Europa Universalis III Complete

After having tried and failed a world conquest for several of the strong starting countries, I have finally done it. This last successful WC game took me about 60 hours to complete, it was on normal/default settings (dw 5.2), and I was playing for England. I formed HRE in 1689 and finished coloring the map a century later, in 1790. I was moderately lucky in this game, having 2 sudden & long regencies and 1 inheritance. My final infamy was 0, and the peak reduction rate I've gotten was ~ 4.3 per year. I'd say I could've finished this WC decades earlier, but was unable to do so mainly due to bad planning and poor management of the HRE reforms as an emperor. Main advice I'd give to someone who'd try a WC or any success in this game in general is to be proactive: if you're sure you're doing the best you can, you're most likely mistaken and you must try to do better.

Basically, if you want to feel like a god (or emperor), bend history to your will, or just live through it, this is probably the best out there. Not many games can engross me like EU3, and as a relative newcomer to the Paradox strategy titles (I've only played Crusader Kings 2), I was a little hesitant to believe that lightning would strike twice, but this game holds up just as well. If you're a fan of grand strategy, or looking to get into it, I would highly recommend it. There's a number of complaints that this does not include the expansions, but in it's own merits it is still an amazing title, and you can't blame a company for marketing its products one way or the other. They are designed to make money after all. Disclaimer: This has a STEEP learning curve. Even having played CK2 in the past, it took me a good number of hours to get the hang of. So if you're new to paradox strategy titles expect to put in a time investment. But, believe me, it is worth it in the end when you're dominating the globe. and I am slightly biased being a fan of European history, and this is basically a European history simulator, so if this is not your thing maybe rethink buying it.

In historical setting , performance frendly money saving option- to newer overpriced universalis titles..

I own the game on CD for more then ten years, and still replay regularly. Really, not once a year, but more often and al least for a month or more of nearly everyday playing. In almost the same edition (includes the expansions Napoleon's Ambition (2007) and In Nomine (2008), but does NOT include the expansions Heir to the Throne (2009) and Divine Wind (2010)) It probably has some weak sides, like metioned by other users, but it has some special beauty in this package. For me, some additional features may seem redundant rather than interesting.

Game is great, but I get kicked out regularly.