Choose Victoria 3
Choose Victoria 3 if you want a Simulation game with Color Alternatives, Custom Volume Controls, and Stereo Sound. On Steam, it's currently about 72% cheaper on the Steam Store. 20,081 Steam reviews back the pick.
Victoria 3 vs Europa Universalis V
Victoria 3 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. Victoria 3 (2022) is 3 years older than Europa Universalis V (2025). Europa Universalis V scores higher on Steam reviews (74.1% positive) than Victoria 3 (70.7% 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 you want the Online Co-op and Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 74.1% positive across 12,093 reviews.
Both Victoria 3 and Europa Universalis V sit in Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP, 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
 Victoria 3 |  Europa Universalis V | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2025 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation | Strategy |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 53.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 70.7% positive (20,081 reviews) | 74.1% positive (12,093 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Paradox Development Studio | Paradox Tinto |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Victoria 3 (2022) is 3 years older than Europa Universalis V (2025).
- Europa Universalis V scores higher on Steam reviews (74.1% positive) than Victoria 3 (70.7% positive).
- Victoria 3 is currently ~72% cheaper on Steam than Europa Universalis V (14.99 USD vs. 53.99 USD).
- Europa Universalis V has co-op; Victoria 3 does not.
- Both are Deck Playable.
Victoria 3 vs Europa Universalis V — FAQ
- Which is better, Victoria 3 or Europa Universalis V?
- On Steam reviews Europa Universalis V scores higher (74.1% positive) than Victoria 3 (70.7% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Europa Universalis V is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Victoria 3 or Europa Universalis V first?
- If you want chronology, Victoria 3 (2022) 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 Victoria 3 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.