Europa Universalis

Screenshots:

Background:
Take the role of a European superpower at the time of Great Explorations, 1492. Guide your country through 300 years of history by properly managing resources like trade goods and income. Build your military and work on your diplomacy to forge different kinds of alliances. Even work on your state religion in this semi-real time historical strategy game.

Gameplay:
Each player controls one of the major powers of the era, such as Spain, England, Russia, France or Portugal, exactly which ones are available depends on which of the eight different scenarios the players choose. In total, there are over 75 countries in the game that are controlled either by a human player or the artificial intelligence. The players control most functions of their respective countries concerning warfare, economy and diplomacy. They build and command fleets and armies, explore the world using explorers and conquistadors, discover new lands and natural resources for exploitation and trade, and form alliances to enable or avoid warfare, troop movement and financial support. However, the player's powers are not unlimited, and their monarch's historical abilities, or lack thereof, will influence their chances of success