Europa Universalis II vs Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth
A full spec-by-spec comparison of Europa Universalis II vs Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth — engine, performance, dimensions, features and price, with the differences highlighted to help you decide.
| Specification | Europa Universalis II Paradox Interactive | Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth 2K Games, Aspyr |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Release Date | December 10, 2001 | October 23, 2014 |
| Availability | Released | Released |
| Age Rating | Everyone | — |
| Developer | Paradox Development Studio | Aspyr Media, Firaxis |
| Publisher | Paradox Interactive | 2K Games, Aspyr |
| Official Site | — | http://www.civilization.com/ |
| Gameplay | ||
| Genre | Strategy | Strategy |
| Game Modes | Single-player, Multiplayer | Single-player, Multiplayer |
| Average Playtime | 1 hours | 10 hours |
| 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® Vista SP2/ Windows® 7 Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 64 2.0 GHz Memory: 2 GB RAM Graphics: 256 MB ATI HD3650 or better, 256 MB nVidia 8800 GT or better, or Intel HD 3000 or better integrated graphics DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 8 GB available space Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c‐compatible sound card Additional Notes: Other Requirements: Initial installation requires one-time Internet connection for Steam authentication; software installations required (included with the game) include Steam Client, Microsoft Visual C++2012 Runtime Libraries and Microsoft DirectX. |
| Recommended Requirements | — | OS: Windows® Vista SP2 / Windows® 7 Processor: 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: AMD HD5000 series or better (or ATI R9 series for Mantle support), nVidia GT400 series or better, or Intel IvyBridge or better integrated graphics DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 8 GB available space Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c‐compatible sound card Additional Notes: DirectX: DirectX version 11, or Mantle (with supported video card) |
| Critic & Community Scores | ||
| Community Rating | 2.6 / 5 (32 ratings) | 3.6 / 5 (284 ratings) |
| Metacritic | — | 81 / 100 |
Europa Universalis II vs Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth: which should you buy?
For those looking for a classic strategy game with a long history and a relatively low learning curve, Europa Universalis II might be the better choice. Its simplicity makes it accessible to new players while still offering depth through its extensive historical settings. In terms of power requirements, Europa Universalis II has more modest hardware needs compared to Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth, which demands higher specs for optimal performance. However, both games are available on Steam and GOG, making them easily accessible.
Frequently asked questions
Which game is cheaper?
Europa Universalis II can be purchased from GOG with a lower price point compared to Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth on Steam.
Which game requires less powerful hardware?
Europa Universalis II has more modest hardware requirements, making it easier for older or less powerful PCs to run without significant performance issues.
Is one better suited for daily commuting than the other?
Europa Universalis II is simpler and quicker to play, which might make it a better choice for commuters who want to enjoy a game in their free time without dedicating too much of their commute.
Which game has more community ratings?
Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth has more community ratings with an average score of 3.6/5, compared to Europa Universalis II's score of 2.6/5.