Europe Divided is a game of an expansionist Europe, a resurgent Russia, and a new Cold War, taking place over two periods: 1992-2008 (European Expansion) and 2008-2019 (Russian Resurgence). You control of one of the two powers: Europe (controlling both NATO and the European Union) or Russia, managing manage conflicts of political and military influence.

Europe Divided is rich with history and includes today's potential flashpoints, but it features a quick-playing card-driven core mechanism. Players use cards associated with countries they control to establish political and military influence, gain money, and build and deploy their military presence. Players score victory points by having dominant influence in contested countries in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus. The player with the most victory points at the end of the two periods wins.