Victoria 3

Victoria 3 is a remarkable, if a bit janky, nation-builder with ocean-deep political and economic systems that suck you in and don't let go.

An extraordinarily detailed economy and range of interlinking systems make Victoria 3 a grand strategy to rival some of Paradox's best.

Victoria 3's attractive historical sandbox is filled with potential, but it's on you to unlock it.

A warts and all take on a tumultuous period in history results in a surprisingly thought-provoking experience.

A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.

Even the world itself is a bummer. Victoria 3's map is beautiful, even more than Crusader King 3's, a globe bristling with colour and variety and an ever-changing landscape as cities and railroads expand over the decades. But you rarely, if ever, actually use it. This enormous 3D recreation of the entire planet is sitting in the middle of your screen for almost the entire time you play the game, taking up huge amounts of real estate, and you almost never (there are a few exceptions) have to click on it, since the game’s primary interactions are all more quickly and easily handled via sidebars and buttons. It’s a real shame!

Victoria 3 has advanced significantly. Paradox has improved its vision with every update, and the Charters of Commerce DLC is a significant step toward achieving the game's full potential. It really helps Victoria 3 sell the whole Grand Strategy experience. While maintaining the complex control that veterans desire, the inclusion of an actual World Market and automated trade systems gives life to what was previously a static simulation. It remains a game about slow, deliberate progress, about shaping the lives of millions through policy, industry, and trade rather than sword and cannon.

The main problem with Victoria 3 is that while on the surface it appears to have depth, if the player digs deep they discover a monotony and repetition in the gameplay, which kills the replayability of the title.

If you are searching for an authentic Grand Strategy experience with a Victorian flavour, then Victoria 3 has a lot to offer, but I felt it was still a flawed experience which needs some more polishing and fine-tuning.

Does that mean Victoria 3 is bad? By no means. If you are a grand strategy fan, and you are one of those people who avoids war whenever possible (I know you’re out there), Victoria 3 is the game for you. What it lacks in breadth it makes up for in depth. There isn’t a more sophisticated nation simulator around, and the game will only grow in time. Much like The Sims before, Paradox games tend to have dozens of expansion packs. I will probably leave Victoria 3 installed in anticipation of those. This is a gigantic, excellent strategy game and for some people (nerds), it’s going to be a fave.