Europa Universalis II vs Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
A full spec-by-spec comparison of Europa Universalis II vs Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor — engine, performance, dimensions, features and price, with the differences highlighted to help you decide.
| Specification | Europa Universalis II Paradox Interactive | Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Feral Interactive, Warner Bros. Interactive |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Release Date | December 10, 2001 | September 30, 2014 |
| Availability | Released | Released |
| Age Rating | Everyone | Mature |
| Developer | Paradox Development Studio | Feral Interactive, Monolith Productions |
| Publisher | Paradox Interactive | Feral Interactive, Warner Bros. Interactive |
| Official Site | — | http://www.shadowofmordor.com |
| Gameplay | ||
| Genre | Strategy | Action, RPG |
| Game Modes | Single-player, Multiplayer | Single-player |
| Average Playtime | 1 hours | 13 hours |
| Perspective | — | Third-person |
| Platforms & Pricing | ||
| Platforms | PC | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Apple Macintosh, Linux |
| Available On | GOG | GOG, Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Xbox 360 Store, App Store |
| PC Requirements | ||
| Minimum Requirements | Windows XP / Vista/ 7 / 8 / 101.8 GHz Processor, 1 GB RAM,3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 9.0cMouse, Keyboard. | OS: 64-bit: Vista SP2, Win 7 SP1, Win 8.1 Processor: Intel Core i5-750, 2.67 GHz | AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4 GHz Memory: 3 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 | AMD Radeon HD 5850 DirectX: Version 11 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 44 GB available space |
| Recommended Requirements | — | OS: 64-bit: Win 7 SP1, Win 8.1 Processor: Intel Core i7-3770, 3.4 GHz | AMD FX-8350, 4.0 GHz Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 | AMD Radeon HD 7950 DirectX: Version 11 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 57 GB available space |
| Critic & Community Scores | ||
| Community Rating | 2.6 / 5 (32 ratings) | 3.9 / 5 (2,554 ratings) |
| Metacritic | — | 85 / 100 |
Europa Universalis II vs Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor: which should you buy?
For a Filipino buyer seeking a budget-friendly, accessible strategy experience, Europa Universalis II is the better choice. At 1.8 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM, and DirectX 9.0c graphics, it runs on any PC from Windows XP to 10, making it highly practical even on older hardware. It is only 1 hour long to complete, with single-player and multiplayer modes, but no third-person perspective or action elements. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, while offering a 13-hour action RPG experience on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Mac, and Linux with a Metacritic score of 85, requires a minimum of 3 GB RAM and 44 GB of storage, and is priced via Steam, GOG, PlayStation, Xbox, and App Store—suggesting higher costs. It also has a third-person perspective and stronger graphics, but needs a 64-bit OS and more system resources. Europa Universalis II wins on affordability, broad compatibility, and simplicity, while Shadow of Mordor excels in depth and visuals but at a higher cost and complexity. For those with strong hardware and preference for immersive action, Shadow of Mordor is superior; for budget-conscious players needing easy setup and shorter play sessions, Europa Universalis II is the clear pick.