18 Best Mods For Europa Universalis 4

In Europa Universalis 4, players already have quite a bit of content to occupy their time. However, once players get the hang of the base mechanics, successfully running a country in Europa Universalis 4 becomes a much more feasible endeavor. Where can the game go from there?

Luckily, EU4 isn’t lacking in mods on the Steam Workshop. A dizzying array of selections are available that overhaul both large and small aspects of the gameplay. When looking to spice up the next playthrough, players can’t go wrong with installing these excellent add-ons. Best of all, downloading them is as easy as clicking the “Subscribe” button on the Steam Workshop.

Updated on September 2, 2024, by Rhenn Taguiam: With the Winds of Change expansion giving Europa Universalis 4 players the opportunity to experience an expanded ruleset based on deeper historical content, fans of the acclaimed grand strategy title may be able to enjoy more in-depth gameplay featuring the Aztec Empire in early Mexico, the Mughal Empire in Central Asia, as well as the trading republics of the Netherlands and Venice. However, fans who want to take their Europa Universalis 4 gameplay to the next level may want to consider giving some mods a shot to enhance their experience. Among must-try for fans include a faster-paced approach to the game, more practical warfare mechanics, more National Ideas, and expansive playthroughs with an uncolonized Indian Coast.

18 Responsible Warfare

5 Stars: 317 Ratings

Unlike other mods that affect Europa Universalis 4 gameplay, Responsible Warfare is a more specific add-on that combines the former’s more fluid approach to history with the population-focused aspect of Victoria 2. As a result, players can encounter warfare where standing armies have drastically smaller sizes and dramatically increased costs. This aims to replicate a more realistic approach in combat while ensuring the economy doesn’t fall apart simply because a player engages in warfare.

Specific stats-wise, Development now grants half manpower and sailors, while Force Limits are effectively quartered regardless of whether they’re from Holy Roman Empire states or Trade League members. However, Maintenance Costs are almost doubled, and Manpower Levels now affect Morale upon reaching certain numbers.

17 Fast Universalis

5 Stars: 2,338 Ratings

Looking at Europa Universalis 4 at first glance might give players the impression that the game might not be as demanding as other grand strategy titles. While this much is true, given its age and general requirements, some players may still encounter difficulties running the game with much older devices.

Fast Universalis attempts to change this by providing more in-depth settings to aid players with lower-performance machines to run the game. When activated, the mod allows players to toggle various animated aspects of the game that may affect performance. These include more general components such as particles, borders, moving units, the minimap, and post effects, as well as more specific settings such as reflections, shadows, trees, and uncolonized terrain.

16 Lux In Tenebris

5 Stars: 1,168 Ratings

Originally conceptualized as an update for the accuracy-oriented Beyond Typus mod, Lux in Tenebris became a complete overhaul that aimed to remove many of the “genericness” present in countries of Europa Universalis 4 by introducing more nuanced elements to individual nations. The game’s main appeal involves introducing these flexible elements while working as close to the base game mechanics as possible. This should allow Lux in Tenebris to be accessible to newcomers without being overwhelming.

The mod adds new religions with special events and new provinces with different cultures. There are also new national ideas

15 The Idea Variation

5 Stars: 1,276 Ratings

While the core Europa Universalis 4 experience lets players use over 500 countries in their playthrough, its mechanics can feel stale for gamers who want a lasting grand strategy title with various gameplay options. Although The Idea Variation initially tries to solve this by adding slight changes here and there, its continuous progression allowed it to become a total conversion mod that enhances the EU4 experience with overhauled government reform mechanics, new idea groups and policies, and even buildings.

The mod features over 600 new policies across 42 new Idea Groups and 20 new Advisor types, complete with two new estates (Janissaries and Nationalists). The overhauls to Idea Groups can give players extra leverage regardless of their playstyles, with colonizers being able to expand faster, low-income nations with different cultures becoming more sustainable, and even making coring much easier for more aggressive strategists.

14 Anbennar: A Fantasy Total Conversion Mod

5 Stars: 5,653 Ratings

• Created by JayBean, (THEA) Duke Jorgas, and Hehodas
• Mod Link

Like most games developed by Paradox, the collection of mods available for EU4 runs the gamut from historical immersion to high fantasy. Regarding the latter, Anbennar: A Fantasy Total Conversion Mod should satisfy fans who prefer to see more elves and warlocks in their grand strategy games.

Players of Dungeons & Dragons will find themselves right at home with this mod. With plenty of magic and other arcane arts at one’s disposal, it’s up to players to decide whether or not to be a force of good or evil. Fans can even start their own adventuring company before settling down to create a new nation. For fantasy addicts, this mod is certainly worth a try!

13 The Great Exhibition

5 Stars: 2,114 Ratings

• Created by ernesttico, Aetherum, and Firerozes
• Mod Link

Anyone who plays a Paradox title for an extended length of time will eventually see every piece of artwork in the game. With so many events firing throughout a playthrough, the vanilla illustrations quickly lose their luster. Players who are about to start a new game may want to consider freshening things up in this department.

The Great Exhibition mod is the perfect antidote to this problem. Thousands of new pictures related to events in the game are added, and some of them even change based on the player’s religion, culture, etc. As such, it will take players quite a while before the artwork starts getting stale again.

12 Ante Bellum

5 Stars: 2,780 Ratings

One thing that history buffs tend to enjoy is exploring alternate history scenarios. Imagining how the world would have looked if certain epochal events turned out differently offers a wealth of creative opportunities for modders. Fortunately, EU4 has a couple of fun options for players interested in alt-history.

Ante Bellum offers an alternate, but no less intriguing take, on the world in 1444. Among other notable reimaginings, the Carolingians still rule Francia, Andalusia is ascendant in Iberia, Bulgaria has the Byzantine Empire on the backpedal, and a few of the Crusader States even still exist in the Middle East. Fans can expect a wealth of new content to accompany these changes without having to learn brand-new mechanics. It’s certainly a mod that fans of Europa Universalis 4 shouldn’t ignore.

11 MEIOU & Taxes

5 Stars: 1,262 Ratings

• Created by [EL] Moridin, matigietz, [M&T] Sun_Wu, [M&T] Gigau, Veheled, Jervaj, [M&T]Mepper, Dr. Oetker, and Pełpeł
• Mod Link

All-in-one overhaul mods are usually safe bets for beginners looking to test the waters of the modding community. MEIOU and Taxes brings several things to the table, including new provinces/nations, a revamped trading system, overhauled graphics, and much more. Check out the mod’s wiki page for a full list of features.

10 Extended Timeline

5 Stars: 20,732 Ratings

Players have a lot of time with which to achieve their goals in EU4. The vanilla timeline runs from 1444 to 1821, giving fans 377 years to scheme and conquer their way to the top. However, maybe three centuries still isn’t enough time for some players.

The Extended Timeline mod certainly lives up to its name. It extends the game’s timeline to the year 9999, while also giving fans the option to start playing in 2 AD. Over 500 new countries are also added to reflect the state of the world at any given date. Never want the game to end? Give this mod a try.

9 Graphical Map Improvements

5 Stars: 8,120 Ratings

As a grand strategy game, players will inevitably spend a great deal of time looking at the map in EU4. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the game’s vanilla map, but there’s certainly some room for improvement.

Graphical Map Improvements is the quintessential map mod for the game. It tweaks a variety of effects regarding the map’s presentation. The mod adds HS textures, along with a clearer font for country names and more distinguishable borders. It creates an all-around experience that’s easier on the eyes.

8 Flavour And Events Expanded

5 Stars: 1,132 Ratings

• Created by Jay DoubleU, Catoscar, LimonenZitrone, Melvasul, UberEpicZach, Lumisentius, Vicryl, and ChuKoNoob
• Mod Link

Paradox Interactive games pack a ton of historical realism into their titles. Nevertheless, with a gargantuan subject like history, not every notable event can make it into a video game. In titles like EU4, fans also tend to appreciate a substantial variety of generic events and decisions to keep each new playthrough fresh and exciting.

In this regard, it doesn’t get much better than Flavour and Events Expanded. This mod adds over 1,000 new events to the game, which range from purely historical to creatively flavorful. Veterans of Crusader Kings 3 will be happy to know that plenty of heir education events are thrown into the mix as well. Overall, the mod adds enough interesting content to keep both old and new players hooked.

7 Trade Goods Expanded

5 Stars: 1,348 Ratings

Trade often plays an important role in Paradox Interactive games, as fans of Victoria 3 are no doubt aware. The same is also true for EU4, which takes place in an age where international trade plays an increasingly important role in a country’s affairs.

In the same spirit as the previously mentioned mod, Trade Goods Expanded (as the name implies) adds a wealth of new trade goods to the game, along with a new resource mechanic and price events. Players interested in the more economic aspects of EU4 should check out this mod for a richer experience.

6 Voltaire’s Nightmare II

5 Stars: 3,562 Ratings

• Created by ratkus, Katharevousa, Isildur, ShyGuy13, and Dux Amalfitanorum
• Mod Link

When discussing excellent overhaul/immersion mods for EU4, it’s hard not to mention Voltaire’s Nightmare II. In a similar vein to the previous mod, Voltaire’s Nightmare II provides an almost unmatched level of added realism to the base game.

This mod primarily focuses on the European continent. It includes an altered timeline that spans from 1054 to 1871 and incorporates hundreds of new countries and thousands of provinces to reflect the new timeline. New government types, ages, cultures, religions, national ideas, missions, and flavor events are just some of the new features that compose Voltaire’s Nightmare II.

5 Westeros Universalis: A Game Of Thrones

5 Stars: 2,994 Ratings

• Created by Vawser, Theo, and Emperor Nuclear
• Mod Link

Of course, extra layers of historical accuracy may not be for everybody. The nature of games developed by Paradox Interactive makes them ripe for total conversion mods. Fantasy settings, naturally, tend to be at the forefront of these types of mods.

Fans of George R. R. Martin should check out the Game of Thrones mod for EU4. Set in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, players can look forward to leading their favorite Westerosi nations to ultimate victory using the EU4 game engine. Plenty of intrigue and action awaits!

5 Stars: 1,862 Ratings

• Created by qweytr, Shimmer, Theo, and Aetherum
• Mod Link

As stated previously, mods that take place within a fantasy setting tend to be popular. Video games, much like literature, possess a wide array of memorable fantasy settings. The Elder Scrolls is one such example of a beloved fantasy world.

With Elder Scrolls Universalis, players can put their nation-building skills to good use in Tamriel. Everything in the base game is overhauled to fit the new setting, including religions, cultures, events, and much more. Becoming the Emperor of Tamriel never felt so satisfying.

3 Imperium Universalis (Growth Of Empires)

5 Stars: 5,367 Ratings

• Created by KArantukki, NightWarrior, PenguBoy, Hirdmann, 诸葛孔博, ACommonGuerrillo, and Dux Amalfitanorum
• Mod Link

Imperium Universalis is another total conversion mod worth mentioning. This mod is unique in that its primary focus is geared toward the ancient world, specifically the 7th century BC. For ancient history buffs, this mod offers enough to satisfy their interests.

The features of Imperium Universalis mirror the altered timeline. New development mechanics, special units, and technologies serve to immerse the player in this Bronze Age epic. If the familiar setting of EU4 becomes too tiresome, Imperium Universalis is a noteworthy alternative.

2 Governments Expanded

5 Stars: 1,856 Ratings

• Created by Fly_Pepper and Jay DoubleU
• Mod Link

In EU4, government type plays an important role in the functioning of a particular state. After a couple of playthroughs, fans likely won’t have much trouble understanding the characteristics that compose each type of government in the game.

Governments Expanded adds much-needed flavor to the proceedings by offering more than 275 new government reforms to EU4. Best of all, many of the major nations, such as France and the Ottoman Empire, receive their unique reforms. As such, it makes playing as a particular country feel more different from the rest.

1 Europa Expanded

5 Stars: 2,313 Ratings

• Created by Stiopa866 and LordVarangian
• Mod Link

Missions in EU4 provide players with a roadmap for how their countries should progress. Some Missions are generic, while others are unique to a particular country, culture, or religion. They provide a lot of flavor to the game, so adding more is always great.

The aptly titled Europa Expanded mod adds over 300 Mission Trees to the game, along with new starting bookmarks. Many formable nations also get their own Mission Trees with this mod, which helps make every country feel a little more exclusive.