Europa Universalis IV is one of the greatest strategy games ever made, but also one of the most punishing. Playing as a major power is easy, but the real thrill comes from trying to achieve greatness with a small nation. Even after 123 hours, I still feel like a beginner because every game presents a new kind of disaster.

I usually play as small nations trying to accomplish something big, but my fate is always the same: things go well for the first 50 years, then a great power suddenly declares war and erases my country from history. My latest attempt was with Albania, trying to resist the Ottomans. Everything was going great… until Austria, my supposed ally, suddenly abandoned me and declared war. There’s nothing more frustrating than being betrayed by the diplomatic web you carefully built.

That said, EU4 is incredibly rewarding. The feeling of turning a tiny nation into a powerhouse is unmatched. But the learning curve is brutal. For new players, the mechanics can be overwhelming, but if you stick with it, the game gives you the chance to rewrite history.

The biggest downside is the DLC policy. To experience the full game, you need a lot of expansions, which can get expensive over time. But if you love strategy games and want a real challenge, EU4 is worth every hour.

But consider this a warning: your first 100 hours are just the tutorial.

Map painting it is

Genocide is great