Skip to main content
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete Game Cover

About

Hearts of Iron 2 Complete is a single player and multiplayer strategy game with a historical theme. It was developed by Paradox Development Studio and was released on January 23, 2009. It received positive reviews from players.

"Hearts of Iron 2 Complete" is a strategy war game set in the period of World Wars II and III. As the leader of one of 175 countries, players must navigate diplomacy, production, and combat in a detailed and realistic gameworld. With a new political system, historical scenarios, and various battle options, this game offers a complex and engaging experience for fans of strategic warfare.

Skip User Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 596 reviews
gameplay4 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions

  • Hearts of Iron II offers a captivating journey through WWII with its strategic depth and historical accuracy, making it a classic in the grand strategy genre.
  • The game provides virtually infinite replayability, allowing players to explore various 'what if' scenarios and control any nation from 1936 to 1964.
  • Despite its age, many players find the game to be engaging and enjoyable, often preferring it over its sequels due to its balance of complexity and accessibility.
  • The game is prone to frequent crashes, especially on modern operating systems, making it frustrating for players trying to enjoy the experience.
  • The AI can behave inconsistently, leading to situations where it performs actions that seem impossible for a human player, detracting from the overall challenge.
  • The tutorial is inadequate, and the interface can be clunky, making it difficult for new players to learn the mechanics without significant trial and error.
  • gameplay
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is described as fun and simple yet retains interest even after extensive playtime, featuring mechanical depth and complexity. While players can quickly acclimate to the mechanics, some find the gameplay too familiar, especially if they have experience with previous titles in the series. The tutorial is extensive but insufficient, requiring players to learn many mechanics through trial and error, and while newer games introduce improved features, some aspects have been criticized for being poorly executed.

    • “Fun, simple, and yet still interesting after 10 hours of gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is hard and innovative.”
    • “It does not take long for you to get accustomed to the gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay feels too familiar to be entirely pleasing, especially if you've spent much of the past year running roughshod over Hitler or slapping around Stalin in the compulsively playable (well, once you ascended past the cliff-like learning curve) original game.”
    • “Newer HOI games present different mechanics, especially the fourth volume - and while some features of the game were improved, others were messed up badly.”
    • “The tutorial, though extensive, does not cover even half of the game's mechanics (you'll have to learn the other half through trial and error).”
  • graphics
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated and basic, with some users noting vibrant colors but also mentioning glitches and a lack of freshness in the visuals. While the aesthetics may evoke nostalgia for some, they may not appeal to players accustomed to modern graphics; however, modding options are available to enhance the experience. Overall, the graphics are functional but not impressive, with some users suggesting that even minimal hardware can run the game.

    • “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colours, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
    • “This game brings back many memories, but nowadays if you are not adjusted to the older graphics, I recommend the new ones.”
    • “The graphics of the game are very simple, but the easy-to-install mods that are available will certainly improve your experience.”
    • “The visuals are very basic and rigid, obviously.”
    • “However, the graphics are outdated, and you may encounter some unexpected crashes.”
    • “This game brings back many memories, but nowadays if you are not accustomed to the older graphics, I recommend the new ones.”
  • replayability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, particularly in comparison to its predecessors, with many users highlighting the extensive options available through over 175 playable nations. However, some criticisms are directed at specific versions, notably HOI3 and HOI4, which are seen as having lower replayability due to their flawed systems.

    • “Loads of replayability and much easier to get to grips with than HOI3.”
    • “Good balance and replayability.”
    • “3 is idiotic, and 4 has a wonky game system and has low replayability.”
    • “I think hoi2 has such odd replayability to it.”
    • “+ extensive replayability (over 175 playable nations)”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features vibrant graphics but is marred by numerous bugs and glitches, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, others may be put off by the instability and slow start.

    • “This game is really buggy, but if you don't mind the bugs and the slow start to the game, get it.”
    • “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
    • “Game glitches cause Argentina to randomly surrender to fascist Brazil, and I make them my puppet.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the balance in province sizes, which allows for engaging manual control without the tedium often associated with similar games like HOI3. The design facilitates strategic maneuvers such as encirclements while leveraging terrain and weather, making the grinding aspect feel more rewarding and less monotonous.

  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the mode is highly praised, as it significantly enhances the performance of HOI2 Armageddon while incorporating various bug fixes from both the 1.3 patch and subsequent updates by the DH development team. Overall, users appreciate the improvements made to the game's performance and stability.

    • “That mode is basically optimized (performance-wise) HOI2 Armageddon with additional bug fixes (both from the 1.3 patch and the ones developed later by the DH dev team).”
  • music
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the expansion maintains the high quality typical of Paradox games, though some players find it shrill and reminiscent of the original game's sound design. Overall, it complements the visuals and atmosphere, despite the fixed resolution being seen as a limitation.

    • “The music is of the usual high Paradox quality, and the sounds and graphics do what little is needed.”
    • “The look and feel of the expansion match the original game right down to the shrill musical score and the lame fixed resolution of 1024x768.”
    • “The music is of the usual high Paradox quality, but the sounds and graphics do what little is needed.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players report a strong emotional satisfaction from overcoming challenges in the game, highlighting a sense of achievement and fulfillment upon conquering obstacles.

    • “It made me feel good when I conquered it all.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find humor in the unexpected and absurd outcomes of their gameplay, such as historical inaccuracies like French tanks invading Berlin in 1941 due to supply issues. These amusing scenarios contribute to a lighthearted experience, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the game.

    • “I have also had games that failed equally hilariously, such as when French tanks rolled into Berlin in 1941 because my spearhead into Belgium was put out of supply and destroyed in May 1940 as Germany.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is heavily influenced by a palpable Cold War tension, enhanced by elements of intelligence and espionage that immerse players in a sense of intrigue and suspense.

    • “The game brilliantly captures the cold war atmosphere, immersing players in a tense and suspenseful environment.”
    • “The atmosphere is enhanced by the intelligence mechanics, making every decision feel impactful in this cold war setting.”
    • “The chilling ambiance and attention to detail create a truly authentic cold war experience.”
    • “Intelligence further adds to the cold war atmosphere.”
  • story
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story revolves around the challenges of using sleeper spies in deep cover, highlighting the limitations of unreliable intelligence and the inability to execute significant missions, such as acquiring crucial technology blueprints. This narrative element emphasizes the risks and consequences of espionage in a high-stakes environment.

Skip Game Offers

Buy Hearts of Iron 2 Complete

40h Median play time
34h Average play time
10-52h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Hearts of Iron 2 Complete

Games Like Hearts of Iron 2 Complete

Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game ImageDarkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game ImageDarkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game Image
Hearts of Iron III Image
Arsenal of Democracy ImageArsenal of Democracy ImageArsenal of Democracy Image
Supreme Ruler Ultimate Image
Making History II: The War of the World Image
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Hearts of Iron 2 Complete is a strategy game with historical theme.

Hearts of Iron 2 Complete is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 34 hours playing Hearts of Iron 2 Complete.

Hearts of Iron 2 Complete was released on January 23, 2009.

Hearts of Iron 2 Complete was developed by Paradox Development Studio.

Hearts of Iron 2 Complete has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

Hearts of Iron 2 Complete is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game, Hearts of Iron III, Arsenal of Democracy, Supreme Ruler Ultimate, Making History II: The War of the World and others.