Do I need any DLCs to enjoy EU4?

[Kings]

Been thinking of buying this game but I heard that you need DLCs to have an enjoyable experience and I don't really want to have to spend extra money on a DLC that could possibly go toward a new game

[tavald.musashi]

No if you go to previous versions of the game.

In EU4, the game updates make the game more complex, and put some tools to deal with the new mechanics behind DLC.

Other games from the same developer don´t do it; eu4 locks essential content behind a paywall.

[tonypa]

I honestly do not believe any of the DLC are required to enjoy the game. I own most of them (but not all) and I tend to turn them off frequently.

There are 2 main causes for the false "must buy DLC" spread around:

- before 1.28 update there were 2 small but important features (transfer occupation and develop province) only available from AoW and CS DLCs. That is why most players recommended buying these. However, since November 2018, with patch 1.28.1 these were added into base game for free, making all the DLC optional. Yes, there are still specific cases, specific countries and regions that benefit from having specific DLC, but overall, for most of the available nations, no DLC is needed. (Notice that you must buy all the DLC to earn all the Steam achievements).

- internet is full of misinformation, trolls, haters and dumb kids who just repeat everything without understanding the meaning or background. The repeated rumors of how PDX cuts features from base game to sell more DLC has no base, on the other side developers have updated the base game for free over 50 times, adding new features, balancing nations and fixing the bugs. The game you bought 2013 was very different fromt he game you can buy now. Even better, if you do not like current version, you can play any older version instead.

The way I look at all the DLCs offered, is that you enjoy the game and you believe developers should be able to continue making great games, so you pay them something extra. You may also spent 500+ hours on the game, and it starts to feel similar, so you can then add extra DLC to spice things up again slightly for different experience.

[JDouglasBarson]

I own all of them. You don't need them. The DLC just add more missions and some optional features. For example: the last DLC "golden century" adds a few more missions for Spain, Portugal, etc. The missions are hard to do and optional. Also, you get to develop colonies slightly faster but at a huge cost. I find it interesting when playing peaceful years as Spain or other major colony power, yet its more easier to just conquer colonies than build them. The DLC content basically gives you something else to do while waiting to conquer.

[Kings]

Okay