Players of grand strategy games who want a better focus on politics and populations might want to give Victoria 3 a shot. Considered a sequel to Victoria 2, hit grand strategy devs from Paradox Development created Victoria 3 as a game to simulate the years 1836 to 1936, allowing players to navigate the century as one of more than 100 countries.
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What’s interesting about Victoria 3 is how there’s more focus on managing politics and population groups. This time, players need to manage various Diplomatic Plays to give more room for diplomatic actions with less emphasis on warfare. With the sheer potential for complexity across Victoria 3 gameplay, players might want to check on various Console Commands to maximize their strategies.
Accessing The Console
Before players deep dive into what the console does, it’s important to at least understand the intended use of the console command. In most games like Victoria 3, the Console Window is essentially a place where developers and testers can debug non-ironman games to hash things out that may have gotten wrong in a game. At its core, these games allow the Console Window to exist to quickly make changes to current sessions to test new parameters and even fix errors in a live format. Of course, being able to modify the game’s components also means a magic wand to make virtually anything happen, provided players know what things to input.
The Console Proper
As with most other titles and even 4X games with console commands, players can access the Console Window via the Tilde (~) key. Otherwise, players may also use Shift + Alt + C. Pressing Tab while typing may allow players to “complete” entries they have currently written based on the available commands with the same format.
Enabling/Disabling Debug Mode
While most games have some form of console window to enable players to modify aspects of gameplay, setups in Victoria 3 can be modified even further with the Debug Mode. This mode lets players get more in-depth with the changes they want to implement in the game. Whereas the Console Window is where they will type their commands, Debug Mode enables these commands to take place. Here are some things to consider:
- Players can toggle Debug Mode via Steam if they right-click the game, select Properties, and add “-debug mode” to the Launch Options
- Players can use Debug Mode via Windows if they open the “binaries” folder in the Victoria 3 directory, create a shortcut for the victoria3.exe program, selecting that shortcut’s Properties and adding “-debug_mode” at the end of the Target field.
Stats, Settings, Configurations
Players who want a more “standard” way of checking for errors in the game can try the traditional way of debugging the title’s many features. These commands can let players see stats, change camera positions, and input numerical values to things that don’t necessarily affect the overall gameplay of the current session, regardless of the chosen Victoria 3 civilizations.
These commands are the “true” purpose of the console - to control the game via its code instead of interfaces to check how certain things function and see how changes to variables can affect the overall presentation of the game with the hopes of correcting mistakes.
COMMAND | FUNCTION |
3dstats | See 3D stats |
3dstats.EnableGfxZoneStats | See 3D GFX Zone stats |
Application.ChangeResolution | Change the game resolution via the console |
Browser.OpenURL [<url>] | Open a URL via the browser through the console |
Camera.Debug | Get camera debug information |
Camera.Load | Load a camera position |
Camera.Save | Save a camera position |
Checksum.Log | Put the game state checksums to the current game log |
CrashReporter.DeleteCrashData | Delete local crash dumps older than a specific period |
CrashReporter.SimulateCrash | Simulate a crash, which then results in a game exit |
Debug.Achievements.Lock [<key>] | Lock all achievements once more |
Debug.Achievements.ResetAll | An alternate way of locking all achievements |
Debug.Achievements.ToggleDebug [<value>] | Put achievements in debug mode |
Debug.TextureMode [Name of debug mode] | Enable a texture for debugging purposes |
Dockables.Create [Dockable name] | Create a dockable |
Dockables.CreateUserLayout [Dockable layout name] | Generate a new user layout copy of the current layout with a new name |
Dockables.DeleteUserLayout [Dockable layout name] | Delete layout as a user layout |
Dockables.HideLayout | Hide revealed dockables |
Dockables.SaveUserLayout | Save the current layout as user layout |
Dockables.ShowLayout [Dockable layout name] | View an existing layout and hide the current one |
Dockables.ShowManager | Show the dockable layout manager |
GUI.AnimationTimeline.LogStats | Dump the stats of the GUI Animation Timeline system into the debug log |
GUI.ClearWidgets | Reset the dummy widget |
GUI.CreateDockable [File name] [Widget name] [Dockable id. If doesn't exist, it will be registered] | Create a dummy dockable widget |
GUI.CreateWidget | Create a dummy widget |
Localization.ToggleIncludeKeyInLocOutput | Include the loc key in the output of localization |
Localization.ToggleOnlyKeyInLocOutput | Show only the loc key in the output of localization |
Localization.ToggleSkipDataSystemInLocOutput | Don’t run the data system |
Log.ClearAll | Clear all the logs |
Log.ClearErrorLog | Reset error count |
Map.SavePNG [<map mode>] [<file name>] [<yes/no> Should render flat (optional)] | Save a map for a specific map mode in PNG format |
MapObjects.Debug | Print a map object information for debugging |
MapObjects.GenerateGameLocators [<type>] [<filename> (optional)] | Create locators for the map objects in the game |
MapObjects.Painter.AddPosition | Place a map object under the player’s cursor |
ModifierNode.Graph | Open a graph view of the tick tasks |
PopsFileStorage.Sync | Sync the POP File Storage |
Portrait.ClearCache | Clear the cache of portraits to fully reset them |
RandomLog | Toggle random logging |
Terrain.Regenerate | Regenerate the terrain bitmap |
Threading.TaskThreadCount [The number of task threads] | Get or set the number of task threads |
check_save | Check the consistency of loading and saving |
clearlines | Clear lines |
clearspawnedentities | Delete entities created by the “spawnentity” command |
coa_preview_window | Check the Coat of Arms Preview window |
compound_nodeeditor | Check the compound node editor |
crash | Force a game crash |
show_goals | Show the goals of the AI |
ai.debug [tag] | Release debug info for a country |
ai_evaluate_building [<building key> <state region key>] | Check the debug data for a specific state and building |
ai_evaluate_interest [<strategic region key>] | Check the debug data of the strategic region |
ai_evaluate_production_method [<building key> <pm key> <state region key>] | Check the debug data of a selected production method |
ai_evaluate_trade_route [<goods key> <country tag>] | Check the debug data of a selected country trade partner and selected goods |
callstack | Show the callstack |
Specific Debug Options
Players who want to go for full diagnostics may want to consider checking out various debug options that Victoria 3 gameplay offers. That way, players will be able to not just check for errors in the game, but even log information they find in order to send error reports or create more accurate assessments.
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These are the slate of commands that testers often use when diagnosing problems when playing a game, and players who want to get to know Victoria 3 on a more technical level beyond choosing the best nations and strategies may want to check these settings out.
COMMAND | FUNCTION |
date [date in format yyyy.mm.dd.hh] | Change the date |
observe | Observe the game |
debug_mode | Toggle debug mode |
debug_lens_option | Toggle the “debug_lens_option” cheat codedebug_mode |
debugcharacters | Create a logfile with all information on characters |
debugcountrybudgets | Check all information on countries and budgets |
debugemployment | Check data on a country’s employment |
debugmarkets | Check data on a country’s goods and markets |
debugpopconsumption | Check information on a population’s consumption |
debugpopwealth | Check the wealth of all populations |
debugstates | Check the information of all debug states |
Debug.Achievements.Unlock [<key>] | Unlock an achievement based on the key |
Graphics, Sound Adjustments
Players of the more artistically-inclined variety may be interested in adjusting some parts of the graphics and music of the game, especially when comparing Victoria 3 to other games like Civilization 6. Below are some of the commands that allow them to reload textures or even modify the active GFX skin into a custom preset. There are even options to play specific songs and even create their own audio events, allowing players of Victoria 3 to go in-depth on specific graphics and audio cues of commands they want to be more immersive with.
COMMAND | FUNCTION |
gfx.reloadtexture | Reload textures |
https://gfx.skin/ | Select the active GFX skin |
gfx.texture_limit | Select an MB (megabyte) limit to texture video memory usage |
Music.PauseFactor | Set the current pause_factor of the music |
Music.PlayTrack [<track name>] | Play a specific song |
Music.Reset | Reset music |
Music.StopTrack | Stop the current rack |
audio.cpu_info | Show the current CPU usage |
audio.list_events | Create an audio event |
audio.play_event [audio event] | Play an audio event |
entity_editor | Load the entity editor dockable |
map_editor | Open the map editor |
mapmode [mapmode] | Switch to a map mode |
Data Checking
Players who want a more technical way to tinker with the game without outright “cheating” may want to consider using the console commands below. These aren’t necessarily cheat commands per se compared to cheat codes in video games, but at least allow beginners of Victoria 3 to understand how decisions affect their country and the rest of the nations.
Rather, these commands can give players of Victoria 3 insights into the statuses of various elements of other countries that can help them make more informed decisions with their own gameplay. For the more hardcore fans of 4X titles, these commands can also give them a more statistical point of view when it comes to viewing and confirming just how certain nations are performing in the game.
COMMAND | FUNCTION |
tag [country_tag] | Switch control of another country |
find_unemployed | See all the unemployed in a population |
check_pollution_level [state region tag] | Show the pollution for a specified region |
create_building_history | Create a history of all buildings in the world |
create_pop_history | Create a file with a complete population history |
create_state_region_data | Create a list of all the states, regions, provinces, and their resources |
update_distribution | Create a list of garrison unit distribution |
update_employment | Update list of employees in buildings |
validate_employment | Check unemployment across states |
validate_income | Check countries with income deficits |
Control A Country
Sometimes, it may just be interesting for players to observe other civilizations in a 4X game just to see how they approach development over time in the match. However, it can be a bit boring for players to wait in anticipation as to how civilizations will adjust to their immediate environment. Thankfully, players who want a more direct approach to how the world affects their fellow contenders can do so with these specific commands.
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While also technically a way to “cheat” the game, these commands give players just as much control over other civilizations as their own. Although these controls don’t have an official interface, just being able to adjust civilizations on a whim can add a bit of challenge to the gamer’s playthrough. And for the curious observer, it would be interesting to see how the AI reacts to specific yet unexpected situations - especially for players who want to see how AI may avoid mistakes they always make in Victoria 3. It may also help to realize that CTRL + Click also works to control the country clicked, whereas CTRL + ALT + Click can control a selected state.
COMMAND | FUNCTION |
own [province id/state region tag] [country tag] | Change the owner of a country |
add_approval [interest group name] [amount] [time] | Add an approval-timed modifier to an interest group |
add_clout [interest group name] [amount] [time] | Adds or removes clout from an interest group via a timed modifier |
add_ideology [interest group name] [Ideology to add.] | Add an ideology to an interest group |
add_loyalists [culture] [amount] | Add loyalists to a culture depending on the population |
add_radicals [culture] [amount] | Add radicals to a culture based on a fraction of the population |
add_relations | Change country relations |
add_war_support [country_tag] [amount] | Change war support of country in all of their existing wars |
research | Acquire a research |
wagerate | Set the wage rate of a building |
change_law | Change a law |
changestatepop [state_id] [pop_type / all] [factor] | Change the population size |
escalate [<amount>] | Escalate diplomatic plays |
event [event name] [<country_tag/province_id>] | Execute an event |
ignore_government_support | Ignore government support |
enable_ai [all/tag] | Enable the AI |
disable_ai [all/tag] | Disable the AI |
ai.goal [tag] [goal type] | Check the goal of the system AI |
create_ai [self/all/tag] | Create an AI for a country |
create_country [country definition] [country type] [culture] [state id] | Create a country |
create_political_movement [<law type key>] | Create a political movement |
annex [<country tag/id>] | Annex a country |
annex_all | Annex all other countries |
conquerall [country tag] | Force all of an enemy’s provinces under the player’s control |
Adjacencies.Rebuild | Rebuild all adjacencies |
kill_character [character name] | Kill the specified character |
treatyport [<state region tag>] | Take treaty port in a specified region |
disable_pop_growth | Disable population growth cheat |
disable_retooling | Disable retooling cheat |
deiron | Disable Ironman mode |
norevolution | DIsable revolutions |
nosecession | Disable secessions |
skip_migration | Skip the migration process |
The Cheats
These commands are considered the most “cheat-like” in terms of what they’re capable of. Considered as the more straightforward and beneficial console commands, these inputs are quite similar to overpowered selections present when players tinker with the console in games such as The Elder Scrolls series or even The Sims.
Due to the sheer intensity of micromanagement in Victoria 3, these commands offer accessibility and convenience for players who want a smoother and more hassle-free ruling experience, be it through hacking their way to the best Victoria 3 army compositions or dominating the economics scene. Most of these commands speed up the progression of things in a Victoria 3 nation, most of which may take the span of several turns to complete. These can give players an unprecedented advantage in their sessions.
COMMAND | FUNCTION |
fastbuild | Create buildings much faster |
fastenact | Enact policies in an instant |
fasthire | Hire individuals faster |
fastinstitutions | Create institutions faster |
fastinterests | Speed up interests |
fastmobilize | Mobilize units faster |
fastresearch | Get research instantaneously |
fastrevolution | Finish revolutions instantly |
fastsecession | Conduct secessions instantly |
fasttravels | Travel to locations faster |
yesmen | All will agree to sway offers and diplomatic proposals |
cthulhu | Displays: ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn! |
Victoria 3 was released in 2022 for the PC, Linux, and macOS.
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