europa Universalis V isn’t perfect; AI quirks, balance tweaks, and the occasional micro-management tedium remain. But when it clicks, it’s a deep, rewarding, and endlessly playable grand strategy experience that feels like a proper evolution, not just an expansion.
PC Gamer - Jonathan Bolding - 87 / 100
A new bar for complexity in the historical grand strategy genre that sometimes buckles under the weight of its ambition.
SECTOR.sk - Darrian151 - Slovak - 8 / 10
Europa Universalis V is another brilliant grand strategy game from Paradox. It is on par with its predecessors and takes the series forward. It is challenging and complex. However, it’s best not to rely too heavily on the AI’s assistance, as it tends to fail.
Issues aside, Europa Universalis 5 has been an utterly incredible introduction to a whole new gaming world for me. It’s wonderfully welcoming yet entrancingly absorbing, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone interested in getting into the grand strategy genre.
Europa Universalis V is a triumph of clever game design, carefully crafted interface, and best-in-class, engrossing strategy.
TheGamer - Ryan Thompson-Bamsey - 4.5 / 5
[Europa Universalis V] is absorbing, seemingly infinitely replayable, deeper than the Mariana Trench, and sets a new standard for what grand strategy should mean.
TheSixthAxis - Stefan L - 9 / 10
Europa Universalis V marks the start of a bright new age for Paradox’s Grand Strategy series, rebuilding the core, while retaining so much of the breadth, detail and regionality. There’s some slight rough edges, which aren’t surprising for a game of this scale, and room for expansion to better explore certain ideas and regions, but isn’t there always?
I’m actually surprised. Paradox games usually release bugged and unfinished, and all reviews from critics and players I’ve seen suggest that EUV is both really historical accurate flavoury and fun to play at release!
Good to see!
I picked up the title. Haven’t gotten a chance to play too much, but it feels much more noon friendly. Automations let you focus more on the parts of the game you want. The tutorial happens during a regular game instead of a separate mode. Performance has also been great on my machine.
Yeah. I never fucked with EU but I am a huge CK sicko and… I have a LOT of problems with Paradox as a publisher but they’ve really been pushing their internal/flagship studios to focus on onboarding and approachability for these games.
Was really surprised to see that the new East Asia DLC for CK3 actually added a new tutorial sequence/character. Haven’t sat down yet to see if it is focused on the Mandate of Heaven or if it is just for people who want to get back in and are sick and freaking tired of Petty King Murchad.
