What Is Europa Barbarorum?

Updated

Europa Barbarorum is the official site for Europa Barbarorum II (EB II), a free, unofficial total conversion mod for Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms. If you already own that base game and want a historically grounded strategy campaign set in the Hellenistic world of 272 BC, this site is where you download it and find installation instructions. It is a fan project, not a commercial product, and it is not affiliated with the developers of the base game.

What the site offers

The homepage is built around a small number of practical entry points:

  • About the project — what EB II is and how it relates to its predecessor
  • Download v2.4a — the current release linked from the page
  • Installation instructions — the steps needed to get the mod running
  • Critical reception — references to reviews and acclaim

There is no store, account system, or pricing shown on the page. The download is presented as the main action.

What Europa Barbarorum II actually is

EB II is a total conversion of Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms. That means it does not add a few units or factions to the existing game — it rebuilds the campaign around a different era, map, factions, and atmosphere using the Medieval II engine.

The setting is 272 BC, on the eve of the Second Syrian War and the First Punic War. The page frames the campaign through the successor conflicts after Alexander:

  • Syria — Seleukids and Ptolemaioi contesting the borderlands with phalanxes and war elephants
  • Greece — Pyrrhos of Epeiros marching on Argos while Antigonos Gonatas schemes to reclaim Makedonia, with the Hellenic League resisting Macedonian rule
  • The west — Rome expanding across Italy and looking toward Sicily, where Carthage holds the balance
  • Gaul and central Europe — the Aedui, Arverni, and Boii competing among hill-forts and sacred groves
  • Beyond the Rhine — the Sweboz and Lugiones
  • The lower Danube — the Getai
  • Iberia — the Lusitani and Arevaci using guerrilla tactics
  • Anatolia — smaller kingdoms such as Pergamon

This is a broad, multi-front ancient-world sandbox rather than a single-theatre campaign.

Relationship to the original Europa Barbarorum

EB II is the successor to the Europa Barbarorum mod for Rome: Total War, but it is a distinct project built from the ground up by a new team. It inherits the same emphasis on historical authenticity and period atmosphere, while using the Medieval II engine for improved visuals, gameplay depth, mechanics, and immersion. If you played the Rome version, expect the same design philosophy rather than a direct port.

Who it is for

EB II suits players who:

  • Already own Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms
  • Want a slower, history-focused campaign rather than a fast arcade experience
  • Care about period detail in factions, units, and setting
  • Are comfortable installing a mod manually

It is less suited to players looking for a standalone game — the base title is required — or for anyone who wants a quick, low-commitment download.

Getting started

  1. Go to europabarbarorum.com.
  2. Open the download v2.4a link.
  3. Follow the site's installation instructions for your copy of Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms.

The page does not state system requirements, file sizes, or platform-specific caveats, so check the installation instructions and any linked release notes before you begin. Because this is a fan-made total conversion, expect the usual mod considerations: a clean base install, correct patch level, and patience if something needs troubleshooting.