Paradox Tinto is calling on the community to nominate Europa Universalis V for a specific honor in this year's Steam Awards: the "Best Game you Suck at" category. The nomination window is currently open and closes strictly on December 1, 2025, at 10 AM Pacific.
Embracing the Learning Curve
If you have spent any time with the newly released Europa Universalis V since its launch earlier this month, you likely understand why the developers are targeting this specific award. The franchise has always been defined by its notorious learning curve—often described more as a cliff—and the fifth installment is no exception.
This category celebrates games that punish mistakes but reward persistence. In EUV, a single diplomatic misstep can trigger a coalition war that undoes fifty years of progress, while misunderstanding the new trade simulation mechanics can bankrupt an empire in a decade. Paradox isn't hiding from this difficulty; they are leaning into it as a core pillar of the experience.
Why does this category matter for strategy players?
For the grand strategy community, sucking at a game is usually the first step toward mastering it. The "Best Game you Suck at" award acknowledges that the initial hours of failure are necessary to understand the deep systems at play. Whether it is managing internal stability or navigating the revamped combat width mechanics, the satisfaction comes from eventually overcoming the systems that initially crushed you.
Players wishing to support the title have until the December 1st deadline to cast their nominations on Steam. Given the game's depth and the sheer number of failed campaigns reported since launch, it feels like a fitting contender.