There are a number of grand strategy games out there, but one studio tends to be thefirst people consider for the genre:Paradox Interactive. It has been developing and publishing games since the late 1990s, but its first fully independent release was 2000’sEuropa Universalis. Since then, Paradox has grown and put out many popular series known for their in-depth mechanics, memorable music, and historical settings.
WhileParadox Interactiveis known for its war-focused and political titles like theHearts of Ironseries, it has put out non-war simulation/strategy titles - the most successful of which likely beingCities: Skylines. Paradox has a vast catalog, and with so many series or one-off titles it can be difficult to know which to dive into. Considering most of them have unique sensibilities, some are certainly better or worse starting places than others.
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Crusader Kings 3 -One of Paradox’s most recent releases,Crusader Kings 3provides players with a grand-strategy RPG that can tell the stories of generations of rulers, each family tree playing out different from the last. There is a lot to get lost in, and narratives that can keep players occupied for weeks on end. TheCrusader Kingsseries is far more character-driven than most of the Paradox catalog, and the third entry sees that at its most fleshed out.
Cities: Skylines -It’s an incredibly simple premisereminiscent of games likeSimCity, butCities: Skylinestakes that outline and runs with it. The amount of things that can be built, the ways they can be built, and different configurations of systems that players have make for an in-depth city simulator that has yet to be topped.
Crusader Kings 2 -The predecessor toCrusader Kings 3fills the same niche, but has far more DLC poured into it. While the sequel provides a smoother and overall better-feeling gameplay experience,Crusader Kings 2has a decade’s worth of mods and DLCthat provide it with a depth that isn’t met by its follow-up yet.
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Europa Univeralis 4 -Europa Universalis 4is an ambitious title that sets out to give players a grand strategygame during the Renaissance era. It provides the cleanest-looking entry in theEuropa Universalisseries, and players can choose many ways to “win;” whether it be through trade, diplomacy, or warfare. One downside is that the game requires DLC to be fully enjoyable, and some of the mechanics feel a little lackluster.
Victoria 2 -Victoria 2has more to its political and economic systems than most other Paradox titles, taking place during the industrial revolution. The player will have to pay more attention to what their country produces and where they put their resources, where this can remain largely unaddressed in other series.
Mount & Blade: Warband -Action-RPGs aren’t anything new, but Paradox really succeeded with this expansion for the originalMount & Blade, an open-world game where players can raise an army and can join different factions. Add on expanded diplomacy, multiplayer support, and graphical improvements, andMount & Blade: Warbandbecomes one of the best medieval open-world experiences ever.
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord -A lot of what can be said aboutMount & BladeandWarbandcan also be said forBannerlord. It has a better vanilla experience thanits predecessors, with more refined systems and new things to do. The one thing that the original andWarbandhave overthis sequel is the amount of mods developed by fans.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game -Darkest Hourtakes the experience many consider to have the best balance of accessibility and complexity in theWorld War 2 series,Hearts of Iron2, and refines it. It has a relatively simple feature set, but players can find a depth that can feel lacking in later entries in the series.
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Hearts of Iron 4 -One of thebiggest entries in Paradox’s catalog isHearts of Iron 4. It is simpler than most other Paradox titles, but that makes it a good entry point for the genre. Most of the focus goes toward warfare, though other systems are more fleshed out than the third entry in the series, which can makeHearts of Iron 4feel like a more narrative experience.
Hearts of Iron 3 -The previous entry in theHearts of Ironseries has the same premise, but is more difficult to get into. The systems are more complex inHearts of Iron 3, which can be overwhelming for players who don’t know what they’re getting into. That being said, it can provide a more engaging experience on the battlefield.
Victoria 3 -The most recent Paradox title has been a long-awaited sequel, it isn’tas complete asVictoria 2due to a lack of DLC. The population mechanics make very little sense a lot of the time, and it has been seen as easier thanVictoria 2. Yet it has a promising base, and in time it may grow to greater heights.
Hearts of Iron 2 -Darkest Houris essentiallyHearts of Iron 2remastered. There’s not much reason to go back and play the base game when it has a much stronger variant.
Age of Wonders: Planetfall -Planetfallis a fun 4x sci-fi gamewith tactical battles that make people think to best their opponents. There are a lot of stones to turn over as players find out more about the game’s setting, and it moves at a fast pace compared to other games in the same genre.
Crusader Kings -While later entries in the series are better, theoriginalCrusader Kingsis nothing to shake a stick at. It provides a better experience than most older Paradox titles with a more simple interface to understand than some of its contemporaries, and the narratives that players can build over generations are as interesting as ever.
BattleTech -This Paradox title stands out for introducing big mechs through a fun battling system that can keep players coming back for more. However, there are some flaws such as it feeling repetitive because some strategies work too well.
Europa Universalis 2 -The second installment in theEuropa Universalisfranchise is much more historic, and that gives it a certain charm that differentiates it from later titles. If players are more interested inhistorically accurate gamesand don’t mind pre-scripted events, it could provide an enjoyable experience.
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Europa Universalis 3 -Europa Universalis 3is when the series started heading in a direction away from strict historical accuracy. That will be to some people’s tastes, and not to others - it really depends.
Europa Universalis -The originalEuropa Universaliswas a big stepping stone for Paradox, and it still holds up relatively well.
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Stellaris -Stellarissounds like a great idea on paper, a grand strategy game where players build out an interstellar empire in the void of space, but it could’ve done with a bit more love and time in the oven. While the early game offers what players would expect - discovering planets and colonizing them, getting resources, and managing diplomacy - the late game can be a slog.
Magicka -Magickaisn’t a grand strategy game, or a sprawling adventure like most Paradox titles. Instead, it’s an action-adventure romp through a world inspired by Norse mythology.Magickacan be played with up to four players, and is good fun, but it can be a little rough around the edges.
Victoria -While sequels in theVictoriaseries would expand upon the ideas, mechanics, and gameplay found here,the originalVictoriais a stronger early title from Paradox. It makes an intriguing and in-depth game focused oneconomics during the Victorian era, with shades of diplomacy and warfare.
Airfix Dogfighter -It’s an old game with a straightforward premise, butAirfix Dogfightercontrols well for the era it was released in and is simple fun for a couple of hours.
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Sengoku -Sengokuwas a forgettable Paradox release that takes place in feudal Japan, which sounds interesting on paper, but feels like depthful thanEuropa Universalis. It didn’t receive the DLC that bigger titles get, and can feel empty after a couple of games.
March of the Eagles -While the gameplay ofMarch of the Eaglesis solid enough, it’s lacking the depth that makes the grand strategy genre interesting. It would make a fineentry point for someone just getting into grand strategy, but at times feels like a glorified game ofRisk.
Hearts of Iron -The originalHearts of Ironstarted a long line of World War 2 grand strategy games, and it deserves props for that. However, its age can show, and what it does well is improved by later entries in the series. By no means unplayable, but there isn’t a ton of reason to go back to the first when there are better alternatives.
Chariots of War -A decent entry to the strategy genre, but one that will leave players lament a distinct lack of content.Chariots of Waris a shallow experience that feels under baked by modern standards.
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Imperator: Rome -A problem with many Paradox games is the reliance on future DLC that can sometimes make its original experience feel hollow, and there’s no better example of this thanImperator: Rome. It feels like a copy of previous titles with less depth and a lot less fun, only benefiting from prettier graphics. With future DLC for the game being shelved, there’s not much hope for this title moving forward.
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