Paradox Interactive makes some of the deepest strategy games in existence, and if you’re new to the genre, picking your first one is genuinely intimidating. EU4, EU5, and CK3 are the three most popular, but they’re very different games. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide which one to start with.

The Three Games at a Glance

Europa Universalis IV (2013) is the classic. It’s a map-painting, nation-management game set from 1444 to 1821. You play as a nation — not a person — and manage its economy, military, diplomacy, and expansion over centuries. It’s the most “grand strategy” of the three, with a focus on trade, war, and diplomacy.

Europa Universalis V (2025) is the newest. It’s a modernized take on EU4’s formula, with a new pop system, updated trade mechanics, and a fresh coat of paint. It’s still being expanded with DLC, so it’s less content-rich than EU4 but more modern.

Crusader Kings III (2020) is the character-focused one. You play as a dynasty — individual rulers who live, die, and are succeeded by their heirs. It’s about family, intrigue, marriage, and personal relationships as much as it is about war and conquest. It’s the most roleplay-heavy of the three.

Difficulty

CK3 is the easiest to learn. The character-focused gameplay is more intuitive — you’re managing people, not abstract systems. The tutorial is excellent, and the game does a good job of guiding you. It’s still deep, but the learning curve is gentler.

EU4 is the hardest to learn. It’s a decade of accumulated mechanics — trade nodes, monarch points, aggressive expansion, estates, government reforms. There’s a lot to absorb. The learning curve is steep, but the depth is unmatched.

EU5 is somewhere in between. It’s more modern and streamlined than EU4, but it’s still a nation-management game with complex systems. It’s easier to get into than EU4 but harder than CK3.

Focus

CK3 is about people. Your characters have personalities, relationships, and ambitions. You’ll spend as much time managing your family as you will your realm. It’s the most personal of the three.

EU4 is about nations. You’re playing as France, or the Ottomans, or Japan. Your ruler is a stat block, not a character. The focus is on the nation’s growth — economy, military, diplomacy, expansion.

EU5 is about nations, but with more depth. The pop system adds a layer of internal management that EU4 doesn’t have. You’re managing not just the nation but its people.

Fun Factor

CK3 is the most immediately fun. The character drama — marriages, betrayals, schemes, succession crises — is inherently entertaining. You’ll have stories to tell after your first session.

EU4 is the most rewarding long-term. The satisfaction of building a small nation into a world power over 400 years is unmatched. It’s a slower burn, but the payoff is huge.

EU5 is the most promising. It’s new, it’s modern, and it’s going to get better with DLC. But right now, it has less content than its older siblings.

Which Should You Start With?

If you want the easiest entry point: Start with CK3. It’s the most accessible, the most fun immediately, and it teaches you the core grand strategy concepts — managing resources, making decisions, dealing with consequences — in a more approachable package.

If you want the classic grand strategy experience: Start with EU4. It’s the definitive Paradox grand strategy game. The learning curve is steep, but it’s the game that defines the genre. And it’s cheap — you can pick it up on sale for a few dollars.

If you want the newest thing: Start with EU5. It’s the future of the series, and it’s a good time to get in on the ground floor. Just be aware that it’s less content-rich than EU4 right now.

The Bottom Line

There’s no wrong answer — all three are excellent games. But if you’re a beginner, CK3 is the best starting point. It’s the most accessible, the most fun, and it’ll teach you the genre’s fundamentals. From there, you can graduate to EU4 or EU5 once you’re comfortable with the core concepts.

And if you’re still not sure, try them all. They’re all on sale regularly, and they all offer hundreds of hours of gameplay. You can’t really go wrong.