Europa Universalis IV: Emperor Review (Kate27)
Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 171:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆☆ (7/10)
Europa Universalis IV: Emperor is a massive expansion focused on overhauling the Holy Roman Empire, the Catholic Church, and parts of continental Europe. It introduces significant mechanical changes that enhance roleplaying, religious politics, and internal diplomacy. However, its ambitious systems are often underexplained, slow, or buried in layers of micromanagement that may not appeal to all players.
👑 Pros:
Holy Roman Empire overhaul. The HRE no longer feels like a passive title. With internal authority mechanics, reforms, and new diplomatic options, you’re rewarded for managing the empire's stability—or dismantling it altogether. You can now become the centralized emperor or try to form the Reichsstaat, with better tools for expanding or reining in member states.
Catholicism mechanics. Catholic nations gain new Cardinal interactions, Council of Trent decisions, and church power customization. These changes make playing as a Catholic feel more distinct, and the Reformation era becomes more intense, with real back-and-forth tug-of-war between Catholicism and Protestantism.
Revolution and disaster reworks. Late-game disasters like the Revolution and Religious League Wars have been enhanced, with more meaningful consequences and AI involvement. The League Wars in particular feel more dramatic and can shape the balance of power in Europe.
Imperial incidents. The HRE "incidents" trigger based on historical or emergent situations, letting players guide the empire through complex choices. They add variety and storytelling potential, like determining the fate of Bohemia or dealing with Italian autonomy.
Mission trees and flavor for key nations. Austria, Bohemia, Burgundy, and a few others get expanded mission trees, more unique decisions, and some event chains, making them more fun to play than in the base game.
🤴 Cons:
Micromanagement and system overload. The HRE system adds layers upon layers of mechanics that can become tedious—especially if you’re not playing inside the HRE. Reforms take ages to enact, Imperial Authority can be frustrating to manage, and incidents fire frequently with little warning or direction.
Limited appeal outside Europe. This DLC is heavily focused on central Europe and the Catholic faith. If you’re playing outside of the HRE or not dealing with Reformation politics, much of the content here won’t matter. It’s situational and not a global systems overhaul.
Slow reforms, slow rewards. Even when engaging fully with the new HRE reforms, it can take decades (or centuries) to pass significant changes. The pacing feels glacial compared to more modern mission-tree DLCs.
Unclear mechanics and poor in-game explanation. Council of Trent actions, church customization, and reform paths are all under-explained. You’ll likely need a wiki to understand what’s optimal or even how to engage with them.