Victoria 3

{{Infobox video game

| title = Victoria 3

| image = Victoria 3 cover art.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| developer = Paradox Development Studio

| publisher = Paradox Interactive

| series =

| platforms = {{ubl|Windows|macOS|Linux}}

| engine = Clausewitz Engine{{Cite web |last=Kleffmann |first=Marcel |date=2021-05-21 |title=Victoria 3: Strategie- und Managementspiel angekündigt: Die Führung einer Nation durch turbulente Zeiten |url=https://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/PC-CDROM/43229/2198103/Victoria_3-Strategie-_und_Managementspiel_angekuendigt_Die_Fuehrung_einer_Nation_durch_turbulente_Zeiten.html |access-date=2021-12-13 |website=4Players |language=de}}

| release = 25 October 2022{{Cite web |last=Bassil |first=Matt |date=2022-08-30 |title=Victoria 3 preview – in a promising State |url=https://www.wargamer.com/victoria-3/preview |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=Wargamer |language=en-US}}

| genre = Grand strategy{{Cite web |last=Fahey |first=Mike |date=2021-05-21 |title=Paradox Finally Announces Grand Strategy Sequel Victoria 3 |url=https://kotaku.com/paradox-finally-announces-grand-strategy-sequel-victori-1846943627 |access-date=2021-12-12 |website=Kotaku |language=en-us}}

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer{{Cite web |title=Victoria 3 on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/529340/Victoria_3/ |access-date=2021-12-12 |website=Steam |language=en}}

| arcade system =

| director = Martin "Wiz" Anward

| producer =

| designer = Mikael Andersson{{Cite interview |last=Andersson |first=Mikael |interviewer=Matt Wales |title=Paradox on the revival of its long-dormant society builder series in Victoria 3 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-05-21-paradox-on-the-revival-of-its-long-dormant-society-builder-series-victoria-3 |date=2021-05-21}}

| programmer =

| artist =

| writer =

| composer =

}}

Victoria 3 is a 2022 grand strategy video game developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. It is a sequel to the 2010 game Victoria II and was released on 25 October 2022.

Gameplay

Victoria 3 spans world history leading up to, during and following its namesake, the Victorian Era, from 1836 to 1936, and allows the player to control any one of over 100 countries that existed during that time period.{{Cite web|last=Hafer|first=Leana|date=2021-05-21|title=Paradox Reveals Victoria 3, A Long-Awaited Sequel To a Grand Strategy Series|url=https://sea.ign.com/news/172287/paradox-reveals-victoria-3-a-long-awaited-sequel-to-a-grand-strategy-series|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-26|website=IGN Southeast Asia|language=en-sg|archive-date=1 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601073157/https://sea.ign.com/news/172287/paradox-reveals-victoria-3-a-long-awaited-sequel-to-a-grand-strategy-series}}{{Cite web|last=Gurwin|first=Gabe|date=May 21, 2021|title=Victoria 3 Officially Announced A Decade After Previous Game|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/victoria-3-officially-announced-a-decade-after-previous-game/1100-6491771/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-30|website=GameSpot|language=en-US|archive-date=1 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601043548/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/victoria-3-officially-announced-a-decade-after-previous-game/1100-6491771/}} The game, however, does not allow players to control all regions in the game, as many of these are made up of what the game calls "decentralized nations", that typically represent regions inhabited by tribes lacking a central government.{{Cite web|title=Decentralized nation|url=https://vic3.paradoxwikis.com/Decentralized_nation|url-status=live|access-date=2024-08-19|website=Paradox Wikis|language=en-US|archive-date=4 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804153544/https://vic3.paradoxwikis.com/Decentralized_nation}}

The game focuses on politics, demographics and economic development, with gameplay focusing on appealing to and appeasing interest groups, who represent various social groups with different ideologies.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/victoria-3-will-let-you-conquer-the-world-from-the-negotiating-table/ |title=Victoria 3 will let you conquer the world from the negotiating table |last=Brown |first=Fraser |publisher=PCGamer |date=May 21, 2021 |website= |access-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-date=21 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521220756/https://www.pcgamer.com/victoria-3-will-let-you-conquer-the-world-from-the-negotiating-table/ |url-status=live }}

Another system in the game is Diplomatic Plays, which borrows heavily from Victoria II{{'s}} crisis system. When attempting to force other countries to concede land or open markets, players will present a target country with a demand detailing what they desire, which will result in the target country having the opportunity to demand concessions from the aggressor. Following this exchange of demands, a timer will begin counting down as both sides have a chance to mobilize troops and attract potential allies by offering spoils or obligations. If no diplomatic resolution is reached before the timer runs out, war will be declared. Designer Mikael Andersson explained that this system was designed with the intent to tone down the role of warfare by making diplomacy equally as capable.{{Cite web|title=Victoria 3, diplomatic plays, and the art of war|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/victoria-3/diplomatic-plays-warfare|last=Robinson |first=Joe|access-date=2021-05-30|website=PCGamesN|date=27 May 2021 |language=en-GB|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603064023/https://www.pcgamesn.com/victoria-3/diplomatic-plays-warfare|url-status=live}} The aforementioned decentralized nations, however, cannot be targeted by diplomatic plays and are primarily interacted with via colonization, which slowly absorbs the decentralized into the colonizing nation.

Development

In the lead up to the game's announcement, Victoria 3 was seen as a meme by the Paradox fanbase due to players constantly asking about it, only to be ignored, with many joking that it would never see a release or that any mention of the number 'three' from an official Paradox source meant that the game was on the way.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/will-paradox-make-victoria-3-confirmed|title=It's a meme, but Crusader Kings 3 is why it's time to talk about Victoria 3|website=PCGamesN|last1=Robinson|first1=Joe|date=May 26, 2020|accessdate=May 21, 2021|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521233525/https://www.pcgamesn.com/will-paradox-make-victoria-3-confirmed|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Fraser|date=2021-05-21|title=Paradox has finally caved to the demands for Victoria 3|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/paradox-has-finally-caved-to-the-demands-for-victoria-3/|access-date=2021-05-30|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603112342/https://www.pcgamer.com/paradox-has-finally-caved-to-the-demands-for-victoria-3/|url-status=live}}

Martin "Wiz" Anward served as director of the game's development.{{Cite web|title=Victoria 3 - Dev Diary #0|url=https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/victoria-3-dev-diary-0.1475078/|access-date=2021-05-22|website=Paradox Interactive Forums|date=21 May 2021 |language=en-US|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522133954/https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/victoria-3-dev-diary-0.1475078/|url-status=live}} In April 2022, a beta version of the game was leaked online.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-14 |title=Paradox Interactive's Victoria 3 Has Been Leaked |url=https://gamerant.com/victoria-3-full-game-leak/ |access-date=2022-04-18 |website=Game Rant |language=en-US}}

=Downloadable content=

{{Timeline of release years

| title = DLC timeline

| 2023a = Voice of the People

| 2023b = Colossus of the South

| 2024a = Sphere of Influence

| 2024b = Pivot of Empire

| 2025a = Charters of Commerce

| 2025b = National Awakening

| 2025c = Iberian Twilight

}}

class="wikitable"

! Name

! Accompanying patch

! Type

! Release Date

! Description

Voice of the People

|1.3
"Thé à la menthe"

|Immersion Pack

|22 May 2023

|Voice of the People introduces the "historical agitators" system and overhauls France with new mechanics and decisions based on its history.{{Cite web|title=Victoria 3 DLC Voice of the People promises political crises in May|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/victoria-3/dlc-voice-of-the-people|website=PCGamesN|date=20 April 2023|language=en-GB}}

Colossus of the South

|1.5
"Chimarrão"

|Region Pack

|14 November 2023

|Colossus of the South adds unique events and mechanics related to South America.{{Cite web|title=New Victoria 3 DLC is coming, and some players get it free|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/victoria-3/colossus-of-the-south|website=PCGamesN|date=25 October 2023|language=en-GB}}

Sphere of Influence

|1.7
"Kahwah"

|Expansion

|24 June 2024

|Sphere of Influence increases the depth and immersion of the diplomatic game with a focus on the formation of power blocs that protect regional interests, investments in foreign economies, and interference in the politics of subjects.{{Cite news|title=Victoria 3's latest DLC adds a whole bunch of historical figures including Lenin, who'll agitate for a bit of revolution|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/victoria-3s-latest-dlc-adds-a-whole-bunch-of-historical-figures-including-lenin-wholl-agitate-for-a-bit-of-revolution/|website=PCGamesN|date=22 May 2023|language=en-GB|last1=Stanton|first1=Rich}}

Pivot of Empire

|1.8
"Masala Chai"

|Immersion Pack

|21 November 2024

|Pivot of Empire focuses on the Indian subcontinent and the events following years of discrimination and suppression by the East India Company.{{Cite web|title=New Victoria 3 DLC takes you to India, alongside the free 1.8 update|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/victoria-3/pivot-of-empire|website=PCGamesN|date=22 October 2024|language=en-GB}}

Charters of Commerce

|1.9
"Lady Grey"

|Mechanics Pack

|17 June 2025

|{{cn|date=May 2025}}

National Awakening

|{{tba}}

|Immersion Pack

|Q3 2025

|{{cn|date=May 2025}}

Iberian Twilight

|{{tba}}

|Immersion Pack

|Q4 2025

|{{cn|date=May 2025}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 83/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/victoria-3/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Victoria 3 for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=October 31, 2022}}

| EuroG = Recommended{{Cite news |last=Lane |first=Rick |date=2022-10-24 |title=Victoria 3 review - gripping grand strategy fuelled by a powerhouse economic simulation |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/victoria-3-review-gripping-grand-strategy-fuelled-by-a-powerhouse-economic-simulation |access-date=2022-10-31}}

| PCGUS = 84/100{{Cite web |last=Bolding |first=Jonathan |date=2022-10-24 |title=Victoria 3 review |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/victoria-3-review/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=PCGamer |language=en}}

| IGN = 8/10{{Cite web |last=Hafer |first=Leana |date=2022-10-24 |title=Victoria 3 Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/victoria-3-review |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=IGN |language=en}}

| Destruct = 9.5/10{{Cite web |last=Marzano |first=Anthony |date=24 October 2022 |title=Review: Victoria 3 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-victoria-3-pc-paradox-interactive-strategy/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=Destructoid |language=en-CA}}

| PCGN = 8/10{{Cite web |last=Boudreau |first=Ian |date=24 October 2022 |title=Victoria 3 review – a golden tomorrow |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/victoria-3/review |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-GB}}

}}

Victoria 3 received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic.

Destructoid enjoyed the new tutorial, feeling it intuitively taught players game mechanics and "nearly all concepts that you [would] come into contact with during your time in Victoria".

PC Gamer praised the new economic systems, saying it led players to use real world strategies, and adding: "You can run a deficit for a few years, then build up a reserve, or nearly bankrupt yourself fighting world wars before entering years of austere recovery".

IGN criticized Victoria 3{{'s}} new war mechanics, stating: "I respect Victoria 3's decision not to focus on war [...] But that doesn't change the fact that armed conflicts can be very fiddly and confusing".

PCGamesN, among other things, liked the overhauled colonialization system, stating: "Victoria 3{{'s}} colonisable regions are controlled by indigenous people [...] it allows for colonised people to be granted independence and then played as a sovereign nation for the rest of the game".

Eurogamer felt the economic mechanics stopped players from hoarding too much money, making the later game more interesting. They wrote: "Economies in Victoria 3 are based upon the gold standard, and if your gold stockpiles are too high, it devalues your currency. Hence, you need to find ways to either spend or temporarily lose money, such as increasing construction, reducing taxes, or getting involved in a nice, expensive war".

Kotaku disliked the economic micromanagement, saying "it also started to get a bit dull once the routine of Victoria 3 set in".{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Victoria 3: The Kotaku Review |url=https://kotaku.com/victoria-3-review-paradox-pc-kotaku-impressions-verdict-1849669988 |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}

= Accolades =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!Year

!Award

!Category

!Result

!Ref

2022

|The Game Awards

|Best Sim/Strategy Game

|{{Nominated}}

|{{Cite web |title=Best Sim / Strategy |url=https://thegameawards.com/nominees/best-sim-strategy |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=The Game Awards}}

2022

|The Steam Awards

|Best Game You Suck At

|{{nominated}}

|{{Cite web |title=The Steam Awards |url=https://store.steampowered.com/steamawards#BestGameYouSuckAt |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Steam |language=en}}