Which Countries Are Most Beginner-Friendly In Europa Universalis 5?

Even for fans of grand strategy games on the whole, Europa Universalis 5 can prove a bit challenges with its layers and layers of depth. Even with tactful use of automation, you’ll still have a lot to consider when establishing a new country and trying to usher it through the ages into prosperity.

Thankfully, EU5 selects a handful of countries that are good for beginners that will help you get started with the deep-dive of governmental content in the game. Choose one of these starter countries based on what kind of gameplay you’re looking for, and help it to grow.

Holland

One of the recommended starter countries in EU5 for the Economy Mission Trees, Holland is a great choice if you’re looking to corner the trade markets and expand both your territory and your economy. The County of Holland has been juggled between the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of France for ages, and the Historical Context in the Agenda tells you it’s up to you to decide if you’re going to integrate or claim independence.

You’ll be dealing with squabbles between your nobility and your burghers in the marketplaces, and you’ll also start the game with no real allies to speak of, either. Your first ruler, Count Guillaume the Third Avesnes is ruling a country with a decent Legitimacy and moderate Balance to start, and he’s a competent but aging ruler.

It’s not long into trying to pursue the Economy Missions, even out the Pops that require Goods at the start, and strengthen your growing nation’s place in the Brugge Market that you’ll assume control of his son, Heir Guillaume Avesnes. He’s married but without children, and his Administrative and Diplomacy scores are nowhere near his father’s.

The Ottomans

One of the most notorious expansionist countries, Europa Universalis 5 recommends you start playing as the Ottomans if you’re looking to pursue the Expansion Mission Trees, declaring war and claiming lands to expand the empire and establish what will become the Ottoman Empire and eventually the country of Turkey.

Your Ottomans are comprised of some of the strongest warlords, the Beyliks, and you’ll start the game playing as Osmanoglu Gazi Orhan Bey. He’s on a mission to establish himself as the strongest of them all, and part of that might just mean declaring war on and conquering neighboring territories in an effort to expand.

Naples

Another of the recommended starting countries for beginners in EU5 who are on a mission to establish a strong country with their Politics Mission Tree goals, Naples has a pretty stable ruler in Robert the Wise Anjou. Their king is beginning to get up there in age, though, and while Neapolitan alliances are strong at the beginning of the game, losing King Robert may spell political turbulence down the line.

Though you’ll be doing quite a bit of economical work with all the trade routes you’re establishing throughout Italy and with your subjects in nearby Greece, politics is the main mission for Naples. You’ll immediately need to learn to deal with your Union, with Provence, Prato, and Mondovi trying to leave, but smooth Diplomacy here may say your Union yet.

There are plenty of ways Italy can develop throughout the centuries in EU5, and playing as Naples will put your geopolitical decisions at the very forefront of the Mediterranean stage,

Portugal

Though the game doesn’t list Portugal as one of its recommended starter countries, we’ve found it to be a fairly secure choice, especially for newcomers to the series who may need some time to adjust to the depth of the mechanics in EU5. You’ll need to bolster your leader, Afonso the Fourth, in his Diplomatic efforts early on, but if you learn to play nice, you’ll be in good shape.

While you’ve got the Crown of Castile looming just to the East, they’re your only land border to speak of, meaning your Pops are pretty secure for the beginning of the game. You’ll encounter some headbutting with Castile as they establish Spain and try to claim the whole of the Iberian Peninsula, but keeping on good terms with them should abate this for the most part, at least until you can build up your military a bit.

Ashigaka Shogunate

If you’d rather break from tradition and play as a country outside of Europe to begin Europa Universalis 5, you’ll have plenty of options across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. A strong choice if you’re looking to explore the various political aspects of infighting within a country that comes to define its history just as much as country battles, the Ashikaga Shogunate in what eventually becomes known as Japan is a good choice.

There’s a lot of territory to mind in the Ashikaga Shogunate, and your first ruler has more military prowess than he does Admin or Diplomacy, so it’s up to you how the fate of the Japanese Shogunate plays out from here.

England

If you know anything about England’s expansionist history throughout the centuries you’ll play in EU5, you’ll know they’re something of a force to be reckoned with when it comes to growing their empire. The old saying was that “the sun never sets on the British Empire,” with so many lands conquered around the world, so if you’re looking to explore the whole of the map before long, England might be a good bet.

The trick with England, though, is that you’ll almost immediately be plunged into the Hundred Years’ War with the nearby Kingdom of France, with the two crowns disputing who has the right to rule the Duchy of Aquitaine. You’ll need to think several steps ahead to try winning this Situational conflict as England, though, as France is a bit overpowered at the beginning of a new campaign in 1337.

It’s not just France you’ll be eyeing in the early days of the game as England, though, what with Scotland and Wales eventually making up the United Kingdom if you play your Diplomacy cards right for the end phases of the game. Just how much of the historical British Empire can you conquer?

Norway

Despite the recommendation from the game as being one of the easier starting countries, you’ve got a bit of work cut out for you if you’re looking to play as Norway in EU5, since the Kingdom starts off with a ruler nobody takes seriously: 20 year-old Magnus the Seventh, whose father is marked as having died when he was only a year old. Magnus himself is a tolerant ruler whose architectural visions can help lead Norway to greatness in the coming centuries.

With so much water between the Kingdom of Norway and most of the other European kingdoms, you’ll have the breathing room to get started on picking up the mechanics of the game before you venture into the country’s desire to pursue the Politics Mission Trees. With so many Scandinavian countries having some kind of relation, it’s no wonder Norway wants to become a political powerhouse.

Hungary

Though his stats at the beginning of a new campaign as Hungary are relatively middling, EU5 tells you that King Anjou Károly of the Ottomans, a recommended starting country, has only just finished reminding the Nobles of their place and restored Hungarian faith. He’s the father of six children, giving you plenty of space to expand your Kingdom through personal unions by securing heirs to other lands.

One of the most powerful territories in the region, the Kingdom of Hungary is potentially one of the strongest, richest empires you can choose to play with at the start of Europa Universalis 5. You’ll enjoy a powerful number of Ducats behind the crown and a Strength score to keep you safe – for now. You’ll start with decent military power to keep you protected, which might be for the best, given how strong some of your neighbors end up becoming.

There’s a rise in rebellion happening within the country that you’ll need to handle, but a ruler as famously tough shouldn’t have a problem doing the same reining-in thing twice for the sake of his country. You’ll be on a mission to establish strong trade routes, keep the peace among your people but remind them who really holds the power, and help Hungary thrive in perpetuity.

Castile

One of the benefits of beginning Europa Universalis 5 as the Kingdom of Castile is that you’re going to be largely left alone for the first century or so of your rule, as your direct neighbors occupy themselves almost immediately with the battles of the Hundred Years’ War. With only Portugal to worry about to the West, Castile has a strong vantage point if you’re looking to start off both strong and safe.

You’ll focus quite a lot on establishing the country of Spain and conquering the Iberian Peninsula early on in this recommended starting country for EU5, giving you an easy leg up in the country’s Expansion Mission Tree goals. From there, you’ll want to form up your navies as best you can and set off in search of conquering the New World as soon as you can.

Thankfully, you’ll be playing as a pretty competent ruler early on, with Afonso the Fourth having high Military stats and pretty good scores in both Admin and Diplomacy. You’ll encounter some familial troubles early on, but don’t let your personal affairs detract you from the goal to explore and conquer the world.

Systems

Released

November 4, 2025

Developer(s)

Paradox Tinto

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