Metascore
87 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. My current favorite for top strategy game of the year. It's more playable than the original and there is a wealth of new options that increases replayability by a factor of ten.
  2. 90
    If you're at all interested in history or empire-building games, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
  3. 90
    For those willing to take on the still-steep learning curve, however, and for whom diplomacy is more than just trading Ironworking for The Wheel, EU II is possibly the best historical strategy game there is.
  4. It manages to maintain a consistent level of sophistication and high complexity without sacrificing what really makes strategy games fun.
  5. Fun and engrossing, an experience to remember. [Apr 2002, p.100]
  6. True, the learning curve is Himalayan, but once I got sucked in, my love of strat games was instantly rekindled. [Feb 2002, p.73]
  7. Although the new game doesn't represent the jump in production values that some might have hoped for, the gameplay changes should give fans of the first game plenty to work with.
  8. An intriguing challenge, and one of the better civilization games to emerge this year.
  9. It would be a shame to pass up Europa Univeralis II over something flashier because the likelihood is that others just can’t compete with the combined epicness and fun of the game.
  10. One of the results of all the additional options is that Europa Universalis isn't as straight jacketed by history as it used to be.
  11. Since there's so much interesting information in the game, some drudgery and a lot of time spent reading statistically-based screens and news about what's happening in other parts of the world, your basic playability is bound to suffer.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Most certainly one of the best strategy games of all time. It is even better than its successor, which says a lot. The game that brought me to the strategy genre! PERFECTION! Full Review »
  2. AViewAM
    10
    This might be the best strategy game ever. Hopelessly addictive and highly detailed. My only regret is the lack of focus in Asia but methinks there's an expansion pack for that, if I recall correctly. Full Review »
  3. ArneB.
    10
    Buy it, patch it and play it. It is a truly great game, well worth the money.