Therefore, it is not enough to simply raise the assets needed to conscript an infantry the player must maintain a vital economy to support his or her soldiers as they continue to serve. Another difference is that units in Cossacks draw resources as long as they serve the player's empire. One innovation introduced by this game is a factor that makes certain structures increasingly expensive as more of them are produced, for example thus discouraging the player from filling his or her land with one certain type of defensive building. Although this basic formula is found in many existing strategy games, Cossacks: European Wars employs subtle nuances that are designed to make its gameplay a unique experience. Players need to manage several different kinds of resources to build stable economies and militaries that rely on diversity to balance the particular strengths and weaknesses of individual buildings and unit types. As in the extremely popular Age of Empires or the contemporarily released Fate of the Dragon, Cossacks is set in a historically accurate past, in this case featuring civilizations and technologies based on those of the European Renaissance.

At first glance, Cossacks: European Wars looks similar to other successful 'third generation' 2D real time strategy games.

Maps cossacks european wars