There are a handful of games out there that you can spend a thousand hours on and say that each playthrough was different from the last. Some of those come from Paradox Interactive owing to their grand strategy offerings. Now, you can get your hands on these titles via Humble Bundle’s newest package featuring the developer. Of note are ridiculously affordable deals for Europa Universalis IV, Magicka 2, Age of Wonders III, and Crusader Kings II. For the last one, you can actually get it for just one dollar!
Crusader Kings 2: A character’s family tree.
“Pay What You Want” Tier
For the “pay what you want” (PWYW) tier, you can spend as low as $1 to grab these goodies:
- Crusader Kings II – the grand strategy plus role-playing hybrid that’s been one of Paradox Interactive’s most successful titles
- Magicka 2 – wizards battling monsters and other spellcasters featuring co-op play
- Darkest Hour – made by Hearts of Iron modders which eventually became a full-fledged game; spans World War I until the Cold War
- Age of Wonders II – a fantasy 4X game with a dash of role-playing
Magicka 2: Spell duels.
“Pay More Than The Average” Tier
Paying more than the average ($5.56 as of this writing) will net you the following games and DLC, including those from the previous tier:
- Age of Wonders III – the next game in the series which, undoubtedly, has superior visuals and presentation compared to its predecessor
- Crusader Kings II – a massive expansion/DLC for the base game that’s widely touted as the best one of all time
- Europa Universalis IV – if Crusader Kings II wasn’t enough to sate your grand strategy appetite, then managing a massive globe from the fall of Byzantium all the way to the Napoleonic Era just might
Europa Universalis IV’s map… and that’s just barely half of it.
The Top Tier
The top tier in Humble Bundles usually offers some fairly expensive games along with titles from the previous tiers. You’ll only need to pay $12 to avail of the following:
- Age of Wonders III: Deluxe Edition DLC – adds the game’s soundtrack along with the Dragon’s Throne scenario
- Magicka 2: Deluxe Edition DLC – the DLC package includes the warlord and cultist robe sets, a digital interactive map, and the game’s soundtrack
- Europa Universalis IV: El Dorado – this expansion fleshes out the religions of Mesoamerican cultures; also provides new events and decisions for European explorers once they reach the New World such as searching for the Seven Cities of Gold and sending gold fleets
- Steel Division: Normandy 44 – an RTS that lets you take control of troops, tanks, and other vehicles as you storm the beaches of France
Steel Division: The rolling hills and fields of France.
The Best Deal
You can’t go wrong with this bundle at all if you’re a strategy fan or someone who’d like to give the genre a try. Be forewarned that some games might be a tad bit complicated, but a little patience goes a long way.
As for the best deal, the “pay more than the average” tier gives you thousands of hours of gameplay for a measly few bucks. Europa Universalis IV alone lets you control hundreds of nations that existed at any point within the game’s timeframe.
Now, since you’ve already obtained Crusader Kings II from the previous tier, then the Old Gods expansion actually adds a large chunk of content. That’s because it allows you to play as Pagan rulers as well as gives you an earlier start date. The 867 A.D. start date is one of the most dynamic ones in history with Vikings invading Britain, and the rest of Christendom (Europe) assailed from all sides.
To top it all off, you’ve got two Age of Wonders games, Darkest Hour, and Magicka 2. What’s not to like? If you’re interested in checking out the latest Humble Bundle, you can visit the official website here.
