Europa Universalis II vs Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition

A full spec-by-spec comparison of Europa Universalis II vs Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition — engine, performance, dimensions, features and price, with the differences highlighted to help you decide.

Specification Europa Universalis II Paradox Interactive Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition Frictional Games
Overview
Release Date December 10, 2001 January 23, 2009
Availability Released Released
Age Rating Everyone —
Developer Paradox Development Studio Frictional Games
Publisher Paradox Interactive Frictional Games
Official Site — http://www.penumbragame.com/
Gameplay
Genre Strategy Action, Adventure, Indie
Game Modes Single-player, Multiplayer Single-player, Multiplayer
Average Playtime 1 hours 2 hours
Perspective — First-person
Platforms & Pricing
Platforms PC PC, Apple Macintosh, Linux
Available On GOG Steam
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: Windows 2000/XP Processor: 1Ghz Memory: 256MB Graphics: Radeon 8500/GeForce 3 (GeForce4MX not supported)
Critic & Community Scores
Community Rating 2.6 / 5 (32 ratings) 3.9 / 5 (124 ratings)
Metacritic — 78 / 100

Europa Universalis II vs Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition: which should you buy?

Europa Universalis II offers a richer strategy experience with multiple modes and extensive historical depth. Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition is an excellent choice for fans of first-person horror games, providing a strong narrative and gameplay experience. Given the differences in power requirements (EU2 requires less), features (EU2 has multiplayer, EU2's playtime is shorter but can be longer with mods), and practicality (EU2 is more widely available on GOG while Penumbra is only on Steam), the choice depends on your gaming needs and preferences. For a richer strategy experience, choose Europa Universalis II; for horror fans, Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition stands out.

Frequently asked questions

Which game requires less power?

Europa Universalis II has lower minimum system requirements compared to Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition.

Who should get Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition?

Fans of first-person horror games will enjoy Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition more than Europa Universalis II, which is better suited for strategy enthusiasts.

Which game has a higher community rating?

Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition has a higher community rating with 3.9/5 compared to Europa Universalis II's 2.6/5.

Where can I find both games, EU2 and Penumbra?

Europa Universalis II is available on GOG, while Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition is only available on Steam.