Originally Posted by
Atlanteax
Personally I would suggest Europa Universalis 3 over Crusader Kings 2.
The former is more nation-centric and covers 1399-1800s, so colonization and religion (within Christianity after 1500s, nvm Christianity vs Islam/etc) and trading plays a huge role in adding further dimensions to game-play. 5.2 was made official recently.
The later is more family-tree like where it is less about shaping a nation, and more true to feudalism and expanding land holdings across Europe (and limited to it).