Europa Universalis

Europa Universalis is a grand strategy video game developed by Paradox Development Studio and published in 2000 by Strategy First.

This article is about the video game. For the board game of the same name that the game is based on, see Europa Universalis (board game). For other uses, see Universalis (disambiguation).
Europa Universalis
Developer(s)Paradox Development Studio
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Henrik Strandberg
Designer(s)Johan Andersson
Klas Berndal
Henrik Strandberg
Philippe Thibaut
Programmer(s)Johan Andersson
Artist(s)Daniel Nygren
EngineEuropa Engine
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • GER: October 20, 2000[1]
  • SWE: December 15, 2000
  • NA: February 20, 2001
  • UK: March 2, 2001
Genre(s)Grand strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Development

The game was originally based on a French board game of the same name by Philippe Thibaut that was released in 1993.[2][3] To facilitate the new game, a new proprietary software engine known as the Europa Engine, was developed.[4]

Gameplay

Europa Universalis lets the player take control of one of seven European nations (others are available in different scenarios) from 1492 to 1792, expanding its power through military might, diplomacy, and colonial wealth. The game takes place on a map divided into 3,633 provinces, and proceeds in a pausable real time format.[5]

Reception

John Lee reviewed the PC version of the game for Next Generation, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "A full-bodied simulation of European turmoil and global expansion between the 15th and 18th centuries, Europa Universalis isn't all that original, but if historic realism is your passion, you'll like what you see."[8]

The game became a surprise hit for its great deal of depth and strategy. Paradox used this success to springboard other titles such as Victoria, Crusader Kings, and Hearts of Iron.

The editors of Computer Games Magazine nominated Europa Universalis as the best strategy game of 2001, but ultimately gave the award to Civilization III.[11] Europa Universalis received "generally favourable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[12]

Legacy

Europa Universalis was the first in the series, followed by Europa Universalis II, Europa Universalis III, Europa Universalis: Rome and Europa Universalis IV.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Europa Universalis (2000) Windows release dates". MobyGames. Blue Flame Labs. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  2. "Europa Universalis". Board Game Geek. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  3. Andy Bossom; Ben Dunning (17 December 2015). Video Games: An Introduction to the Industry. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 140. ISBN 978-1-4725-6715-4.
  4. "Games - Europa Engine". Mod DB. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  5. Brown, Fraser (December 24, 2018). "The history of the strategy game". PC Gamer. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  6. Geryk, Bruce (June 2001). "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi". Computer Gaming World (203): 88.
  7. Butts, Steve (March 20, 2001). "Europa Universalis Review". IGN. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  8. Lee, John (April 2001). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 4 no. 4. Imagine Media. p. 90.
  9. Scotford, Laurence. "Europa Universalis". PC Zone. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  10. Lieb, Steve (October 6, 2000). "Uncle Machiavelli Wants You!". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  11. Staff (March 2002). "11th Annual Computer Games Awards". Computer Games Magazine (136): 50–56.
  12. "Europa Universalis". Metacritic. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  13. "Europa Universalis IV". Paradox Plaza.
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