Europa Universalis II

Lore & Background

The game is a sequel to Europa Universalis, developed by Paradox Interactive using the Europa Engine. A version called Europa Universalis II: Asia Chapters was released for Asian markets, adding new graphics and scenarios centered on Asian history, with an updated map featuring greater detail in Japan, Korea, and China.

In Their Own Story

The year is 1492. The court of Castile buzzes with the news of Columbus's return—not with gold, but with tales of strange lands and stranger peoples. I, a humble clerk in the Royal Treasury, watch as King Ferdinand pores over crude maps of the New World, his fingers tracing unknown coastlines. Our treasury is thin, our armies weary from the Reconquista, but the promise of glory is intoxicating. I calculate the cost of a new fleet, the risk of war with Portugal, the whispers of heresy from the north. Every decision is a gamble—one wrong move, and our fledgling empire could crumble before it begins. The world is vast, but the margins of history are razor-thin, and I sharpen my quill, ready to write the next chapter.

Reader's Guide

In the game, the player controls a single nation across five centuries, managing its economy, military, political alliances, scientific development, exploration and colonization, religious affairs, and internal stability. Time flows continuously rather than in turns; the player can pause to give orders and adjust speed. The game ships with several historical scenarios (including the Age of Discovery, the American Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars), a Grand Campaign, and a Fantasy Scenario starting in an unoccupied earth with 8 civilizations. Players can choose from over a hundred nations, including obscure ones from the Indian subcontinent to the Balkans.

Did You Know?

• Europa Universalis II was nominated for Computer Gaming World's 2002 'Strategy Game of the Year' award, which went to Freedom Force.
• The game received 'generally favourable' reviews according to Metacritic.
• A Linux port was in development but was not released.