Europa Universalis III demo

By Robert Purchese Published 18 January, 2007

Conquer it now.

A new demo for Paradox Interactive's strategy title Europa Universalis III is now available for download.

In it you will be able to sample single-player delights, playing select tutorial chapters and all the Western nations from 1492 to 1520. What's more, you can do it in six different languages: English, German, French, Polish, Italian and Spanish.

The full game is released accross Scandinavia and Germany on 26th January; France, Benelux, and the UK on 2nd February; and Italy on 22nd February.

Europa Universalis III delves deep into exploration, trade, warfare, and diplomacy. Similar to the Total War series, you take control of one nation, of a possible 250, and attempt to turn it into a global empire. Play takes place between 1453 and 1789, and boasts bountiful choice as well as historical accuracy.

Trample over to the game's website for more information.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (19) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bioreit #1 5 years ago

    Supreme European, then?

    Seriously, am I missing summat, or is Jan-Feb the RTS-release date period?

  • CordableTuna #2 5 years ago

    I'd like to try Europa Universalis, but I've always had the feeling it's too difficult for me. Can anyone tell how your typical Civ/Total War player would fare?

  • Stupid_Fat_Hobbit #3 5 years ago

    I haven't played Total War, but if you can handle the Civ games you should be fine.

  • CordableTuna #4 5 years ago

    Well, I meant complexity rather than difficulty. Bad choice of words there. Anyway, I'll give it a whirl and see how it goes. Thanks guys!

    Hmm, wonder if I can play as Finns. I've always wanted to take over Sweden...

  • frod. #5 5 years ago

    To be fair you'd have to be pretty anti-Finland to include 250 playable nations and NOT have it in there.

  • CordableTuna #6 5 years ago

    That, and of course Finland didn't officially exist at the time. Anyway, according to Wikipedia EU2 had Finns, so it's a safe bet.

  • FWB #7 5 years ago

    EU (and all the other Paradox games... Hearts of Iron and Victoria) rocks! Best strategy game EVER. But it is rather complicated. Had a go at the demo (annexed Ireland as England). Graphics aren't a major leap even if it is 3D. Not that I am fussed mind you.
    There are quite a few more features, such as specialising in units, advisors, ideologies/ideas, spies, missionaries (taken from Victoria no doubt), involvement in the Papacy, military tradition (really nice idea)... probably more but I didn't play long.
    Can anyone find the resource map? It seems to have gone? Also the centres of trade are much harder to see now since their icons are quite small. But those are minor quibbles that a fan-based mod could sort out.

    I think unless you have played the previous EUs you are gonna struggle with this demo. The tutorial is shit for newcomers and the EU/HOI/Vic games are probably the most complicated ever made.

    EDIT: Whether Finland exists at the start or not isn't a biggy. There will be what-if scenarios and no doubt options/conditions in the game that allows someone to form the Finnish state through gameplay.
    Edited by 2 at 18/01/07 @ 13:11

  • Pike #8 5 years ago

    The tutorial is shit for newcomers...

    Paradox stay true to form I take it.

  • neuroniky #9 5 years ago

    The real problem with this is that we will have to wait for 5 or 6 patches before having it working the way it is supposed to do. I'm still waiting for crusader kings to become actually playable... :D

    But, that said, I've played more than one full campaign of EU2 in my life, and it is like anything else I've played. It really feels like you're ruling a nation... it's really an immersive experience (much like Civ, only with a more historical approach).

  • fieryjam #10 5 years ago

    "Conquer it now"

    You can't tell me what to do EG!

  • twelveways #11 5 years ago

    Is combat similar to Total War? or is it more like Civ?

  • Ginger #12 5 years ago

    torrent anyone?
    Never mind, found a non registration download at worthdownloading.com
    Edited by 1 at 18/01/07 @ 18:53

  • twelveways #13 5 years ago

    Gamershell have it up

  • FWB #14 5 years ago

    Is combat similar to Total War? or is it more like Civ?

    Combat is purely strategic. There is a little more to it than in Civ but not much.

  • twelveways #15 5 years ago

    Had a quick whizz through the meagre tutorial and it seems pretty good, pity about the combat but it looks like it is a very involved game, games where you get to wipe out the French ftw!
    Not gonna bother with the demo, looks like too much of a time-sink for now, will probably get the full game if its reasonably priced (which Im sure it will be)

  • Masarin #16 5 years ago

    Don't dare to conquer Sweden! :-)
    You won't get any more Europa Universalis if you do since it's made here.
    Get me Finland back instead. But I rather be Danish since Sweden stole our provine Skane a few hundred years back when it had been Danish like forever...

    I mean, 20 km to Copenhagen and 600 to Stockholm. Do I care about the capital goofs up there. H**l no! :-)

  • twelveways #17 5 years ago

    Your all just a bunch of hairy vikings anyway, whats the point in conquering a bit of ice?

  • CordableTuna #18 5 years ago

    Finns aren't Vikings! (we're a bit hairy though)

  • FWB #19 5 years ago

    To be honest while tactical combat would be great it would mean a game would take years to finish. As it is it takes forever to complete the full campaign.