Games Like Europa Universalis IV

Europa Universalis III Complete includes the original Europa Universalis III as well as the expansions In Nomine and Napoleons Ambition Europa Universalis III delves deeply into the areas of exploration, trade, warfare and diplomacy.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 41.9% ★, Real-Time with Pause 19.9% ★, Historical 19.6%, Strategy 7.7%, Sandbox 4.3%

Why You'll Like It: Directly preceding EU4, it offers almost the same real-time-with-pause world map, country management, diplomacy, trade, and open-ended alternate-history campaigns.

Take up the reins of your country, guide domestic and foreign policy, navigate thousands of historical figures and events, engage in various struggles and lead your country to prosperity – all in the name of glory!

Why similar: Grand Strategy 16.9% ★, 4X 14.2% ★, Diplomacy 13.5% ★, Historical 10.2%, Alternate History 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: Built on the classic Europa Universalis formula, it delivers similarly deep early-modern statecraft, colonization, alliances, and map-painting.

Dominate the classical Mediterranean in Imperator: Rome, a grand strategy game from Paradox Interactive. Navigate the dangerous waters of politics and diplomacy as you build up your provinces and conquer foreign lands. Now available with special content and the digital artbook.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 40.9% ★, Historical 18.4%, Strategy 10.2%, Economy 6%, Simulation 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: It translates Paradox-style province management, diplomacy, warfare, and expansion into the classical era, making it feel like an ancient-world cousin to EU4.

Paradox Development Studio invites you to build your ideal society in the tumult of the exciting and transformative 19th century. Balance the competing interests in your society and earn your place in the sun in Victoria 3, one of the most anticipated games in Paradox’s history.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 19.4% ★, Diplomacy 14.3% ★, Real-Time with Pause 12.8% ★, Historical 10.7%, Economy 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: If EU4's economic and diplomatic layers are your favorite parts, Victoria 3 expands them into a dense nineteenth-century great-power sandbox.

Carefully guide your nation from the era of absolute monarchies in the early 19th century, through expansion and colonization, to finally become a truly great power by the dawn of the 20th century. Victoria II is a grand strategy game played during the colonial era of the 19th century, where the player takes control of a country, guiding...

Why similar: Grand Strategy 29.2% ★, Real-Time with Pause 14.3% ★, Historical 13.1%, Economy 7.3%, Diplomacy 6.7% ★

Why You'll Like It: This older Paradox classic mixes population management, industrialization, diplomacy, colonization, and warfare in a way that strongly appeals to EU4 players.

Victory is at your fingertips! Your ability to lead your nation is your supreme weapon, the strategy game Hearts of Iron IV lets you take command of any nation in World War II; the most engaging conflict in world history.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 23.9% ★, Historical 12.9%, Real-Time with Pause 12.1% ★, Alternate History 10.4%, Military 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: Another major Paradox grand strategy game, it narrows the timeline but keeps the nation-level planning, alliances, warfare, and alternate-history appeal.

Love, fight, scheme, and claim greatness. Determine your noble house’s legacy in the sprawling grand strategy of Crusader Kings III. Death is only the beginning as you guide your dynasty’s bloodline in the rich and larger-than-life simulation of the Middle Ages.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 23.1% ★, Historical 13.1%, Real-Time with Pause 12.7% ★, 4X 12.1% ★, Moddable 9% ★

Why You'll Like It: It shares EU4's grand-strategy map and diplomacy loop while shifting the emphasis toward dynasties, vassals, and character-driven politics.

Explore one of the defining periods in world history in an experience crafted by the masters of Grand Strategy.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 53.1% ★, Historical 13.5%, Diplomacy 7.9% ★, Real-Time with Pause 7.7% ★, Strategy 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: Though more character-focused than EU4, it still delivers the same long-form historical sandbox, political maneuvering, and territorial growth.

Explore a galaxy full of wonders in this sci-fi grand strategy game from Paradox Development Studios. Interact with diverse alien races, discover strange new worlds with unexpected events and expand the reach of your empire. Each new adventure holds almost limitless possibilities.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 23.6% ★, 4X 21.5% ★, Real-Time with Pause 12.7% ★, Diplomacy 10.5% ★, Moddable 7.6% ★

Why You'll Like It: Essentially Paradox grand strategy in space, it offers familiar empire customization, diplomacy, expansion, warfare, and long-campaign pacing.

Europa Universalis Rome Gold combines the epic strategy title Europa Universalis Rome with the expansion pack Vae Victis. Experience one of the most defining periods in world history in an experience crafted by the masters of Grand Strategy.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 41.3% ★, Real-Time with Pause 23.6% ★, Historical 20.4%, Strategy 12.1%, Simulation 2.6%

Why You'll Like It: Using a very similar Paradox framework, it focuses on state expansion, internal politics, diplomacy, and warfare in the ancient Mediterranean.

An alien invasion has fractured humanity into seven ideological factions each with a unique vision for the future. Lead your chosen faction to take control of Earth’s nations, expand across the Solar System, and battle enemy fleets in tactical combat.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 12.9% ★, 4X 12.6% ★, Diplomacy 12.5% ★, Real-Time with Pause 12.2% ★, Moddable 7.9% ★

Why You'll Like It: Even with its sci-fi premise, its nation-level control, geopolitical maneuvering, research race, and marathon strategic timeline echo EU4's macro-management strengths.

Hearts of Iron III lets you play the most engaging conflict in world history, World War 2, on all fronts as any country and through multiple different scenarios. Guide your nation to glory between 1936 and 1948 and wage war, conduct diplomacy and build your industry in the most detailed World War 2 game ever made.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 36.3% ★, Real-Time with Pause 17.5% ★, Historical 14.6%, Military 8.7%, Strategy 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: A more intricate and simulation-heavy Paradox war sandbox, it scratches the same map-based planning and historical what-if itch as EU4.

Old World is a revolutionary new historical strategy game where you lead your dynasty over generations of rule against rival kings and queens. Wage massive wars, manage your court, and build a dynasty — or watch your empire crumble to dust. What legacy will you leave behind?

Why similar: Grand Strategy 14.5% ★, 4X 14.3% ★, Diplomacy 13.8% ★, Historical 8.9%, Moddable 8.6% ★

Why You'll Like It: A historical 4X with succession, statecraft, and event-driven empire management that captures EU4's appeal to rewriting history through systems-heavy decisions.

Become the king and fight over Europe in this fresh take on medieval real-time grand strategy. Manage provinces, gather armies, initiate diplomacy, and dabble in espionage. The path is open: become the true Sovereign of your people and bring them to glory.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 44% ★, Historical 15.4%, Strategy 13.9%, 4X 12.5% ★, Simulation 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: It provides real-time nation management, court politics, diplomacy, trade, and conquest on a historical map in a way that feels like a streamlined EU4.

Developed by a team of experienced modders from the Paradox forum, Darkest Hour is a stand-alone Hearts of Iron game. The game features a mixture of short and in-depth campaigns set across the darkest chapters of the 20th century. Play from the outbreak of the Great War up until the onset of the Cold War.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 38.5% ★, Historical 17.2%, Wargame 12.5%, Strategy 9.4%, Military 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: A classic Paradox-style grand strategy title with detailed diplomacy, economics, and warfare that will click with players who enjoy older EU4-adjacent systems.

Create your own nation in Millennia, a historical turn-based 4X game that challenges your strategic prowess across 10,000 years of history, from the dawn of humanity to our possible futures.

Why similar: 4X 18.3% ★, Grand Strategy 17.6% ★, Diplomacy 14.8% ★, Alternate History 11%, Historical 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: Built around steering a civilization through divergent historical ages, it mirrors EU4's appeal of reshaping history through layered empire management.

Field of Glory: Empires is a grand strategy game in which you will have to move in an intricate and living tapestry of nations and tribes, each one with their distinctive culture.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 25.3% ★, 4X 21% ★, Historical 14.7%, Military 10%, Wargame 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: Its focus on provinces, culture, conquest, and imperial rise-and-fall rewards the same long-view planning and historical expansion mindset as EU4.

Grand strategy wargame where the destiny of Civilizations rests in your hands - will they stand united under your leadership or fall divided in conflict? Journey through the entire saga of human civilization, from its earliest days to the futuristic era, crafting your legacy age by age.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 23.1% ★, Diplomacy 20% ★, Wargame 15.8%, Alternate History 13.2%, Moddable 9.2% ★

Why You'll Like It: It expands the same accessible nation-management formula with more systems for diplomacy, war, and historical sandbox play.

Age of History II is a grand strategy wargame that is simple to learn yet hard to master.Your objective is to use military tactics and cunning diplomacy to either unify the world, or conquer it.Will the world bleed out or bow before you? The choice is yours..

Why similar: Grand Strategy 28.1% ★, Historical 21.1%, Diplomacy 14.9% ★, Strategy 8.4%, Alternate History 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: A lightweight but highly map-painty grand-strategy sandbox, it focuses on diplomacy, conquest, and alternate-history world domination.

Real-Time Strategy/Wargame. From World War II through the Cold War and into the future, re-live or re-imagine the tensions and crises of our recent history! Guide your nation through the era of your choice in Campaigns, Scenarios, and Sandboxes, as you make every effort to become Supreme Ruler!

Why similar: Grand Strategy 22% ★, Real-Time with Pause 21.9% ★, Wargame 12.5%, Military 11.5%, Alternate History 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: This is a nation-scale geopolitical sandbox with real-time control, diplomacy, economics, and warfare across multiple historical scenarios.

Carefully guide your nation from the era of absolute monarchies in the early 19th century, through expansion, colonization and social upheaval, to emerge as one of the great world powers by the dawn of the 20th century in Victoria Complete.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 41.8% ★, Real-Time with Pause 29.3% ★, Historical 14.6%, Strategy 14.4%

Why You'll Like It: A classic nation sim whose mix of economics, diplomacy, colonization, and military management will appeal to EU4 players comfortable with older interfaces.

Taking place from 1936-64, Arsenal of Democracy lets you play as any nation during the era of WW2, complete with detailed models for economics, diplomacy, research, and intelligence. Warfare is also fully represented with all three branches of operations: land, sea, and air.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 70.4% ★, Strategy 29.6%

Why You'll Like It: It offers another deep, systems-driven historical sandbox focused on national production, diplomacy, and military planning at the grand-strategy scale.

Pride of Nations is a turn-based historical strategy game set in the colonial era of the 19th century, where the player takes control of a country and guides it through industrialization, military conquest, and colonization.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 47.1% ★, Historical 23.1%, Strategy 15.8%, Simulation 9.4%, Multiplayer 3.9%

Why You'll Like It: This sprawling historical nation simulator centers on colonization, trade, diplomacy, and great-power rivalry in a way that sits very close to the EU/Victoria tradition.

Choose a nation and prepare for the greatest conflict in human history, World War II. Build your military and industrial power, form alliances and race to achieve the advanced technologies that will bring total victory in this global-wide turn-based Grand Strategy struggle.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 17.5% ★, 4X 12.4% ★, Moddable 11% ★, Historical 10.9%, Military 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: Like EU4, it lets you steer a nation through a historical crisis using diplomacy, industry, military buildup, and divergent outcomes.

Turn based 4X strategy game, recreating the civilizations of ancient China. Develop your land, build great cities, raise huge armies and fight epic battles, with hundreds of soldiers fighting right on the game map. Advance your technologies, culture and religion to create one of mankind’s biggest empires.

Why similar: 4X 26.9% ★, Grand Strategy 18.4% ★, Historical 17.5%, Military 12%, Strategy 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: This historical empire-building strategy game emphasizes expansion, development, and diplomacy on a large strategic map with a strong alternate-history feel.

Use war, trade or diplomacy to satisfy your grandest ambitions and dominate five centuries of history in the newest version of Europa Universalis, Paradox Interactive's flagship historical grand strategy game.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 17.7% ★, Diplomacy 16.7% ★, 4X 14.6% ★, Historical 10.7%, Wargame 10.1%

Command the seas, control the land, forge a new nation, and conquer the globe.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 31.4% ★, Historical 27.3%, Military 19%, Strategy 13.3%, War 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: Its campaign blends diplomacy, trade, colonization, and eighteenth-century expansion, even if the battles are far more hands-on than EU4's.

Use your power as a Feudal Lord to unite the land of the Rising Sun under your iron fist.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 41.2% ★, Historical 24.7%, Strategy 13.1%, Real-Time with Pause 11.9% ★, Simulation 9%

Why You'll Like It: This older Paradox title applies the studio's familiar real-time grand-strategy structure to feudal Japan, with clans, diplomacy, and expansion driving the campaign.

Lead empires that evolve or endure through the Ages. Build something you believe in with Sid Meier's Civilization® VII.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 18.3% ★, Diplomacy 17.2% ★, 4X 16.3% ★, Historical 10.5%, Military 9.2%

The Great War is a turn-based grand strategy game based on the epic struggles of the WWI era. Experience the battles of attrition and punishing artillery barrages. Play as any nation of the period as the modern world of industrialized warfare replaces an age of kings with a struggle of ideologies.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 23.4% ★, Moddable 12.2% ★, Historical 11.8%, 4X 10.5% ★, Military 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: It is a turn-based global historical sandbox centered on diplomacy, production, mobilization, and alt-history decision making.

Become a Daimyo of the Warring States period of Japanese history in NOBUNAGA'S AMBITION, a historical simulation game of conquest and domination. It is the 30th anniversary of this series and this current release, NOBUNAGA'S AMBITION: Sphere of Influence, is the crown of the series.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 22.1% ★, Diplomacy 18.2% ★, Historical 14.1%, Wargame 12.5%, Alternate History 10.1%

Why You'll Like It: Its clan-level statecraft, diplomacy, officer management, and territorial unification make it a strong regional counterpart to EU4.

Rewrite history by shaping a civilization as unique as you are. Combine 60 cultures from the Ancient Era to the Modern Age to lead your empire to victory. Build thriving cities, outsmart rivals in epic battles, spread your influence and leave your mark on HUMANKIND™.

Why similar: 4X 30.3% ★, Grand Strategy 24.4% ★, Historical 16.8%, Strategy 10.4%, Alternate History 5.2%

Command armies, manage resources, and build an empire in this real-time strategy wargame from Longbow Games. Will Rome fulfil its destiny to rule the ancient world or will history be rewritten to forge a new Etruscan, Gallic, or Greek hegemony!

Why similar: Grand Strategy 20.7% ★, Real-Time with Pause 20.5% ★, Historical 18.4%, Wargame 12.9%, Alternate History 11.9%

Why You'll Like It: It combines real-time campaigning, logistics, and territorial expansion on a historical map, emphasizing the operational side of grand conquest.

Build a soviet republic from an impoverished country into a rich industrial superpower in a city builder with intricate production chains and a fully simulated global economy. Manage the lives of your citizens from education to work and party loyalty to criminal activity.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 19.6% ★, Diplomacy 13% ★, Historical 12%, 4X 11.9% ★, Moddable 9.5% ★

Expand your empire, advance your culture and go head-to-head against history’s greatest leaders. Will your civilization stand the test of time?

Why similar: Grand Strategy 25% ★, 4X 20.6% ★, Historical 18.9%, Strategy 12.1%, Moddable 6.3% ★

Take over the control of one of the mighty nations during the times of World War 1 in the biggest WW1 strategy game of all time. Conquer provinces, forge alliances and build up your economy in real-time on persistent maps. Build experimental weapons of World War 1 and become the one true superpower!

Why similar: Grand Strategy 19.8% ★, Diplomacy 14.1% ★, Historical 13.9%, Military 10.9%, Wargame 8.1%

The grand strategy classic returns with improved gameplay, a massive 13,892 province map, expanded diplomacy and wartime capitulation, new civilizations and scenarios, atomic weapons, smarter AI, enhanced visuals, UI upgrades, and major performance improvements.

Why similar: Diplomacy 25.5% ★, Grand Strategy 16.9% ★, Wargame 15.8%, Alternate History 9%, Sandbox 8.4%

In this Grand Strategy game, you take control of the Solar System's Great Powers in 2092 and weather the storm of change as you navigate the uncertain waters of the future. Control the greatest military forces in the world and wage wars on an epic scale: outer space is yours to conquer!

Why similar: Grand Strategy 20.6% ★, 4X 17.1% ★, Real-Time with Pause 15.1% ★, Wargame 9.9%, Military 9.4%

A unique and deeply engaging political/military strategic simulation from the creator of Plague Inc. Balance competing civilian and military priorities and deal with a deadly insurgency in order to stabilise a war-torn country.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 12.3% ★, Diplomacy 12.2% ★, 4X 12.1% ★, Real-Time with Pause 11.8% ★, Historical 7.6%

Take control of any nation and shape its future. Manage resources, trade, and taxes, engage in real-time warfare, navigate global diplomacy, and react to dynamic world events. Build a thriving economy, forge alliances, and command armies in a constantly evolving world!

Why similar: Grand Strategy 18.7% ★, 4X 17% ★, Diplomacy 15.5% ★, Real-Time with Pause 13.7% ★, Military 8.7%

Doodle Empires is an alternate history sandbox game all about drawing your own nations with your own histories and stories in a variety of maps. Watch your world take shape and evolve over time, and decide which nations will rise and which nations will fall.

Why similar: Alternate History 30.5%, Historical 22.5%, Wargame 14.6%, Sandbox 12.9%, Simulation 10%

Steel Division 2 is a historically-accurate WW2 real-time strategy game set on the Eastern Front. Features 1:1-scale turn-based army management and real-time tactical battles with thousands of men at your order.

Why similar: Real-Time with Pause 17% ★, Grand Strategy 16% ★, Military 12.5%, Historical 10.3%, Wargame 10.2%

Lead your people to victory on an ever-evolving world in this strategy game featuring asymmetric factions led by powerful heroes. Build your empire, wield political influence, and raise grand armies to wage war in a race to uncover dark secrets buried within the planet.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 15.5% ★, 4X 15.2% ★, Diplomacy 15.2% ★, Moddable 9.5% ★, Historical 9.2%

Spanning the most turbulent era in Western history, your quest for territory and power takes you through Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and even onto the shores of the New World.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 29.2% ★, Historical 22%, Strategy 12.4%, Moddable 10.8% ★, Military 8.3%

“he Who Fears Being Conquered Is Sure Of Defeat.”The war-game March of the Eagles focuses on the dramatic conflicts of Europe during 1805 to 1820. Explore one of the defining periods in European history with this experience crafted by the masters of Grand Strategy, Paradox Development Studio.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 39.8% ★, Real-Time with Pause 21.2% ★, Historical 18.1%, Strategy 12.7%, Simulation 8.3%

Create, discover, and download new player-created maps, scenarios, interfaces, and more!

Why similar: 4X 23.9% ★, Historical 19.1%, Grand Strategy 14.9% ★, Strategy 11.7%, Diplomacy 10.3% ★

Fantasy Map Simulator: Create and watch imaginary worlds evolve over centuries. Design maps, simulate nations and their politics, and control destinies. See empires rise and fall on your desktop wallpaper. A unique simulation for history buffs and creative minds.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 30.4% ★, Alternate History 20.4%, Wargame 13.6%, Sandbox 11.7%, Military 10.2%

Unique combination of turn-based 4X and historical grand strategy with a mythological twist. Explore the ancient world and build a world leading civilization. Survive, expand, conquer... and win!

Why similar: 4X 16.4% ★, Grand Strategy 16% ★, Diplomacy 12.4% ★, Historical 9.7%, Moddable 9.6% ★

Build a nation starting at any point in human history and compete for supremacy in this epic turn-based strategy game. Engage in diplomacy, fight wars, and go head-to-head with other leaders from history.

Why similar: 4X 21.9% ★, Grand Strategy 21.2% ★, Diplomacy 16.3% ★, Alternate History 13.4%, Historical 11.2%

Democracy 4 lets you take the role of President / Prime minister, govern the country (choosing its policies, laws and other actions), and both transform the country as you see fit, while trying to retain enough popularity to get re-elected...

Why similar: Diplomacy 31.9% ★, Grand Strategy 29.4% ★, Economy 17.2%, Strategy 8%, Management 7%

Take over the control of one of the mighty nations during the times of World War 2 in this persisting long-term strategy game. Conquer provinces, forge alliances and build up your economy in real-time. Research top secret weapons of World War 2 and become the one true superpower!

Why similar: Grand Strategy 22.3% ★, Diplomacy 16% ★, Military 12.1%, Historical 10.9%, Wargame 8.7%

Crisis in the Kremlin is a global real-time political strategy about the Socialist world in its final decade. Shape the fate of the world as you manage economy, foreign relations, and domestic policy. Engage with countries across the globe, using diplomacy or even proxy wars to expand your reach.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 21.5% ★, Diplomacy 16.2% ★, Alternate History 16%, Historical 14.9%, Economy 10.6%

Lead your people to glory and write a new chapter of history in Realpolitiks II, a real-time grand strategy game where you lead any contemporary nation in an attempt to secure world dominance.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 61.9% ★, Strategy 20.4%, Simulation 17.3%, Singleplayer 0.4%

Take command of a civilization that has just achieved faster-than-light travel in Galactic Civilizations IV, the newest entry in the award-winning space 4X strategy game series. Explore the galaxy, colonize worlds, shape cultures, make alliances, fight wars and pioneer new technologies.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 23.1% ★, 4X 21.7% ★, Diplomacy 19.6% ★, Moddable 13.6% ★, Sandbox 7.2%

A new expansion of the ultra-realistic simulator of today's world where you play as the head of state or as the opposition! New Features for 2021: administration of the EU, Covid vaccinations, Biden's Challenge, political coalitions, diplomatic negotiations, worldwide tax and free-trade agreements.

Why similar: 4X 22.3% ★, Grand Strategy 22.2% ★, Wargame 13%, Alternate History 8.5%, Military 8.5%

Become the leader of any contemporary country in this streamlined real-time grand strategy game. Use diplomacy, espionage, military and economic power to deal with other nations, while tackling issues such as terrorism, financial crises and medical epidemics, all in an effort to achieve global domination!

Why similar: Diplomacy 40.4% ★, Grand Strategy 30.5% ★, Strategy 12.7%, Historical 11.7%, Simulation 3%

A Giant Strategy Sandbox experience set in Warlord China. *Tons of playable factions! *Communist insurgents, * Boxers like rebels, *Greedy warlords, *Mongol riders, *A mad russian baron, *Shanghai gangsters, *And armored trains!

Why similar: 4X 21.4% ★, Grand Strategy 20% ★, Diplomacy 18% ★, Wargame 10.2%, Historical 8.9%

SuperPower 2 is the only global geopolitical simulation game which allows players to control entire countries. Players control countries in 3 major areas: political, economic and military, but this time, in a beautiful real-time 3D environment.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 43.4% ★, Strategy 13.5%, Economy 13%, Simulation 10.9%, War 8%

What could be better than having a million dollars, a billion? This will not make you all powerful in the world, your goal will not only be to make lots of money, but to print money and become a Federal reserve system

Why similar: Grand Strategy 24.8% ★, Economy 18.3%, Historical 11.5%, Alternate History 10.5%, Military 9.3%

Distant Worlds is a vast, pausable real-time 4X space strategy game. Experience the full depth and detail of turn-based strategy, but with the simplicity and ease of real-time, and on the scale of a massively-multiplayer online game.

Why similar: 4X 41.4% ★, Grand Strategy 22.2% ★, Real-Time with Pause 13.1% ★, Strategy 8.4%, Moddable 7% ★