When I was a kid, I often loved playing games like Total War and Civilization. Games that were so good they took away countless hours after school and were responsible for my straight A's in history. But few knew at the time that a giant was being created in the background... that giant is called Paradox Interactive.
I personally heard about Paradox from a friend who told me about games like Hearts of Iron II Darkest Hour and Europa Universalis III, but... I was simply too young and too dumb and too in love with Total War at that time. But then 2013 happened and the release of Total War: Rome II. The first game I ever pre-ordered. And it almost became the last.
The disappointment I felt back then was hard to describe. But... I still needed some strategy. And then I discovered a magical game called Crusader Kings II roleplay and strategy... but not just roleplay as roleplay, this was like someone took The Sims and combined them with Total War... just without those big beautiful battles. The game had so much charm and beauty that I simply fell in love with the Grand Strategy genre. To this day, I have accumulated over 8000 hours on CK2 on Steam and off Steam.
I haven't played Total War in years, but I haven't missed a single game from Paradox.... on the contrary, I even helped test some of them! Because of that! I want to present today what awaits us until the end of 2025 from Paradox Interactive.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
After twenty-one years, one of the best CRPGs of all time is finally getting a sequel. Although the game has gone through literal hell during its development, it is finally coming to an end after "The Chinese Room" took over the game's development last year.
The story of the new game takes place 21 years after the original during a massive snowstorm in Seattle. You play as an older vampire named "Phyre or Fabien" who has recently awakened after a long slumber. He arrives in Seattle, which is currently in chaos after the rule of "The Camarilla" has weakened. The game was originally supposed to have six different clans with two more clans as DLC, but fan revolt forced Paradox to add those clans back into the game, and now we have 8 clans from the very beginning.
The game is set to release on October 21, 2025, for PC and consoles.
Europa Universalis V
After Hearts of Iron, Crusader Kings, and Victoria, the fourth largest Paradox franchise is getting its sequel in a modern guise. EU V returns after twelve years. Modern graphics and a complete rework of core features are just some of the things we get in this sequel. The new population system that will simulate the living world around you will have its own culture, religion, and social position for each population. Additionally, there will be migrations, population growth, and finally... diseases and economy.
The political gameplay has also been reworked with a strong focus on internal politics within the country. No more just focusing on technology and military; you will have to control various factions within your kingdom. A complete redesign of the battlefield. Battles are no longer just a dice roll. The battlefield is divided into flanks and center. Units have initiative and timeliness, and capturing just one part can open opportunities for others to break through. Formations, army composition, and who leads the army are very important in EU V compared to EU IV. In recent years, Paradox has started to include Automation in its games... which I must say is very commendable. With a ton of things to do, sometimes you simply can't cover everything. This system is also coming with EU V. If you want to focus on trade, diplomacy, and war, automation will cover everything else so you don't have to micromanage as much as before. And as before, the game covers nearly 500 years of history.
Europa Universalis V is coming out on November 4, 2025.
Hearts of Iron IV – No Compromise, No Surrender
The war in the Pacific is finally getting a rework in Paradox's giant Hearts of Iron IV. The eighth expansion for this game is coming at the end of the year and covers the entire Pacific and Asia. With a main focus on Japan, China, the Philippines, and other regional powers. This expansion also brings new doctrines and an expansion of the faction system. With this DLC, players who do not have the "Man the Guns" expansion will automatically receive it since the systems from that expansion will be automatically added.
The expansion is coming out on November 20, 2025.
Crusader Kings III - All Under Heaven
If you read the first part of this article... you knew what was coming. My addiction, pardon, Crusader Kings III is getting a HUGE expansion called "All Under Heaven" that focuses on the entire Asia. Additionally, the game is receiving a complete graphical update. This will be visible not only in Asia but also across Europe. As the game expands into Asia, Paradox had to figure out how to simulate China... for those who are not aware, although China was officially discovered many years after the Middle Ages, it has always been a dominant force in Asia. From its wars with the Mongols to civil wars within its own borders... to properly simulate such a vast empire, Paradox introduced a new level of empire called "Celestial." Besides China, the only other Empire that will be able to hold that title is the Roman Empire.
But China is not the only one getting content... we also get Japan. The land where the Middle Ages lasted longer than anywhere else due to its isolation. Now you will finally be able to be a Samurai and unite Japan under your rule and perhaps for the first time in their history expand their empire and clash with the evil Chinese and fend off the Mongols when they begin their invasions.
Unless, of course, your brother-in-law stabs you with a knife while you sleep to take over.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to start my journey to Japan as Haesteinn and create a culture that is a mix of Japan and Vikings.... because why not!
Crusader Kings III: All Under Heaven releases on October 28, 2025.
