History VideoGame / EuropaUniversalis

* RunningGag: In the original ''[=EU III=]'', the event meteor sighted had only one option, which...caused your country to become less stable. The fan clamored for more options (as most events have multiple options), so Paradox added a second option...which had the exact same effect. Heir to the Throne added a third option (same effect) and Divine Wind, the latest expansion, a fourth.

** This can also lead to RichardNixonTheUsedCarSalesman, especially since the game randomly selects first and last names for advisors and mercantile/religious leaders from the appropriate languages.

** In ''[=EU III=]'', once Aragón learns about said province, it can get the mission [[LordOfTheRings "Become King of Gonder"]]. [[StealthPun Yeah, notice what they did there...]]. ''Heir to the Throne'' expanded on the theme with the addition of the Turkish Beylik of Saruhan... and their flag featuring a white hand. (Needless to say, Aragon now can get "Defeat Saruhan" as a mission, too).

->"[[WhatAnIdiot It's likely just harmless talk.]]"

* ThirtyYearsWar

** An event in [=EU IV=] if you have Plutocracy idea is basically a reference to ''Film/{{Braveheart}}''

* {{Expy}}: In the third and especially fourth game, certain advisers can become this particular timeline's equivalent of a famous person from history (a la InSpiteOfANail). For instance, if you have a particularly skilled Astronomer around the latter few decades of the 15th century, he might end up replicating the accomplishments of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tycho_Brahe Tycho Brahe]].

* RearingHorse: The cover of ''Napoleon's Ambition'' resembles the iconic painting of his crossing of the Alps. Similar images ares used for the loading screens.

* RoaringHorse: The cover of ''Napoleon's Ambition'' resembles the iconic painting of his crossing of the Alps.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Europa_Universalis_-_Logo_4817.jpg]]

-->''[=EU2=]'s'' Chinese "[[HistoricalInJoke The White Lotus Rebellion]]" event

''Europa Universalis'' is a series of historical [[TurnBasedStrategy turn-based]] / [[RealTimeStrategy real-time]] FourX grand strategy games for the PC and Mac (based [[ArtifactTitle increasingly loosely]] on a licensed French [[BoardGames board game]]). The games are produced, developed and published by Creator/ParadoxInteractive.

* GeoEffects: Rivers, hills and mountains give juicy bonuses to the defender and sensible commanders take advantage of this fact.

** Sadly, many reviewers and fans consider the last one to be a DolledUpInstallment and TheScrappy of the series. The ExpansionPack made it much better. It was the first [=EU3=]-derived game to include detailed character mechanics, which led to (ultimately true) speculation that Paradox were working on ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings II''.

** The same gag has carried over into EUIV, but this time it's noted as a comet with only one option, which is "It's a sign!" which causes you to lose one stability.

** [=EU IV=] has a mission called "A visit from some shady people", with two options "It's an offer..." [[Film/TheGodfather ... that we can refuse, actually.]]

* And an [[AndNowForSomethingCompletelyDifferent Roman Antiquity-themed]] SpinOff, ''Europa Universalis: Rome'' (2008)

* And a fourth installment (creatively called ''Europa Universalis IV'') was released August 13, 2013.

** ''IV'' takes this a step further with its official converter from ''Crusader King II'', keeping the exact countries and rulers (and, if reformed, pagan religions). With the earliest start date in 867, that's 900 years total gameplay just between those two.

** [[=EU IV=]] has a mission called "A visit from some shady people", with two options "It's an offer..." or [[Film/TheGodfather ... that we can refuse, actually.]]

** In ''[=EU III=]'', once Aragón learns about said province, it can get the mission [[LordOfTheRings "Become King of Gonder"]]. [[StealthPun Yeah, notice what they did there...]].
*** ''Heir to the Throne'' expanded on the theme with the addition of the Turkish Beylik of Saruhan... and their flag featuring a white hand. (Needless to say, Aragon now can get "Defeat Saruhan" as a mission, too).

* And a fourth installment is now in the works (creatively called ''Europa Universalis IV'') set for release August 13, 2013.

* And a fourth installment is now in the works (creatively called ''Europa Universalis IV'') set for release late 2013.

** It's only a semantic issue, but Taiwan wouldn't be called such until 1949. The proper name for the province should be Formosa.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Several minor countries at the beginning of the game can become world powers by the end. For example, Portugal, even under the AI, can become a force to be reckoned with due to their [[BystanderEffect unwillingness to get involved in Europe]] and their [[TruthInTelevision proclivity towards colonisation]].

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Several minor countries at the beginning of the game can become world powers by the end. For example, Portugal, even under the AI, can become a force to be reckoned with due to their [[SomebodyElsesProblem unwillingness to get involved in Europe]] and their [[TruthInTelevision proclivity towards colonisation]].