Europa Universalis 4 has a huge variety of different countries to play as thanks to its many years of support and updates, but some fun nations are locked behind vassal release, while others aren't present in the game at all. Thanks to Project Caesar's brand-new start date, which is around a century earlier than EU4's, the map looks very different.
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This all-new start date means that some countries, which were only present as cores, as well as countries that didn't even make it that far, are now available for players to play from the very start of the game. Here are ten new or more freely available nations revealed by the Europa Universalis 5/Project Caesar dev diaries.
10 Vyatka
New Options In Russia
The polity of Vyatka wasn't absorbed into Muscovy, the country which would later become Russia, until the late 1400s - after the Europa Universalis 4 start date. But despite being attested historically, Vyatka doesn't exist in EU4. This little nation on Muscovy's eastern edge could have a lot of potential for players who want to play in the Russian region but want to do something a little different.
As yet, it's unclear just what advantages Vyatka may have, but that region of the world is one ripe for conquest, diplomacy, and colonization, so it's certain to offer a fun time for Europa Universalis 4.
9 Sutayids
Great Potential For Brand-New Stories
This short-lived nation present in Anatolia during the start date of wasn't available in EU4 thanks to its disappearance by the 1350s, but in EU5, players can attempt to combat the historical issues that prevented the Sutayids from establishing greater control over the region.
As one of the Ilkhanate's many breakway factions, the Sutayids are descended from the Mongols. Players can presumably choose to assimilate into Anatolian life - much like the historically successful Ottomans - or go in a different direction. A big part of the charm will be writing an entirely new history, something for which the Europa Universalis franchise is well-loved.
8 Chobanids
Short-Lived But Has Plenty Of Potential
Based in Azerbaijan, the Chobanids descend from a Mongol dynasty that found power in the region. Once subservient to the Ilkhanate, the Chobanids assumed de facto control over their region during the Ilkhanate's decline. This country wasn't present in EU4, giving players the opportunity to play a different kind of nation in the region.
Historically, the Chobanids didn't last very long, lasting for roughly twenty years right at the start date of EU5. But this gives players a really cool opportunity to chart a brand-new course for the region with a country that was barely a blip in the grand scheme of things.
7 Balliol
Scotland But Spicier
In 1337, Scotland was in a complicated situation where the kings didn't have control over the whole of the region. In the west, there was the semi-autonomous nation of The Isles, and in the south, there was Balliol. Balliol emerged through a period of tension and civil war, as Edward Balliol fancied his own claim to the Scottish throne.
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In Europa Universalis 5, players will have the chance to play as the breakaway part of Scotland and tell their own story. Whatever direction they decide to take, Balliol is certain to provide a great deal of fun.
6 Wales
A Chance To Avert Disaster
In this period of history, the country of Wales hadn't yet been formally absorbed legally into the Kingdom of England. So, in Europa Universalis 5, Wales exists as a semi-autonomous vassal of England. This period was a hugely contentious one for the late-medieval Welsh, characterized by rebellions within and without.
Although Wales was available to play in EU4 as a released vassal, the new start date allows Wales to flourish from the very beginning of the game while also presenting some new opportunities for growth. And with some historical wars just around the corner, the player will get to take Wales in whatever direction they choose.
5 Bulgaria
Bulgarian Dominance Is Possible
Bulgaria exists as a playable nation in EU4, but it has to be released as a vassal and misses out on a lot of fun achievements. In EU5, Bulgaria exists from the very start of the game, and it is in quite a strong position, too.
This Balkans country is a good size, especially in comparison to some of its competitors in the region. As such, it looks set to be a great base to conquer vast swathes of Europe and Western Asia should the player so desire.
4 Kyiv
Write A Brand-New History
Releasable as a vassal in EU4, Kyiv exists in EU5's 1337 start date. This gives the player so many different opportunities for great game play - does Kyiv look east, conquering the steppe, or does it look west, pushing into Europe?
Presumably, players of Kyiv will be able to form Ruthenia, which was a formable nation in EU4, giving players a more structured goal to follow. But Kyiv's placement at the crossroads of Europe gives players a lot of different options, which is why it's great that it is available at the start of the game.
3 Scania
Neither Swedish Nor Danish
Scania, a small country wedged between Sweden and Denmark - and an historically contentious strip of land between the two countries - exists and is playable in EU5's 1337 start date. Not only does this provide some nice strategic diplomatic play for Denmark and Sweden, but it gives players the chance to chart a whole new course for the Scandinavian region.
Although Scania looks like a difficult starting nation, the possibilities are endless. It allows players to pursue colonization, conquest, diplomacy, or trade, all with a country unavailable in EU4.
2 New Irish Minors
Ireland's Got A Brand-New Look
The new, much more granular map provides so many opportunities for new countries to be created. This is readily apparent in Ireland, which, in addition to the player-favorite countries from EU4, has a range of new countries for players to select and play.
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The conquest and unification of Ireland has never been so satisfying, as many of its provinces are countries at the game's start. This gives players a lot of scope for finding new strategies or building entirely new empires that weren't seen in Europa Universalis 4. It also provides much more scope for conquest by countries outside of Ireland.
1 New Holy Roman Empire Micronations
Ulm But Infinitely More Memeable
Conspicuous in its absence from the dev diaries, the Holy Roman Empire featured dozens - hundreds - of tiny states during the late medieval and early-Renaissance period.
So far, the devs have been incredibly cagey on the exact condition of the states in the Holy Roman Empire, but a recent Tinto Talks dev diary shows the HRE in all its messy, micronation glory. Well, most of its glory. The map still has the names of some countries obscured and doesn't show the usual political map mode players are used to. But it's clear there are going to be some new places to play.
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