My first campaign in Europa Universalis 5 may have ruined the entire series for me
A long-time Europa Universalis fan shares a paradoxical experience with the franchise’s latest entry. The reviewer, who has invested 1,700 hours in Europa Universalis 4 including completing a world conquest, recently finished a 93-hour campaign in EU5 as Castile. Despite initially loving the new game midway through, they have no desire to replay it—and worse, EU5 has ruined EU4 for them permanently.
The core issue extends beyond the well-documented technical glitches that plagued EU5 since launch. The fundamental problem is that each game possesses strengths the other lacks, but Paradox has yet to synthesize them into a perfect whole. EU5’s improvements make EU4’s older mechanics feel dated and cumbersome upon return, even though EU4 retains features and qualities that EU5 has abandoned or reimagined. Neither game fully satisfies the veteran player; both excel in different areas while falling short in others.
This experience reflects a broader challenge facing game sequels: incremental improvements in certain systems often come at the expense of other elements that made the original special. The reviewer was initially captivated by EU5’s enhancements, but the 93-hour campaign ultimately revealed the cost of this progression. The result is a frustrating bind for dedicated Europa Universalis fans—forced to choose between different sets of strengths and weaknesses rather than experiencing the best of both worlds.