Choose Europa Universalis IV
Choose Europa Universalis IV if you want a Strategy and Simulation experience. 47,407 Steam reviews back the pick.
Europa Universalis IV vs OpenFront
Europa Universalis IV and OpenFront sit side-by-side in player discussions even though their catalogue tags only partly overlap. 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: Europa Universalis IV (2013) is 13 years older than OpenFront (2026). OpenFront is free; Europa Universalis IV is paid (4.99 USD). Both support cooperative play. 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 OpenFront
Choose OpenFront if you want an Indie, Massively Multiplayer, and Free To Play game with MMO. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. OpenFront launched in 2026.
Both Europa Universalis IV and OpenFront ship Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op on Steam, so either pick lands close enough that the choice is taste, not category. 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 |  OpenFront | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation | Indie, Massively Multiplayer, Free To Play, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 87.4% positive (47,407 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Paradox Development Studio, Paradox Tinto | Evan Pellegrini |
Side by side
- Europa Universalis IV (2013) is 13 years older than OpenFront (2026).
- OpenFront is free; Europa Universalis IV is paid (4.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Europa Universalis IV is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; OpenFront has no Deck rating yet.
Europa Universalis IV vs OpenFront — FAQ
- Should I play Europa Universalis IV or OpenFront first?
- If you want chronology, Europa Universalis IV (2013) came out before OpenFront (2026). 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.
- Do both Europa Universalis IV and OpenFront have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Europa Universalis IV ships Online Co-op, Co-op; OpenFront ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is OpenFront free?
- Yes — OpenFront is a free-to-play Steam title. Europa Universalis IV is paid (4.99 USD).