Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game

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Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is a single player and multiplayer real-time strategy game with a historical theme. It was developed by Martin Ivanov and was released on April 8, 2011. It received positive reviews from players.

Darkest Hour is a grand strategy wargame focusing on World War II. Players can lead any nation involved in the conflict, managing politics, economy, and military forces. The game features a detailed combat system, diplomacy, and historical events, providing a realistic and immersive wartime experience.

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Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game screenshot

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,119 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Darkest Hour offers a deep and intricate grand strategy experience, allowing players to rewrite history through various scenarios from WWI to the Cold War.
The game has a robust modding community, with popular mods like Kaiserreich and Total Realism Project that significantly enhance gameplay and replayability.
The mechanics of military management, technology research, and diplomatic decisions provide a rewarding challenge for players who enjoy strategic depth.

The user interface can be clunky and overwhelming for new players, making the learning curve steep and potentially frustrating.
Some players experience technical issues, such as crashes or compatibility problems with modern operating systems, which can hinder gameplay.
The game can feel historically rigid at times, with scripted events that limit player agency and force certain outcomes, reducing the sandbox experience.

gameplay
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
7%
The gameplay of "Darkest Hour" is praised for its depth and complexity, offering a sophisticated blend of real-time strategy and turn-based management that demands strategic planning and foresight. While the mechanics may feel dated and present a steep learning curve for newcomers, the game's historical fidelity and extensive modding community enhance its replayability and overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding UI and certain mechanics, many players find it to be a standout title in the grand strategy genre, particularly for fans of historical military simulation.
- “The game’s scope is monumental, encompassing a broad range of nations, military units, political systems, and diplomatic intricacies, all woven into a complex web of interconnected mechanics that demand careful planning and strategic foresight.”
- “An astounding amount of depth and possibilities will keep the game fresh for many, many hours of gameplay.”
- “Very deep political gameplay and a complex military system makes this game incredibly enticing.”
- “The research system requires a lot of unnecessary clicking, there are no battle plans so keeping up a decent front line is very difficult, and on top of that there aren't very many resources out there for help with the game's systems and mechanics.”
- “For someone who has never played this game before and is unfamiliar with the mechanics, the game can be quite daunting and has a steep learning curve.”
- “I'm a stubborn person, so I tried the same scenarios several times, trying to make some optimal decisions to enable me to gain the upper hand, but the game just keeps blocking any progress I make by its punishing mechanics, limiting diplomacy and disruptive random events.”
graphics
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
77%
7%
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, with a utilitarian design that prioritizes functionality over aesthetics. While some players appreciate the historical accuracy and clarity of the visuals, others note that the graphics may not meet modern standards, with occasional glitches and a simplistic 2D style. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose well for gameplay, but those seeking cutting-edge visuals may be disappointed.
- “The graphics are utilitarian but effective, with detailed maps and unit representations that serve their purpose well.”
- “Crisp and colorful as they are already, you can easily enhance them with one of the easily accessible graphics packs.”
- “This is the definitive version of Hearts of Iron 2 -- widescreen high resolution graphics being the big bonus.”
- “The only downside is the outdated and sometimes unappealing graphics, especially of the world map.”
- “Graphics are very dated, especially sprites, but aren't core to gameplay.”
- “A lot to learn at first but you will get better at playing... graphics may be nothing to write home about but the experience is still great.”
replayability
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
10%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its extensive mod support, including popular options like Kaiserreich and Total Realism Project, which allow for diverse scenarios and alternate histories. Players appreciate the variety of battle scenarios, customizable gameplay, and the ability to play as any country, contributing to an almost infinite replay value. Overall, it is highly regarded for its engaging mechanics and the depth of content that keeps players returning for more.
- “The game also introduces a variety of scenarios, alternate history options, and mod support, which significantly extend its replayability.”
- “It's extremely replayable; there are tons of mods which turn the game into an always different masterpiece. You can extend the game timeline, play in an alternate timeline where the Central Powers won WW1 (Kaiserreich mod), or add realism and plausibility to your WW2 scenario with the Total Realism Project.”
- “There is almost endless replayability value, and I have not even completed a full campaign as all of the major powers yet, even with 400+ hours invested.”
- “It makes the time go from 1914 to 1991... I can't begin to tell how much replayability that adds, especially because it's so well made that it has a bazillion of events and connects all the timeline together very historically and nicely (if you want).”
- “From landing on Normandy to get a foothold in France or invading the United States to force them to surrender, this game has plenty of replayability.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The story aspect of the game is largely driven by emergent storytelling, allowing players to create their own narratives through gameplay, particularly with historical and ahistorical events. While some players find the built-in story lacking or unengaging, others appreciate the depth and replayability offered by the unique stories that unfold during their campaigns. Overall, the game's strategic elements and soundtrack enhance the storytelling experience, making it a significant draw for many players.
- “The thing that keeps me playing is the story, or the story you build during your playthrough, with a great soundtrack, historical and ahistorical events you can find hours of replayability.”
- “Emergent storytelling that Paradox is known for.”
- “A story of the rise and fall of communist America using the grand campaign mod (highly recommend) the game is pretty much unplayable in my opinion without it because you can truly see the meat of Darkest Hour with it.”
- “The intelligence system is poorly designed; using it manually is frustrating as you have to open the intelligence tab every few minutes. Relying on the AI often leads to failure, resulting in more losses than gains.”
- “The story is essentially non-existent, leaving players to create their own narratives, which can be a hit or miss depending on the gameplay experience.”
- “Without the grand campaign mod, the game feels nearly unplayable, as it lacks the depth and engaging storytelling that enhances the overall experience.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its immersive quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly through modding. While some players appreciate the historical accuracy and emotional depth of the soundtrack, others criticize the sound settings for being too loud or difficult to adjust. Overall, the music is seen as a significant factor in the game's replayability and enjoyment, with some players rating it highly.
- “You will be surprised how modders have expanded the atmosphere, especially the music to be more immersive than you ever thought possible.”
- “Sound design complements the gameplay, with period-appropriate music and sound effects that evoke the tense atmosphere of wartime.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and the gameplay offers a deeper experience.”
- “The game looks great (it's a map), plays great (it's just clicking a bunch of buttons), and sounds... well, it's either too loud or too quiet. You can't lower the sound of the music or anything like that; you can either completely close the sound or keep it on. If you want to lower it, you'll have to lower your entire PC's sound, which is a problem. I doubt anyone would play this for hours with headphones on; I usually open a YouTube video and listen to it while I play, and you should do the same.”
- “Hoi3 has way better UI and music.”
- “The music in this game makes you want to invade Poland.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it can be tedious, especially when managing multiple divisions and armies, the game's fine-grained control and streamlined mechanics help alleviate some of the frustration. Unlike other titles in the genre, it balances complexity and accessibility, making the grinding feel more manageable and rewarding in the context of its accurate WW1 simulation. Overall, while some tedium exists, it is generally viewed as preferable to the more cumbersome systems of previous games.
- “War is tedious and slow.”
- “It's smooth and easy to control your nation, albeit a bit tedious when you have to deploy a lot of divisions and split armies.”
- “It may be tedious, but trust me, it's better than playing the game incompetently for several months like I did.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with improvements for modern hardware allowing for higher resolutions and stable gameplay. However, some players report occasional bugs and performance issues, particularly when using mods or on certain operating systems like Windows 8, which can lead to lag. Overall, while the game offers a superior experience compared to its predecessor, performance can vary based on individual setups.
- “Gameplay is identical to the original HOI2 Complete, and it is indeed a superior version, as the engine has been optimized for modern hardware, and you can play at any resolution instead of 1024x768.”
- “Darkest Hour is not necessarily the best HOI game on its own out of the box, but it has the best combination of gameplay, engine, and performance for making a Hearts of Iron game where gameplay actually matters beyond waiting for allies to win or entering an ahistorical mess where nothing happens without you, and that's what a couple of mod makers have done.”
- “All optimized for modern PCs and higher resolution monitors.”
- “Horrible performance, and I can't find a fix.”
- “This game brings back the old HOI2 formula, redoes it into its own glory but it's very laggy and can be irritating. I don't think it lags because of the game being unoptimized; I think it lags because of Windows 8. I've tried multiple things to try to fix the lag, and nothing works. It's a great game if you can get past the lag; some may be turned off because of it.”
- “Technical stability is generally good, though some players may encounter occasional bugs or performance hiccups, especially when using extensive mods or custom scenarios.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is praised for its cleverness and diversity, drawing comparisons to the wit found in titles like Victoria 2 and the political satire of Europa Universalis 4. Players enjoy the ability to rewrite history in absurd and comedic scenarios, such as a communist Germany during World War II, adding a layer of unexpected hilarity to the gameplay.
- “One of the most diverse Paradox games ever, with the wit, humor, and monarchies of Victoria 2, the political system of Europa Universalis IV, and the gameplay of Hearts of Iron IV.”
- “Rewrite history in hilarious and unexpected ways - WWII communist Germany?”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is inconsistent, with some users reporting it fails to run on certain Windows 11 systems and experiencing significant bugs and glitches. While the graphics are generally praised, the presence of these issues detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration during troubleshooting attempts.
- “The game doesn't run on some Windows 11 systems (like mine) from the get-go, and troubleshooting is too much trouble.”
- “The game is too complex and buggy.”
- “There are some ugly glitches here and there.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by modders, particularly through immersive music and sound design that captures the tense ambiance of wartime. Users appreciate how these elements work together to create a more engaging and authentic experience.
- “You will be surprised how modders have expanded the atmosphere, especially the music, to be more immersive than you ever thought possible.”
- “You will be surprised how modders have expanded the atmosphere, especially the music to be more immersive than you ever thought possible.”
- “Sound design complements the gameplay, with period-appropriate music and sound effects that evoke the tense atmosphere of wartime.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be highly emotional, highlighting its particularly impactful ending as one of the most compelling they've experienced.
- “This was actually pretty emotional.”
- “Has one of the most emotionally compelling game endings I've ever seen.”

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178h Median play time

333h Average play time

5-700h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is a real-time strategy game with historical theme.

Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is available on PC, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 333 hours playing Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game.

Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game was released on April 8, 2011.

Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game was developed by Martin Ivanov.

Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Hearts of Iron III, Hearts of Iron 2 Complete, Arsenal of Democracy, Supreme Ruler, Making History: The Great War and others.

Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game

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