Victoria 3 is a quaint economy simulator that chooses to do one thing and do it extremely well. At launch, this game was heavily and unfairly criticized. The game runs perfectly fine (in single player), and patches continue to address any weird bugs that pop up. Where this game shines is allowing you to take control of any country, turning it into an economic powerhouse. However, where this game falls flat and disappoints is in the history.

In a grand strategy game, it is the historical story that brings the game to life. What makes Victoria 3 feel flat compared to other Paradox titles, is that telling the story of the economic boom of the XIX century is telling less than half the story. This historical story is not at all modeled in Victoria 3. The Diplomacy, Politics, and Warfare gameplay loops merely reinforce the main loop - the economic one. The polticking done by the player requires careful balancing of factions in the country to pass new laws--which get you better bonuses for the economy. The diplomacy conducted by the player requires thoughtful positioning of interests and curating of relationships--to get better market access for the economy. The warfare gameplay results in brutal wars between major powers so you can conquer new states--to get more room for buildings for the economy. You could play the game without ever touching the diplomacy and warfare aspects. There is no nationalism, there is no irredentism, there is no other reason to go to war other then to acquire more space for buildings to feed your economy. Any historical events that the game models (e.g., The Red Scare, Belgian Congo Expedition, Scramble for Africa) are all merely timed events that happen off-screen except for a few decision points along the way for the player.

It is this story that other Paradox titles brought to life which Victoria 3 does not address. The Burgundian Succession event chain feels meaningful. The crusades feel meaningful. The countdown to Danzig or War feels meaningful. And it's this story that makes keeping independence as Burgundy a fun challenge in Europa Universalis IV. It's what makes surviving as Jerusalem after the crusades interesting in Crusader Kings III. It's what makes trying to fight back as Poland or France an achievement in Hearts of Iron IV. These feelings and moments are noticeably absent from Victoria 3. The only motivating force for your actions as a player ends up being constructing more profitable buildings working under your market. And the green line can only go up in so many ways, so many times.

Victoria 3 is a great economy simulator. If you love pure economic simulations, then by all means buy and play Victoria 3. If you can get Victoria 3 for free or even heavily discounted, then get Victoria 3. But make no mistake about where the game's priorities lie. The nations may as well be named "Easy," "Medium," and "Hard" and take the shape of outlines on a blank map.

I cannot recommend the game at full price. And, once they do add any sort of historical elements, if at all, I certainly will not be able to recommend the game at the new inflated price of all the DLC that it will certainly be locked behind.

Victoria 3 is a quaint economy simulator that chooses to do one thing and do it extremely well. At launch, this game was heavily and unfairly criticized. The game runs perfectly fine (in single player), and patches continue to address any weird bugs that pop up. Where this game shines is allowing you to take control of any country, turning it into an economic powerhouse. However, where this game falls flat and disappoints is in the history. In a grand strategy game, it is the historical story that brings the game to life. What makes Victoria 3 feel flat compared to other Paradox titles, is that telling the story of the economic boom of the XIX century is telling less than half the story. This historical story is not at all modeled in Victoria 3. The Diplomacy, Politics, and Warfare gameplay loops merely reinforce the main loop - the economic one. The polticking done by the player requires careful balancing of factions in the country to pass new laws--which get you better bonuses for the economy. The diplomacy conducted by the player requires thoughtful positioning of interests and curating of relationships--to get better market access for the economy. The warfare gameplay results in brutal wars between major powers so you can conquer new states--to get more room for buildings for the economy. You could play the game without ever touching the diplomacy and warfare aspects. There is no nationalism, there is no irredentism, there is no other reason to go to war other then to acquire more space for buildings to feed your economy. Any historical events that the game models (e.g., The Red Scare, Belgian Congo Expedition, Scramble for Africa) are all merely timed events that happen off-screen except for a few decision points along the way for the player. It is this story that other Paradox titles brought to life which Victoria 3 does not address. The Burgundian Succession event chain feels meaningful. The crusades feel meaningful. The countdown to Danzig or War feels meaningful. And it's this story that makes keeping independence as Burgundy a fun challenge in Europa Universalis IV. It's what makes surviving as Jerusalem after the crusades interesting in Crusader Kings III. It's what makes trying to fight back as Poland or France an achievement in Hearts of Iron IV. These feelings and moments are noticeably absent from Victoria 3. The only motivating force for your actions as a player ends up being constructing more profitable buildings working under your market. And the green line can only go up in so many ways, so many times. Victoria 3 is a great economy simulator. If you love pure economic simulations, then by all means buy and play Victoria 3. If you can get Victoria 3 for free or even heavily discounted, then get Victoria 3. But make no mistake about where the game's priorities lie. The nations may as well be named "Easy," "Medium," and "Hard" and take the shape of outlines on a blank map. I cannot recommend the game at full price. And, once they do add any sort of historical elements, if at all, I certainly will not be able to recommend the game at the new inflated price of all the DLC that it will certainly be locked behind.