Edit2: Paradox is reverting their price changes.
Edit: I'm changing my review to negative due to Paradox's regional pricing changes.
In a nutshell, Victoria II can be considered the greatest Grand Strategy game ever made if not for it's lack of update and outdated GUI.
Pros:
- Ability to manage internal and external politics of your country as well as your population
- Ability to manage production and good as well as trade
- Ability to lead armies and research a varied tech tree
Cons
- Lack of updates makes mods the only avenue for bugfixes
- Lack of mod updates as modders moved on to more supported games like Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IV
- Outdated graphics and GUI makes some actions seem convoluted.

Bear in mind, even with the cons here, it still trumps both CK2 and EU4 in terms of re-playability and the variety of strategies you can employ. The only problem now is the heart of the game, which are mods are sadly lacking.

It is still a recommendation for the game nonetheless. You wouldn't have truly played a Grand Strategy game until you've played Victoria 2. I'm certain Victoria 3 will be one of the greatest Grand Strategy game of the decade if it ever comes out.

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Old review:

I've played CK2, EU4 and Victoria 2, the few more recent Grand Strategy games from Paradox. I can say that Victoria 2 is the "de facto" Grand Strategy game from Paradox and probably of all recent ones too. You can delve deep into the economics of your nation while managing your diplomacy of your next conquest, all this while making an industrial powerhouse out of your population.

In short, if you're a fan of Grand Strategy games. Get this until EU4 expansions fixes all of its micromanagement problems (fleet/buildings etc).

Oh, I've been playing Civ all this while and I'm never going back to them after playing this.

Edit2: Paradox is reverting their price changes. Edit: I'm changing my review to negative due to Paradox's regional pricing changes. In a nutshell, Victoria II can be considered the greatest Grand Strategy game ever made if not for it's lack of update and outdated GUI. Pros: - Ability to manage internal and external politics of your country as well as your population - Ability to manage production and good as well as trade - Ability to lead armies and research a varied tech tree Cons - Lack of updates makes mods the only avenue for bugfixes - Lack of mod updates as modders moved on to more supported games like Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IV - Outdated graphics and GUI makes some actions seem convoluted. Bear in mind, even with the cons here, it still trumps both CK2 and EU4 in terms of re-playability and the variety of strategies you can employ. The only problem now is the heart of the game, which are mods are sadly lacking. It is still a recommendation for the game nonetheless. You wouldn't have truly played a Grand Strategy game until you've played Victoria 2. I'm certain Victoria 3 will be one of the greatest Grand Strategy game of the decade if it ever comes out. ------------------------------------ Old review: I've played CK2, EU4 and Victoria 2, the few more recent Grand Strategy games from Paradox. I can say that Victoria 2 is the "de facto" Grand Strategy game from Paradox and probably of all recent ones too. You can delve deep into the economics of your nation while managing your diplomacy of your next conquest, all this while making an industrial powerhouse out of your population. In short, if you're a fan of Grand Strategy games. Get this until EU4 expansions fixes all of its micromanagement problems (fleet/buildings etc). Oh, I've been playing Civ all this while and I'm never going back to them after playing this.