Valkyria Chronicles - The Europan War – A Look at a Prequel Focused on the First Europan War

Originally written in the previous iteration of this blog April 25, 2011.
Updated: March 30, 2025

The Valkyria Chronicles franchise has always captivated players with its unique blend of tactical warfare, emotional storytelling, and historical-inspired setting. While the series has explored the fallout of the Second Europan War in depth, I’ve often wondered what a prequel set during the First Europan War could look like. This idea isn’t new to my readers—I’ve mentioned before how a game set during this early conflict could be fascinating, especially if it explored the transition from old-world technology to the introduction of new, groundbreaking war machines, like tanks.

The First Europan War, a pivotal event in the Valkyria Chronicles universe, was primarily caused by friction between the East Europan Imperial Alliance and the Federation over Ragnite resources. As the demand for Ragnite surged during the Industrial Revolution, the two great powers of Europa found themselves locked in a struggle for dominance. The assassination of the Empire’s crown prince in the early 20th century escalated these tensions, eventually leading to an all-out war.

Despite the Imperial forces employing their newly developed tanks, the war quickly descended into the horrors of trench warfare. A ceasefire was eventually signed, but the exhausted powers left the battlefield without a true resolution. This is where the potential for a Valkyria Chronicles prequel begins to excite me.

Imagine experiencing the first conflict as it unfolds, with a focus on the unique challenges of warfare in an era where tanks, those titanic machines of war, were only just beginning to make their mark. The game could delve into the brutal nature of trench combat, with infantry and cavalry facing off against the clunky but powerful new tanks. It would be a fantastic way to explore the transition from traditional warfare to the mechanized future of battle, offering a fresh perspective on the familiar tactical gameplay that Valkyria Chronicles is known for.

In addition to the mechanical innovation, there’s also the rich potential for deep storytelling. Valkyria Chronicles has always excelled at weaving character-driven narratives into the larger conflict, and a prequel set during the First Europan War could explore the personal stakes behind the great powers’ struggles. How would soldiers adapt to the new technology? How would they react to the horrors of war that were unlike anything they’d experienced before? These are questions that a prequel could explore, adding layers to the world-building and character development that the series is renowned for.

Despite the appeal of such a concept, it’s always been a bit surprising to me that the developers chose to explore civil war themes in Valkyria Chronicles 2 and revisited the events of the Second Europan War in Valkyria Chronicles 3, rather than taking the opportunity to explore the conflict that preceded it. The First Europan War offers a fascinating backdrop that could have added new dimensions to the series’ already rich lore, particularly in terms of the technological and political shifts of the era.

One potential downside of any prequel is that we would already know how some of the major characters’ fates unfold. For example, Belgen Gunther, the brilliant Gallian general, survives the war, although at a cost - his wife dies during the conflict and shortly thereafter his close friend and colleague Theimer. Knowing these outcomes might diminish the suspense for players who are already familiar with these characters’ destinies. It would be a challenge to balance the compelling storytelling with the foreknowledge of certain character arcs, which could affect the emotional stakes for some.

Although we haven’t receive a Valkyria Chronicles prequel set during the First Europan War, there’s still hope that the franchise could one day explore this untapped period. Europa’s world is vast, offering much more to discover, especially in relation to its earlier conflicts. Valkyria Chronicles 4 gives us a glimpse of this, offering the perspective of the Europan Federation, albeit it unfolds against the backdrop of the Second Europan War.

Whether through an official game or within the expanded universe, the First Europan War remains a fascinating chapter in the Valkyria Chronicles lore that I still hope to see explored.

For now, the existing titles — Valkyria Chronicles 1, 3, and 4 — continue to deliver engaging narratives set during the Second Europan War. But I can’t help but wonder what could have been if the series had delved into the origins of the conflict and the rise of the technology that would go on to define future generations of warfare.