Paradox has dabbled in various game styles over the years, predominantly focusing on grand strategy titles that let players dominate in a real-world-like setting. However, the studio’s initial endeavors were characterized by a pursuit of acclaim in alternative genres, resulting in notable failures.

Andersson reflects on Paradox’s earlier work, specifically mentioning Valhalla Chronicles, which he deemed a disastrous experiment. “If you want to laugh, Google Valhalla Chronicles. We had the best comment ever on that one: ‘bugs, many and diverse, some more interesting than the gameplay,’” he stated in an interview.

This attempt at a Baldur’s Gate-inspired RPG ultimately fell short, failing to captivate audiences or deliver a polished experience. According to Andersson, the team juggled multiple projects simultaneously, which contributed to the game’s shortcomings. Despite the missteps that defined those early years, the studio has since evolved into a powerhouse in strategic gameplay, achieving significant improvement and recognition in the gaming industry.

‘We did a lot of games with a small team of like five, six people for the first, like 10 years,’ Andersson reflected on the studio’s rapid growth and eventual classification as a grand strategy powerhouse.