Victoria 3 spans world history from 1836 to 1936 and allows the player to control any one of over 100 countries that existed during that time period.[7][8]
The game focuses on politics and demographics, with gameplay focusing on appealing to and appeasing interest groups. Interest groups possess a variety of interests with different ideologies that the player deals with.[7][9]
Another system in the game is Diplomatic Plays, which borrows heavily from Victoria II's crisis system. When attempting to force other countries to concede land or open markets, players will present a target country with a demand detailing what they desire, which will result in the target country having the opportunity to demand concessions from the aggressor. Following this exchange of demands, a timer will begin counting down as both sides have a chance to mobilize troops and attract potential allies by offering spoils or obligations. If no diplomatic resolution is reached before the timer runs out, war will be declared.[7] Designer Mikael Andersson explained that this system was designed with the intent to tone down the role of warfare by making diplomacy equally as capable.[10]
In the lead up to the game's announcement, Victoria 3 was seen as a meme by the Paradox fanbase due to players constantly asking about it, only to be ignored, with many joking that it would never see a release or that any mention of the number 'three' from an official Paradox source meant that the game was on the way.[11][9][12]
Martin "Wiz" Anward served as director of the game's development.[2] In April 2022, a beta version of the game was leaked online.[13]
Sphere of Influence increases the depth and immersion of the diplomatic game with a focus on the formation of power blocs that protect regional interests, investments in foreign economies, and interference in the politics of subjects.[16]
Victoria 3 received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic.[17]
Destructoid enjoyed the new tutorial, feeling it intuitively taught players game mechanics and "nearly all concepts that you [would] come into contact with during your time in Victoria".[21]
PC Gamer praised the new economic systems, saying it led players to use real world strategies, and adding: "You can run a deficit for a few years, then build up a reserve, or nearly bankrupt yourself fighting world wars before entering years of austere recovery".[19]
IGN criticized Victoria 3's new war mechanics, stating: "I respect Victoria 3's decision not to focus on war [...] But that doesn't change the fact that armed conflicts can be very fiddly and confusing".[20]
PCGamesN, among other things, liked the overhauled colonialization system, stating: "Victoria 3's colonisable regions are controlled by indigenous people [...] it allows for colonised people to be granted independence and then played as a sovereign nation for the rest of the game".[22]
Eurogamer felt the economic mechanics stopped players from hoarding too much money, making the later game more interesting. They wrote: "Economies in Victoria 3 are based upon the gold standard, and if your gold stockpiles are too high, it devalues your currency. Hence, you need to find ways to either spend or temporarily lose money, such as increasing construction, reducing taxes, or getting involved in a nice, expensive war".[18]
Kotaku disliked the economic micromanagement, saying "it also started to get a bit dull once the routine of Victoria 3 set in".[23]
