Paradox Interactive has released many great titles and series over the years after becoming an independent company in 2004. When you think of games that Paradox has published, titles like the Cities Skylines series, Surviving Mars, and many other strategy games come to mind.
Grand strategy games are not the only ones it has under its belt, however. Action adventure, role-playing, and simulation and management are some of the other genres that the company has published, which have been some of the most successful releases. With a wide variety of games, these are some of the best titles to check out from Paradox Interactive.
10 Magicka
Fantasy games always bring forth a very interesting world no matter how they are received on release. Magicka brought a new world based on Norse mythology, creating a fun and rich experience.
In this game, you are a wizard who is trying to stop an evil sorcerer who has caused chaos in the world. There are many spells you can cast and combine for a magic system unlike any other, and many items to find. You can also play solo or in co-op with up to four friends in a dozen campaigns.
9 Victoria 2
Victoria 2 is the second installment in the grand strategy Victoria series. Taking place during the 19th-century colonial era you guide your country to expand and industrialize. This includes expanding through political power, military conquest, and colonization.
This political simulation game gives you many options in terms of gameplay. You have dozens of different governments, production for your country, and a very detailed economy. There are over 200 countries to play as along with many historical missions. All of these features really help make Victoria 2 a very intriguing strategy game, and one of the best.
8 Age Of Wonders 4
The Age of Wonders series has captivated fans with its unique gameplay and story. Age of Wonders 4 continues to bring together roleplaying and strategy along with turn-based combat. All of those elements put together in a fantasy realm are what make this game really popular.
The fantasy realm is created by you, in which you create your followers, build up armies, get magical tomes to evolve your followers, and create powerful beings. There are endless possibilities for your creations and realms to explore. You can be a fearful ruler that dominates other realms or one that creates alliances to squash the evil in the world.
7 Hearts Of Iron 4
There are many games that are part of the grand strategy war games genre. One of the most well-known series is Hearts of Iron. The fourth installment transports you into World War 2 and offers both historical and alternative events.
This military simulation game gives players the opportunity to command any nation while managing politics, economy, production and supply lines, and military units. There is also a complex research tree and multiplayer in which you can take control of different aspects of a nation's strategy.
6 Europa Universalis 4
Europa Universalis is one of Paradox’s biggest series and for good reason. A grand strategy game with the ability to dominate, explore, and expand your world. Starting before the Renaissance, this game lets you build your own empire and change history.
You can choose any date you want with historical figures and nations and experience history throughout your time. Choosing marriage candidates, building alliances, and trading with others help your nation thrive. Even whoever is on the throne really influences your nation's progression for both good and bad.
5 Stellaris
Out of all the grand strategy games in Paradox’s catalog, Stellaris is the one that took a different approach to its setting. Most of the games are based on history, but Stellaris decided to take the genre to space.
Your journey takes you into space exploration and building a galactic empire. You can discover many new species out in the galaxy by sending research ships out, building space stations, and discovering new planets. There is an infinite number of races to discover, characteristics for your race and others, as well as diplomacy and galactic warfare. If the gameplay doesn't capture your attention, then maybe the stunning visuals created will.
4 Pillars Of Eternity
There are many big-name developers that partner up with publishers for their next big game. So when Obsidian Entertainment, developer of games like Fallout: New Vegas and South Park: The Stick of Truth, decided to make a new RPG, the decision was to partner with Paradox.
Pillars of Eternity is an adventure game that aims to recapture the nostalgia of classic RPGs. This game delivers a very expansive and deep character development system that adds to the six races you can play. Each has its own core skills that add to the characters' uniqueness. Not to mention a rich world with many classes, missions, and a reputation system that has an effect on your character.
3 Prison Architect
Prison Architect became a hit management and simulation game due to its fun and chaotic nature. This game brings top-down gameplay with building and managing a prison. As warden of the prison, it is your job to create an environment for the world's most vile prisoners.
What really made this game a hit and stand apart from others is the sporadic nature of the prisoners. While your main job is to optimize the prison, the prisoners can cause riots, start fights, or even start a fire. There are various things that can go on within the prison walls, like gang activity and even disease, so it's wise to make sure you have hired the best staff such as guards, doctors, and others. These are just a few of the features that make this a fun game.
2 Crusader Kings 3
Combing roleplaying and grand strategy in the Medieval Ages is exactly what makes Crusader Kings 3 an outstanding game. Part of the original Paradox Development Studio, this game continues to expand on the Crusader Kings series.
You start by taking control of your house and expanding your dynasty on a vast map. There is a very in-depth customer characterization that has effects on your journey. This game is all about lineage and keeping your heir and bloodline in charge through the years. You can make choices about who you marry or who your heirs marry. You can be as graceful as a ruler as you want, or be devious by sending spies to other houses, plotting against houses, and murdering those you want for your own advantage.
1 Cities: Skylines
Perhaps one of the biggest and most well-known management games is Cities: Skylines. You get to build up your own city however you want and from there make sure the residents of your city are happy. There are plenty of obstacles that you will face when you plan out your city.
Everything from education, street flow, food, businesses, healthcare, entertainment, and commute all have an effect on your citizens. Those are only a few of the factors you need to think about when constructing your city. There are various DLCs that add different things like airports, stadiums, and weather events that add some extra fun and difficulty to the game. Cities: Skylines also has one of the most active modding communities where you can find a plethora of items to add to your world.