How to enable Ironman mode in Europa Universalis 5

How to Enable Ironman Mode in Europa Universalis 5

Europa Universalis 5’s Ironman mode is designed for players seeking the ultimate test of skill and patience. This mode disables manual saving, limits reloading, and forces every decision to count. Once activated, every success feels truly earned, and every mistake carries real consequences. For long-time Paradox fans, Ironman mode transforms the strategy experience into a true test of endurance.

Read on to learn more about enabling Ironman mode and ensuring it works properly.

Steps to Activate Ironman Mode in Europa Universalis 5

From the main menu, select the Single Player option.
When the nation selection screen opens, look toward the top-right side of the screen.
You’ll see a small settings button next to the world map; click it to open the game settings panel.
At the top of this panel, locate the iron glove icon that represents Ironman mode.
Make sure you’re playing under the Choose Any Nation setup. If you are in a tutorial or scenario mission, the Ironman option will appear inactive.
Click directly on the glove icon until it glows gold, indicating that Ironman mode is now active.

Once enabled, the game will automatically save your progress every month and remove manual save options, locking your playthrough into a single timeline. From this point on, every action and consequence becomes permanent, making each decision truly matter.

Common Ironman Mode Issues to Keep in Mind

If you notice that achievements aren’t unlocking even with Ironman turned on, try restarting the game and starting a new save file. This often resolves the issue.

Also, ensure that:

You are playing in single-player mode.
No mods or debug tools are active.
Your game files are unmodified.
You are not switching from tutorial or custom rule setups, as these can cause problems.

Remember, achievements only work in clean, default Ironman campaigns. You cannot use custom rules or turn Ironman off midway through your campaign. Once enabled, you are committed for the entire run.