Games Like Europa Universalis V

Rule your land and dominate the world with unparalleled freedom, depth and historical accuracy. Write a new history of the world and build an empire for the ages.

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

Why You'll Like It: It is the closest match by far, offering the same nation-scale historical sandbox of diplomacy, trade, colonization, warfare, and alternate-history empire building.

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 54.5% ★, Historical 25.5%, Strategy 10.1%, War 2.8%, Alternate History 2.6%

Why You'll Like It: This earlier entry delivers the same real-time-with-pause global statecraft and long-form historical campaigning that define Europa Universalis.

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 43.1% ★, Historical 19.4%, Strategy 10.8%, Economy 7.6%, Simulation 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: It translates Paradox-style map-based grand strategy into the classical era with trade routes, internal politics, expansion, and state management.

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 25.1% ★, Diplomacy 21.1% ★, Historical 13.9%, Economy 13%, Alternate History 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: If you love steering a nation through history, this emphasizes markets, diplomacy, industrial growth, and political change over the 19th century.

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 29.2% ★, Historical 16.5%, 4X 15.8% ★, War 9.6%, Economy 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: It shares the same emergent historical sandbox and diplomatic maneuvering, though its nation management is filtered through dynasties and characters.

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 18.4% ★, Diplomacy 16.7% ★, 4X 16% ★, Historical 11.1%, Alternate History 10.1%

Why You'll Like It: Built directly in the Europa Universalis mold, it focuses on deep diplomacy, colonization, war, and centuries-spanning national development.

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 37.8% ★, Historical 17%, Economy 11.5%, Diplomacy 9.8% ★, War 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: It remains one of the best macro historical strategy games for players who want trade, politics, great-power rivalry, and alternate-history outcomes.

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 28.7% ★, Historical 15.5%, War 14.3%, Diplomacy 14.1% ★, Alternate History 13.4%

Why You'll Like It: This is the best Paradox option if you want nation management and alternate-history strategy with a stronger concentration on warfare and logistics.

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 53.9% ★, Historical 26.6%, Strategy 15.9%, Simulation 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: This is an older but very direct cousin to Europa Universalis, focused on ruling and expanding ancient states through war and governance.

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 21.3% ★, Diplomacy 21% ★, Wargame 16.8%, Alternate History 13.1%, Economy 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: It is a more streamlined but very EU-like world-map sandbox centered on diplomacy, conquest, and historical or alternate-history scenarios.

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

Why similar: Grand Strategy 61.9% ★, Historical 15.8%, Diplomacy 10.5% ★, Strategy 6%, Simulation 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: Its sprawling medieval sandbox offers the same map-level diplomacy, warfare, and emergent history, with heavier emphasis on feudal politics.

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: Diplomacy 18.3% ★, 4X 17.3% ★, Grand Strategy 17% ★, Historical 10.4%, Alternate History 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: It blends historical empire building, dynastic politics, territorial expansion, and state development in a way that appeals to grand-strategy fans.

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 44.2% ★, Historical 15.5%, Strategy 14.1%, 4X 13.1% ★, Simulation 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: It captures a very similar realm-ruling feel through real-time grand strategy, trade, diplomacy, religion, and conquest on a historical map.

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 48.2% ★, Historical 19.4%, Strategy 8.9%, War 7.9%, Wargame 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: This older entry is denser and more simulation-heavy, making it a strong fit if you enjoy intricate nation-scale planning and systems.

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 23.9% ★, 4X 20.6% ★, Historical 13.8%, War 11%, Wargame 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: This ancient-era grand strategy game focuses on growing a state through economy, culture, expansion, and long-term geopolitical planning.

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 18.8% ★, Grand Strategy 17.4% ★, Diplomacy 16.6% ★, Alternate History 11.7%, Historical 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: Its historical 4X progression and strong alternate-history possibilities make it a good fit for players who enjoy reshaping world history.

Conquer Warring States Japan under one banner

Why similar: Grand Strategy 24.9% ★, Wargame 20.1%, Historical 15%, Alternate History 14.8%, Immersive Sim 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: It delivers detailed daimyo-era nation building with territorial control, diplomacy, officers, and long-form strategic unification.

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 34.2% ★, 4X 32.4% ★, Diplomacy 17.4% ★, Strategy 6.7%, Simulation 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: Although sci-fi rather than historical, it mirrors the same grand loop of expansion, diplomacy, trade, war, and emergent alternate-history storytelling.

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: Diplomacy 18.8% ★, 4X 17.4% ★, Grand Strategy 17.2% ★, Alternate History 10.7%, Historical 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: For players who want extreme strategic depth, it offers globe-spanning diplomacy, factional competition, and resource management in a long campaign.

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 15.9% ★, Grand Strategy 15% ★, Diplomacy 13.2% ★, Trading 10.3%, Alternate History 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: It offers turn-based ancient statecraft with territorial expansion, diplomacy, and national development in a historically grounded setting.

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 26.1% ★, Historical 19.6%, War 16.1%, Diplomacy 15.7% ★, Alternate History 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: Its simple presentation hides a very similar nation-management loop of conquest, diplomacy, and scenario-based 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 32.1% ★, Wargame 20.9%, Alternate History 13.9%, Historical 10.1%, War 10%

Why You'll Like It: This geopolitical grand strategy game lets you run states across multiple eras with deep diplomacy, economics, military planning, and world-map control.

Unite Ancient China under your rule through a thrilling blend of turn-based empire building and real-time battles. Use the Guanxi System and diplomacy to forge alliances, and build powerful armies with hundreds of unique infantry, cavalry and war machine units.

Why similar: Historical 31.5%, Grand Strategy 28.1% ★, War 22%, Strategy 12.8%, Multiplayer 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: Its campaign layer delivers excellent diplomacy, empire management, and historical power struggles, even if its battles are more hands-on than Europa Universalis.

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 24.6% ★, 4X 21.1% ★, Historical 18.5%, Strategy 12%, War 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: It provides another broad historical sandbox where trade, military expansion, diplomacy, and alternate-history empire building drive long campaigns.

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

Why similar: Grand Strategy 46.5% ★, Historical 27.9%, Strategy 15%, Simulation 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: Paradox's feudal Japan grand strategy offers clan politics, warfare, diplomacy, and unification on a familiar map-driven strategic framework.

Triumph over the land, take charge of the fate of China! Conquer territories and fly your colors!

Why similar: Diplomacy 21.1% ★, Grand Strategy 17.3% ★, Wargame 13.5%, Alternate History 11.4%, Historical 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: Its emphasis on diplomacy, officer-led administration, territorial expansion, and historical power politics makes it a solid regional grand-strategy alternative.

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 31.8% ★, Grand Strategy 20.9% ★, Historical 19.9%, War 10.4%, Strategy 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: This historical 4X focuses on building and expanding a state through development, armies, and diplomacy in ancient Asia.

Rise to power as any modern day country in a realistic military, political and economic simulation. Command your country's diplomacy, espionage, and resource management to strengthen your position. Use real-time tactical control of your military to fortify your place as the Supreme Ruler.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 23.5% ★, Diplomacy 21.3% ★, Wargame 16.9%, War 14.3%, Economy 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: It applies the grand-strategy formula to a modern geopolitical setting with national economics, diplomacy, and military pressure.

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

Why similar: Diplomacy 19.2% ★, Grand Strategy 18% ★, 4X 16.6% ★, Historical 10.3%, Alternate History 9.2%

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: Diplomacy 20.8% ★, 4X 19.1% ★, Grand Strategy 18.7% ★, Historical 11.1%, War 9.9%

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 20% ★, Diplomacy 15.2% ★, 4X 12.6% ★, Historical 12.3%, Economy 11.1%

Distant Worlds 2 is a vast, pausable real-time 4X space strategy game.

Why similar: 4X 41.7% ★, Grand Strategy 35.5% ★, Strategy 11%, Simulation 9.2%, 3D 1.7%

Why You'll Like It: This real-time pausable 4X is a strong adjacent pick for players who like macro complexity, trade networks, logistics, and large-scale empire management.

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 29.6% ★, Grand Strategy 22.9% ★, Historical 15.8%, Strategy 9.8%, War 7.3%

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 22.3% ★, Grand Strategy 20.8% ★, Diplomacy 18.2% ★, Alternate History 14.1%, Historical 11%

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 29.6% ★, Historical 14.8%, 4X 13.8% ★, War 12.7%, Alternate History 11.7%

Why You'll Like It: It offers historical world strategy focused on managing alliances, economics, production, and military planning at the national level.

Take command in Europe's greatest 18th-century war. Equip & customize regiments, manage supplies, and engage in brutal real-time battles across procedural campaigns. Resources and replacements are scarce, and keeping your best men alive may matter more than any single victory.

Why similar: Historical 29.3%, Wargame 25.7%, War 25.4%, Strategy 9.5%, Simulation 6.2%

Shape the Roman Empire in this genre-defining strategic builder game. Build cities while expanding your influence through Roman provinces. Govern using your economic prowess, diplomatic skills, or military might.

Why similar: Economy 24.3%, Historical 22.2%, Strategy 11.8%, Resource Management 11.2%, Building 10.3%

Discover and colonize the world, Allocate your labor force, Monopolize markets, Fight tactical battles, Survive the age of imperialism...

Why similar: Grand Strategy 19.9% ★, 4X 17.3% ★, Alternate History 12.4%, Wargame 12.4%, Historical 12.1%

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 19.9% ★, Diplomacy 16.1% ★, War 14.5%, Historical 14%, Wargame 9.4%

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 22.8% ★, Diplomacy 21.5% ★, 4X 21.5% ★, Economy 11.2%, War 10.4%

Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game featuring in-depth city building, large-scale tactical battles, and complex economic and social simulations. Rule your lands as a medieval lord – the seasons pass, the weather changes, and cities rise and fall.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 30.8% ★, Historical 19.2%, Diplomacy 11.9% ★, 4X 10.1% ★, Economy 7.3%

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

Why similar: Grand Strategy 34.9% ★, Historical 30.4%, War 15.3%, Strategy 15%, Multiplayer 3.8%

Turn wealth into political power in this modern Grand Strategy game. Build a global economic empire, manipulate governments, and challenge the world's superpowers through Economic supremacy or military Conquest.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 19.5% ★, Diplomacy 19.1% ★, 4X 14.1% ★, Wargame 12.1%, Economy 10.4%

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: Diplomacy 18.6% ★, 4X 16.9% ★, Grand Strategy 16.5% ★, Historical 10.1%, Alternate History 10%

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 20.2% ★, 4X 14.8% ★, Historical 12.6%, War 11.7%, Wargame 10.2%

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 25.3% ★, 4X 21.9% ★, Wargame 14%, Alternate History 11.6%, War 9.5%

Lead your noble family in this medieval colony sim, facing off against class conflict, religious struggle, and political treachery. Tend to your people’s needs, uncover the lost knowledge of a fallen empire, and engage in nefarious plots against your enemies.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 21.8% ★, 4X 20.2% ★, Historical 13.1%, Economy 11.5%, Diplomacy 10.6% ★

The year is 1510. As wars rage across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, it is the age of gunpowder and mercenaries - that changed the course of history. You can do it as well, going from a leader of men to the ruler of an empire in this unique mix of RTS and grand strategy.

Why similar: Diplomacy 20.9% ★, Grand Strategy 18.5% ★, Wargame 13.1%, Historical 10.4%, Economy 9.7%

Rise from the humble role of a simple mayor governing a small settlement and rule over all of Europe.

Why similar: Trading 23.8%, Grand Strategy 23.2% ★, Economy 13.2%, Strategy 9.1%, War 8.6%

Anno 1800™ – Lead the Industrial Revolution! Welcome to the dawn of the Industrial Age. The path you choose will define your world. Are you an innovator or an exploiter? A conqueror or a liberator? How the world remembers your name is up to you.

Why similar: Economy 31.3%, Resource Management 14.9%, Strategy 14.6%, Historical 11.3%, Simulation 11.1%

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 18.9% ★, Diplomacy 17.7% ★, Wargame 12.3%, Historical 12.1%, War 9.7%

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 59% ★, Historical 20.5%, Strategy 20.4%

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 28.8% ★, Wargame 18.1%, Grand Strategy 16.8% ★, War 12.4%, Alternate History 9.6%

Select an era, a nation and lead it to greatness or decay. Develop the economy and society, or focus on military and territorial expansion. In Nations you can rule your people for centuries – from ancient times to the modern day and beyond. You shape your state, history and map of the world.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 23% ★, Historical 18.8%, Diplomacy 16.9% ★, Wargame 15.3%, Alternate History 10.9%

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 42.8% ★, Grand Strategy 28.3% ★, Strategy 11.9%, Historical 10.9%, War 3.3%

The 14th entry of the the historical simulation series "Nobunaga's Ambition." Become a daimyō of the Warring States era, and unite the land! With "the creation of a new age" as the key concept, this title features beautifully recreated castle towns, dynamic battlefield action and dramatic event scenes.

Why similar: Diplomacy 23.4% ★, Grand Strategy 18.3% ★, Wargame 16.2%, War 11.7%, Immersive Sim 8.2%

“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 50.3% ★, Historical 22.8%, Strategy 16.1%, Simulation 10.8%

The Emperor and State is a turn-based strategy game that simulates the rule of an ancient feudal monarch. It involves the administration, policy adjustment, diplomatic checks and balances, national wars, as well as the emperor's self-cultivation, the cultivation of successors and so on.

Why similar: Diplomacy 19.2% ★, Grand Strategy 17.6% ★, Alternate History 11.8%, Wargame 11.6%, Historical 10.8%

The glory of Rome is at your fingertips in this city-building game where you must appease the gods, enact laws, and develop complex supply chains to meet the needs of your citizens.

Why similar: Grand Strategy 19.8% ★, Diplomacy 19.2% ★, 4X 17.1% ★, Historical 12.3%, Economy 10.8%

Prove your political brilliance in a grand strategy like no other: pick any contemporary country, set up your government and navigate the pitfalls of domestic and international politics. A glorious destiny awaits - the domination of not just the Earth, but the whole Solar system!

Why similar: Grand Strategy 25.8% ★, Diplomacy 20.9% ★, Economy 13.1%, 4X 10.9% ★, Wargame 7.2%