3. Victoria II

Victoria II gameplay

One of Paradox Interactive’s most iconic releases, Victoria II, is a juggernaut in the grand strategy realm. Players will control one of the world’s nations from the beginning of the Victorian era in 1836 to its end after World War One.

Victoria’s primary selling point is its complexity: dense economic and political systems; Victoria is difficult to learn and even harder to master, but each success will feel wholly rewarding as you play.

With deep mechanics for industry and trade as well as captivating expansions that detail the American Civil War and colonization of Africa, players will find themselves sucked in for hundreds of hours.

Victoria II’s complexity can be overwhelming, but even failure can be immensely satisfying.

Will you forge your nation into a major power of the nineteenth century?