In Europa Universalis 4, the entire world is at the player's fingertips. Hundreds of playable nations are ready to be led to greatness. Whether starting as a country on the brink of collapse or an already powerful empire, fans certainly don't lack options went it comes to starting a new game of Europa Universalis 4.
Some countries, however, offer such a wealth of possibilities they can't help but be intriguing. All of these nations come with their own set of challenges, to be sure. Ultimately, it's the player's skills that will decide whether or not these nations flourish...or crash and burn.
Updated January 20, 2022 by Mark Hospodar: Players can sink a significant amount of time into Europa Universalis 4 and still have things left over to do. This is due in no small measure to the vast collection of countries at the player's fingertips.
Playing as a new nation in EU 4 can often feel like a new experience due to countries' unique circumstances on the world stage. For fans looking to try something different and interesting, it's hard to go wrong with these nations.
12 The Papal State
The Papal State is no ordinary nation in EU 4. As the Pope, players step into the shoes of the leader of the Catholic world. As such, The Papal State wields incredible power and influence. Although not the largest country at the beginning of the game, the Papacy is poised to expand dramatically across the Italian peninsula.
Catholic rulers (the devout ones anyway) will try to stay in the player's good graces, lest they arouse the anger of the Pope. This country represents one of the most unique playthroughs in the game, one that fans shouldn't ignore on their next outing.
11 Austria
In Paradox games, playing as the Holy Roman Empire is an experience that every fan should try at least once. Regarding EU 4, navigating the fractious states of the Empire may seem daunting, especially for beginners. However, for those willing to dabble in German politics, starting as Austria is a solid choice.
In real life, the Habsburg monarchy, represented by Austria, came to dominate the Holy Roman Empire to the point where the title essentially became hereditary. In the game, Austria isn't quite there yet but occupies a strong position where dominating Imperial politics is well within reach. Can you recreate the stunning successes of this dynasty?
10 Poland
Poland is a great nation to play due to the country's many potential avenues of expansion. Poland starts the game in disarray (and without a king). However, once a leader is crowned, the real work can begin. With Lithuania as an option for a personal union, Poland can start focusing on corralling its troublesome vassals.
Once internal stability is achieved, there are several choices when it comes to external expansion. Players can lock horns with the Golden Horde or the ailing Teutonic Order. If players are feeling particularly strong (or brave) they can even consider chipping away at the intimidating nations of Hungary and the Holy Roman Empire. Restoring the glory of this proud kingdom is quite fun.
9 England
The game's setting represents an interesting time for the English crown. Multiple problems are festering within this powerful nation. Internal stability is teetering, continued war with France is likely, and further expansion into Ireland is stalled. Nevertheless, despite these problems, the sky's the limit for England if they manage to put their affairs in order.
With the safety afforded by the English Channel, England has time to tend to its internal safety without having to worry too much about foreign invasions. Once England's domestic troubles have been sorted one way or another, players can begin the unification of the British Isles. Then, why not reignite the conflict with France to regain England's former continental possessions? Finally, to top it all off, there are always potential colonial acquisitions in the New World and beyond to consider......
8 Trebizond
At the game's start in 1444, the once-powerful Byzantine Empire is but a shadow of its former self. The disastrous effects of the Fourth Crusade have left Byzantium splintered. One nation with a legitimate claim to the throne of Caesar is Trebizond, a small kingdom in Anatolia.
When looking for an interesting challenge, players may want to consider revitalizing the Byzantine Empire as Trebizond. It won't be easy, though. Halting the inexorable Ottoman advance is a challenging endeavor considering Trebizond's military weakness and geographical isolation. However, if the player somehow manages to achieve the seemingly impossible, why stop there? The potential glory of a reformed Roman Empire awaits......
7 Castile
Castile is certainly one of the most important European countries at the 1444 start. They find themselves on the brink of completing the "Reconquista" of the Iberian peninsula, along with plenty of additional avenues for expansion. It's also not a bad country to play as a beginner.
Once the Moors have been displaced, Castile can set its sights on forming the Kingdom of Spain. The other major nation on the peninsula, Aragon, can be reunited with Castile through a personal union. After that, the sky's the limit. Players can then set their sights on exploring/colonizing the Americas or pursuing more continental ambitions in Portugal, Italy, and beyond.
6 Novgorod
Novgorod represents yet another interesting challenge veteran players may want to consider. They are one of the prime contenders for forming the Russian Empire, although doing so isn't exactly straightforward. Surrounded by enemies, Novgorod will have a tough time simply surviving if the player isn't careful.
If players possess the Third Rome DLC, Novgorod receives its own unique mission tree. In real life, Novgorod was annexed by Muscovy. Fans, however, can change that outcome by defeating the Muscovites instead! From there, players can work towards forming the Russian Empire, a process that's fraught with plenty of danger.
5 Wallachia
Many historical figures have become legendary, sometimes making it difficult to separate fact from fiction. Perhaps one of the most recognizable historical figures whose history is steeped in legend is Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. For a different experience, why not try playing as the legend himself?
When playing as Wallachia, a scripted event will fire that may bring Vlad the Impaler into power. Nevertheless, Vlad will have his work cut out for him. Wallachia is surrounded on all sides by troublesome and more powerful neighbors. But, with Vlad at the reins, anything is possible. Players can even look forward to forming the country of Romania if their endeavors prove successful.
4 Uesugi
Fans of Total War: Shogun 2 will find themselves in familiar territory here. In EU 4, the politics of Japan are dominated by a group of powerful lords, the daimyos. The Uesugi is one such daimyo clan. For fans who have never played a Japanese nation before, the Uesugi is an interesting choice.
The Uesugi don't start the game as pushovers. They possess the capacity to absorb many of their weaker neighbors. If the tempo of expansion is kept at a brisk pace, players will easily come to dominate the island. With that accomplished, Japan can eventually be united into a single nation with the Uesugi at the helm.
3 Venice
Venice is an influential merchant republic that poses quite a few interesting possibilities when it comes to gameplay and expansion. Fans can follow the more historical route by ensuring that Venice monopolizes the maritime trade in the region. Eliminating their prime competitor, Genoa, is recommended in this regard.
There are also plenty of options for military conquest as well. The Balkans, for instance, represents one potential target for the merchant republic, although tangling with strong rivals such as the Ottoman Empire is likely. Forming alliances with some of the major European powers can provide extra muscle in future conflicts.
2 The Mamluks
As the rulers of Egypt and Syria, the Mamluks occupy an extremely favorable position on the map. Supported by a powerful and feared military, the Mamluks have the capacity to expand in several directions. They also possess a unique government type if the Cradle of Civilization DLC is installed.
Historically, the Mamluks were subsumed into the Ottoman Empire. With the benefit of hindsight, however, players can enact measures to prevent that outcome from repeating. If internal stability can be maintained, the Mamluks can surely become the dominant power in the Middle East.
1 The Netherlands
The Netherlands is actually one of the many formable nations in EU 4. Fans who manage to recreate it will have plenty of compelling prospects to work with afterward. Chief among these possibilities is turning the Netherlands into Europe's premier trading powerhouse.
Playing as Burgundy is perhaps the most straightforward way to form the Netherlands. It's worth noting, however, that any country with the Dutch, Flemish, or Frisian primary culture may create it. As such, this endeavor can be made more challenging by selecting a weaker nation at the game's start.
Europa Universalis 4 is currently available on PC.