Europa Universalis II

Europa Universalis II from 2001 lets the player take control of any early modern state and guide it through centuries of history - from the start of the fifteenth century through voyages of discovery, colonization, and religious schisms all the way to the Napoleonic Wars at the start of the 19th century. It covers diplomacy, trade, religion, and warfare, all on a map divided into provinces, in real time with the option to pause, so the player can calmly plan a move before executing it.

The second entry in the series refined and expanded the system from the first Europa Universalis and became, for many players, a model of what a large historical strategy game with a long time span should look like. The game emphasizes building dynasties, managing colonies, and diplomatic relations between European and non-European powers, while offering an unusually large amount of freedom in what path the chosen country takes - a small Italian principality can theoretically become a colonial power, if the player handles diplomacy better than its neighbors.

Compared to later entries in the series, both the controls and the graphics feel archaic, and without unofficial tweaks the game is harder to launch on modern computers, which is also why it's usually recommended today to seasoned series fans rather than complete newcomers, who should probably start with newer entries instead. Even so, it holds the reputation of a classic among purists, one that many players return to from time to time for the purity of mechanics unburdened by later additions and expansions.

Why play it: A tip for fans of grand historical strategy games who want to experience the roots of the Europa Universalis series in their most straightforward and least cluttered form.