Choose Europa Universalis IV
Choose Europa Universalis IV if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 87.4% positive across 47,407 reviews.
Europa Universalis IV vs Europa Universalis V
Europa Universalis IV and Europa Universalis V both land in Strategy on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Strategy games on Steam. Europa Universalis IV (2013) is 12 years older than Europa Universalis V (2025). Europa Universalis IV scores higher on Steam reviews (87.4% positive) than Europa Universalis V (74.1% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Europa Universalis V
Choose Europa Universalis V if it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 12,093 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Europa Universalis IV and Europa Universalis V sit in Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Europa Universalis IV |  Europa Universalis V | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2025 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation | Strategy |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Playable |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 53.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 87.4% positive (47,407 reviews) | 74.1% positive (12,093 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Paradox Development Studio, Paradox Tinto | Paradox Tinto |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Europa Universalis IV (2013) is 12 years older than Europa Universalis V (2025).
- Europa Universalis IV scores higher on Steam reviews (87.4% positive) than Europa Universalis V (74.1% positive).
- Europa Universalis IV is currently ~91% cheaper on Steam than Europa Universalis V (4.99 USD vs. 53.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Europa Universalis IV is Deck Unsupported, Europa Universalis V is Deck Playable.
Europa Universalis IV vs Europa Universalis V — FAQ
- Which is better, Europa Universalis IV or Europa Universalis V?
- On Steam reviews Europa Universalis IV scores higher (87.4% positive) than Europa Universalis V (74.1% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Europa Universalis IV is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Europa Universalis IV or Europa Universalis V first?
- If you want chronology, Europa Universalis IV (2013) came out before Europa Universalis V (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Europa Universalis IV and Europa Universalis V similar?
- They overlap on Strategy on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both Europa Universalis IV and Europa Universalis V have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Europa Universalis IV ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Europa Universalis V ships Online Co-op, Co-op.