Difference between CK2 and so on..

[dreday]

Hello,
i am pretty new to paradox games and wanted to ask WHAT are the differences between crusader kings 2, europa universales 2 and hearts of iron 4?

How do especially CK2 and EU4 differ? Is it only the timeline?!
I know HOI4 is about WW2. So is HOI4 100% about beating other nations in war?!

Thank you

 

[gigau]

CKII : you deal with characters, their dynasty... wedding, backstabbing, killing, along with war and diplomacy.
EUIV : you control a nation with war, diplomacy, trade, colonisation, wars of religion.
HoI4 : control a nation in a world at war and defeating the other factions.

 

[stnylan]

This is a massive oversimplification, but here goes

CK2 is a game of characters and dynasties
EU4 is a game of the rise of the modern nation state
Victoria 2 is a game of socio-economics with a large side-order of geopolitics
HoI4 is a game of modern warfare with a side-order of alternate history
Stellaris is a cross between EU4, Victoria II, and Civilization (or maybe Master of Orion is more appropriate given teh sci-fi setting)

War is a significant part of each and every one of them

 

[Susanna]

War is important in all of them; though I will say I have played great games of Vicky 2 where I never went to war.

 

[OldmansHQ]

I feel that people are not stressing enough how different EU4 and CK2 are. They really are. Look at it this way, the biggest similarities they are are: familiar UI, after all they were made by the same dev studio. Both have management elements, so does Faster Than Light. Historical themes, though they do focus on distinctly different eras. And last but definitely not the least, the same shoddy DLC monetisation model. Ohh and they both have a realitc map, which is what causes this confusion.

The biggest thematic difference between them is that CK2 is about playing as a member of a feudal house, mostly likely in Europe. Each person in the game is unique with their own characteristics and that is the key element. I’d argue that it is closer to an RPG than a strategy. Whereas Europa is most definitely a strategy with the scale to encompass the entire globe. Though some named characters are present in the game, they all might as well be called “ruler #04” or “general #05”. This thematic difference or course results in different systems and mechanics, as such the next biggest difference is the mana system that is present in Europa, but isn’t in CK2. Some like it, others don’t. I do. I think it provides a clear in-game limiting factor, which ironically feels like it enables more player choice. It allows the game to be better paced without tying so many things to time and luck. I think it makes better sense in my head .

 

[_Perun_]

I feel that people are not stressing enough how different EU4 and CK2 are.

This seems to be the sentence that every CK/EU comparison should start with.

EU is a much more elegant Total War game without the TW battles.
Think of CK as of a sim-game with elements of strategy. If you will focus on this one as if it was a proper map-painter, you will get very confused sooner or later, complaining on "lack of REAL challenge" or concentrating on some OCD aspects of the game, like assigning characters to duchies and getting frustrated whenever settings change. CK may be the only PDX game where playing tall pays off simply as there is more and more annoyance in CK whenever you try to go ambitious and politic. So just stay small and enjoy all the small, dirty things family members do to each others (like throwing your cousin out of balcony or getting to the pants of your sister).

 

[Susanna]

CK2 is a sort of hybrid between a grand strategy and an RPG. Also elements of the sims in there. (It is by far the Paradox game I'm most likely to suggest to my fellow simmers.) Role playing it (and waiting for hilarity to ensue) is a great deal of fun.

 

[fr-rein]

CK2 is about prestige and dynastic achievement. You are your own state, it matters what you and your family achieved. As CK2 shows, you may not become the best, but like Cadets you may be so influence, spread and great that your cadet braches would often be the monarchs of great nations.

EU4 is about a state. You paint the map there, otherwise there is not much else, it lacks depth and inner politics dimension which is compensated by variety of cultures, governments, mechanics. Painting is fun though.

Victoria 2 is about a state too, but unlike in EU4 you actually manage a state and the people which make the state. You won't push a button to change yourself or reform easily (unless totalitarian of course). Instead, most of your possibilities are dictated by economy and political will, where you only push people to the result you want, hopefully. A wonderful game.

HoI4. WWII, painting, politics. Really fitting for the time period.

Stellaris is a space game. I have not played it past 1.8, but even then it was already developing into a good space game with both inner politics, mechanics, painting, influence, terraforming... in other words, you change and influence the space well while managing state and encountering the exotic things in space. Really nice.

All in all I enjoyed each one when I played.

 

[icedt729]

How do especially CK2 and EU4 differ? Is it only the timeline?!

They play very differently. In CK2, you play as a character, and each time a character dies you continue as their heir. Your character could be a powerful ruler or a small vassal, so the game is stronger on "personal" mechanics (like marriages, children, friendships and rivalries, etc) than on military or economic strategy.

In EU4, you play as a country, not an individual person. You're also in the Age of Discovery, so exploration, colonization, trade routes, and complex diplomacy are important features. It's more about empire building.

I know HOI4 is about WW2. So is HOI4 100% about beating other nations in war?!

HOI4 is pretty much a war game, yes. There's really not a lot to do in it besides fight wars, but since the military side of things is so important it's much deeper and more complex than in EU4 or CK2.

 

[treb]

Hello,
i am pretty new to paradox games and wanted to ask WHAT are the differences between crusader kings 2, europa universales 2 and hearts of iron 4?

How do especially CK2 and EU4 differ? Is it only the timeline?!
I know HOI4 is about WW2. So is HOI4 100% about beating other nations in war?!

Thank you

To put it simply CK2 is built around you playing as an 'in narrative' character as opposed to the 'God' in EU4 and HOI4.