There are a variety of games like Victoria II that let you lead a country through historical times as they offer you great, complex mechanics to immerse you in the role of a true leader. They let you make crucial decisions as you develop your country and negotiate with other countries all over the world in immersive gameplay.

In this historical grand strategy game, Victoria II sends you back into the colonial era of the 19th century as you choose to lead one of over 200 countries all the way to the beginning of WWII. Victoria II features an in-depth economy system that includes over 50 types of goods that you can make use of and even cottage production that is supposed to replicate pre-industrial economies. With an advanced technological system, you get plenty of different ways to improve your country and become the leading country in innovation.

Your actions do not only affect your relations with countries all over the world, but they even elicit a reaction from your own population. They can react in various ways, be it based on their social class or the political ideology they side with. You can view how much of the population is doing a specific job, and the population can even rebel against the government.

Overall, if you haven’t already played, Victoria II is a great sequel that improves upon the first and manages to stand out well on its own compared to other games in its genre. With the game’s in-depth systems, you get plenty of freedom to create your own history with any country. It’s a lot of fun progressing your way through industrialization and going on a military conquest, establishing colonies and reforming your country. If you’ve already proved your tactical masterclass in this game, then check out this list of detailed, atmospheric games like Victoria II.