I've been playing some Victoria 2 lately, coop as the UK with a buddy (shared nation). I feel like this works very well, because it allows us to learn various systems of the game without being overwhelmed, and the UK is a great nation to play as given its global presence (global presence means global conflicts!)
The early parts of the game was mostly spreading our influence. Our colonization efforts started with increasing the landmass of Canada. However, the US also seemed to have an interest in Alberta, and this eventually led to a war where we kicked the Americans out of Canada. Realizing that the US needed to know its place, we proceeded to ally with Mexico and to strengthen its industry, as well as Colombia (to threaten the southern border of the US-allied USCA, and for the eventual Panama canal).
Meanwhile in Europe, our influence (already in Greece) spread to Sweden and the Netherlands, as well as the few still independant German states that both the Northern German Federation and Austria are vying for attention. We are also buttering up to Egypt.
Things go sour fast as the Ottoman decide they want a piece of Egypt. Allied with them, of course, is Russia. Thus begins the first global-scale war of the game. The two major fronts are in India (where Russia invades on a large scale), and Egypt (where's it's mainly Ottoman vs a desperate outnumbered UK defense, while we're shuffling over new units from Europe, and eventually India when we finally fend off the Russians). Meanwhile, Russian Alaska invades British Colombia, so we have to divert some troops to fight in Canada as well.
Fortunately, our diplomacy up to now has been on point, so our allies join the fight. Sweden invading Russia from the NW (or at least tying up a good number of their units before getting beaten up), and the Netherlands help invading and distracting the Ottomans. Unfortunately, the US takes this opportunity to invade Mexico, but we are so tied up that we cannot do anything. Sorry Mexico! Eventually, years later, both sides are exhausted, drained of manpower. Neither can gain a decisive victory, and so we resign ourselves to sign a status-quo peace.
Years of unsettling peace ensue. Learning from the previous war, we increase our diplomatic ties with Persia and Afghanistan to create a greater buffer btw India and Russia. Having finally the technology, we build the Suez canal. We also build the Panama canal, but not before having our embassy banned and our reputation in Colombia tarnished by the French and the US. We only succeed in building the canal because the two powers were too busy being at each other's throat to be able to do anything against my return to power there.
But all is not well. There is a movement of Polish independence in Russia, gaining enough momentum to become a world crisis. Giving Poland its own country is noble enough, but the main point is cutting Russia down to size, so we support the Polish cause. To our dismay, France supports the Russians. The Northern German Federation has the wisdom to side with us, which leds its rival Austria immediately towards the other side. Only Belgium remains neutral, but we lure it to our cause by promising to humiliate Russia. Of course, while this happens, the US invades Mexico AGAIN!
And so, the next large-scale war is set, though this time the stage will be mostly set in mainland Europe....