Europa Universalis IV: Lions of the North is a downloadable content (DLC) that adds a couple of new mission trees and historical options for the strategy game from Paradox Interactive, Europa Universalis IV (EU IV). It adds immersion and replayability by letting players see how campaigns turn out with their branching missions.

As the title suggests, Europa Universalis IV: Lions of the North focuses on new mission trees for most of the northern European factions such as Denmark, Norway, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Another EU IV expansion is Europa Universalis IV Third Rome, or its predecessor Europa Universalis III.

Conquer Europe with Lions of the North

Europa Universalis IV: Lions of the North got its name in reference to the states in Northern Europe, particularly those surrounding the Baltic Sea. It may sound pretty restrictive, but this is actually a long-awaited update. This DLC follows those for the African nations with Origins, the Middle East with Cradle of Civilization, South Asia with Dharma, and more. In doing so, it adds a lot of new gameplay possibilities.

As mentioned, the main offering of this add-on focuses on mission trees, which allow players to recreate the development of the featured countries. Furthermore, players progress depending on what choice they make, allowing for increased replayability since one choice leads to a different path. There are new government reforms, as well as unit types, and a soundtrack to accompany the regional content.

Of course, the problem with this DLC is the same as in the base game, which is the difficulty level. The Europa Universalis franchise has been known for its steep learning curve. With the new materials added in, players will need to relearn the new material and adjust what they already know. This is accompanied by a merciless AI system that will grind all that knowledge into you.

Rebalancing the massive EU: IV world

For a game that was originally released in 2013, Europa Universalis IV remains thriving—a fact made more apparent by its much-awaited Europa Universalis IV: Lions of the North add-on. By putting the spotlight on the northern territories, players who have preferred these nations now have a lot of new content to enjoy. If you’re looking new to the game, however, get ready to go through a grueling learning experience.