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Hearts of Iron IV

Hearts of Iron 4’s detailed World War 2 sim makes it a contender for the title of ultimate armchair general game.
Hearts of Iron IV Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
optimization, grinding
91% User Score Based on 289,521 reviews
Critic Score 85%Based on 16 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCTabletCloudMac OSNVIDIA GeForce NOWWindows
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Hearts of Iron IV Game Cover

About

Hearts of Iron IV is a single player and multiplayer real-time strategy game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by Paradox Development Studio and was released on June 6, 2016. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Hearts of Iron IV is a grand strategy wargame that lets players command the world's most powerful war machine during World War II. Experience historical gameplay or create alternate histories as you manage industry, diplomacy, and battle plans to dominate the globe. Connect your Paradox and Steam accounts to access game book content through the mobile app.

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Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
Hearts of Iron IV screenshot
+5
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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 289,521 reviews
gameplay3.3k positive mentions
optimization294 negative mentions
  • The game offers a rich and immersive experience with intricate mechanics and a vibrant modding community, providing near-infinite replayability.
  • Players appreciate the dark humor and absurdity in alternate history scenarios, which adds a unique and entertaining twist to gameplay.
  • The atmosphere is immersive, with detailed historical representation, stunning visuals, and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The steep learning curve and overwhelming complexity can be daunting for newcomers, often leading to frustration without adequate tutorials or community support.
  • A significant portion of the game's content is locked behind expensive DLCs, leading to criticism regarding accessibility and perceived value for money.
  • The game suffers from optimization issues, particularly in late-game scenarios, resulting in lag and performance problems that detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay
    12,936 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Hearts of Iron IV* is characterized by its intricate mechanics and steep learning curve, making it both challenging and rewarding for players. While many find the depth of strategy and historical detail engaging, newcomers often struggle with the complexity and overwhelming number of systems to manage, particularly without the aid of extensive tutorials or community resources. Additionally, a significant portion of the game's mechanics and content is locked behind expensive DLCs, which has led to criticism regarding accessibility and value for money. Overall, the game offers a rich and immersive experience for those willing to invest the time to learn its systems, enhanced further by a vibrant modding community.

    • “I always keep coming back to this one because of the sheer amount of content and mechanics that all mesh together beautifully.”
    • “Overall, I’d say this game strikes the perfect balance between complexity and gameplay, making it accessible to players like me who can gradually master it while still having fun—something rare in the grand strategy genre.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are smooth and fun, offering a perfect mix of action, exploration, and strategy.”
    • “80% of my gameplay is just getting the easiest mode ever, choosing a country, waiting, getting an alliance with Germany, beginning a world war, getting stuck in a stalemate in Africa. By 1943, the game just becomes clicking next positions in the research tree, and thinking speed 5 is slow.”
    • “The sheer amount of menus, mechanics, and micromanagement looked like a nightmare.”
    • “The game is hugely bloated with largely pointless mechanics that serve little purpose other than overcomplicating things.”
  • graphics
    2,824 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of *Hearts of Iron IV* have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the game's clean and functional design that prioritizes clarity over flashiness. While some praise the stunning visuals and detailed maps that enhance immersion, others criticize the graphics as outdated or lacking depth, particularly in late-game scenarios where performance issues arise. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good for a grand strategy game, but they may not meet the expectations of players seeking cutting-edge visuals.

    • “The stunning visuals and immersive world design draw you in, while the engaging storyline keeps you hooked.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, with beautifully rendered landscapes and detailed unit models that bring the battles to life.”
    • “The graphics, while not the most cutting-edge in terms of hyper-realistic visuals, offer a striking and immersive world where every decision feels like it has real consequences.”
    • “Even though I tried many remedies such as setting a high priority task manager setting, lowering graphic settings, disabling real-time antivirus check, and such, it didn’t help with the matter that the game becomes unplayable after mid to late-1943.”
    • “There are hardly any graphics.”
    • “The graphics are so realistic, you'll swear you're actually in the middle of a real battle.”
  • replayability
    2,768 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Hearts of Iron IV is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many players noting that the game offers near-infinite replay value due to its extensive modding community and diverse national focus trees. Each playthrough can feel unique, allowing for various strategies and outcomes, especially when utilizing popular mods like Kaiserreich and Road to 56. While some players mention that the base game may lack replayability without mods or DLC, the overall consensus is that the game's depth and community support make it a must-play for strategy enthusiasts.

    • “The unlimited replayability that this game possesses is just phenomenal.”
    • “The level of detail is unmatched, with endless replayability thanks to its expansive modding community.”
    • “With almost 900 hours in the game, I've barely scratched the surface of the game's replayability.”
    • “Imho historical immersion is completely ruined in the vanilla game, and replayability has become extremely questionable with the AI's inability to put up a fight without the buffs it gets on higher difficulty levels - these basically serve to make some game mechanics ineffective against the AI, because it cannot deal with them anyway.”
    • “The worst part perhaps is their replayability, which is even worse if you don't own the nearly $200 worth of DLC to get all the trees.”
    • “The one downside of this game is the replay value is lower due because all of the nations have the same focuses.”
  • story
    2,280 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of "Hearts of Iron IV" is largely shaped by player choices and modding, with many reviews highlighting the lack of a structured narrative in the base game. While some players appreciate the freedom to create their own stories through gameplay and various mods, others criticize the game for its minimal storytelling and reliance on historical events without deeper engagement. Overall, the narrative experience is seen as more compelling when enhanced by community-created content, such as the "Kaiserreich" mod, which offers richer storylines and alternate historical scenarios.

    • “Nice game, love the story and character development of the main characters and the betrayal at the end is crazy.”
    • “The stunning visuals and immersive world design draw you in, while the engaging storyline keeps you hooked.”
    • “Each path of each country draws upon key historical events which tell a story that, while unlikely, is nothing less than improbable.”
    • “This reliance on DLC limits the storytelling experience in the base game, resulting in a score of 6/10 for narrative.”
    • “The bulk of the new content consists of clunky mission trees that in most regards don't even make sense for a WW2 game.”
    • “The base game is boring and I would not recommend if you want a story-driven playthrough.”
  • humor
    1,988 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Hearts of Iron IV" is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting its absurdity and dark comedic elements, particularly when engaging in alternate history scenarios. Many reviews mention the game's ability to create hilariously unexpected outcomes, especially when historical accuracy is turned off, leading to chaotic and funny situations. The modding community further enhances this humor, offering a variety of mods that add quirky and outrageous twists to gameplay, making it a source of endless laughter and entertainment for players.

    • “I was laughing and smiling so hard when I was playing and just spammed nukes on everything and every time I did it I yelled boom boom I felt invincible and awesome.”
    • “The best part of Hearts of Iron IV is the dark humor. I mean, what's funnier than watching millions of people die in gruesome ways while you sit there laughing your ass off?”
    • “This game is very funny, and mods make it so much more to do!”
    • “As you're nearly guaranteed to fall into an unavoidable existential crisis (lasting approximately 2-3 hours according to my research) because of the unfunny amount of mechanics the developers installed, all of which are awaiting for your ability to multi-task to randomly cease to exist!”
    • “It's actually not funny, don't know why I laughed.”
    • “Sorting fleets is so painful it's not funny.”
  • music
    1,282 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many players praising its immersive and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall gameplay experience. The soundtrack, particularly the contributions from the band Sabaton, is highlighted as a standout feature, although some users note that it can become repetitive over time. Additionally, there are concerns about the availability of music through DLCs, with some players feeling that essential tracks should be included in the base game rather than locked behind paywalls.

    • “The sound and music shine, with an epic soundtrack that captures the tension and grandeur of global conflict.”
    • “The soundtrack, though not the centerpiece of the game, sets the tone with somber, militaristic music that matches the historical era.”
    • “The music is fantastic, gives you Band of Brothers vibes.”
    • “The soundtrack of this game is not that special, like, at all.”
    • “It isn't bad to the point you'll mute the game, but it isn't good to the point you'll notice it or listen to the soundtrack outside of the game.”
    • “The only complaint that I really have is that the music is awfully repetitive, at least for my tastes.”
  • optimization
    1,116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, particularly regarding its performance in the late game, where many players experience severe lag and slowdowns, especially after 1942. Despite some improvements noted in recent updates, the game remains poorly optimized for both single-player and multiplayer experiences, often requiring high-end hardware to run smoothly. Overall, while the game offers engaging content, its optimization issues detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration among players.

    • “The game runs smoothly on mediocre hardware, even laptops with integrated graphics (provided you turn the visuals down a bit).”
    • “Additionally, the remarkable CPU optimization has completely eliminated any lag or stuttering, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the game without any technical hindrances.”
    • “Overall, the performance is solid and doesn’t detract from the gameplay.”
    • “The game does get slow performance wise after year 1942 even though I got an overkill PC (I run 120+fps on Cyberpunk full high settings so chill before you question my rig), so some performance issues would force me to knock off a few cookie points to the devs.”
    • “The optimization of this game needs help too because as soon as late war starts to come around the game slows to a snail's crawl at max speed.”
    • “The game is really poorly optimized and unless you have a good PC with a fast CPU you will get a lot of stutters, freezes and lagging around 1943 and onwards, unless you take out many large nations like England, France, USA, Italy and especially USSR early on.”
  • grinding
    1,070 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is overwhelmingly described as tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that it requires an excessive commitment of hours, often likening it to needing a "second life" to fully engage. While some find enjoyment in the depth and complexity of the gameplay, the repetitive nature of tasks, micromanagement, and the slow pace of progress lead to frustration and a sense of monotony for many. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game can be rewarding, it often feels like a grind rather than a fun experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “The AI endlessly produces bloated divisions, creating a tedious, sluggish experience that makes abandoning the game more appealing than slogging through its repetitive wars.”
    • “Fighting is actually a chore, as the only strategy that seems worth anything is to encircle and close, otherwise you'll find yourself fighting the same units over and over again, grinding the pace of the game down into the floor.”
    • “The long 70-day focuses and awful meta game (7-2s and 14-4s are all you see out of randoms) make both diplomacy and wars slow and grindy.”
  • stability
    1,000 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that hinder gameplay. While some users have managed to enjoy the game despite these issues, the overall consensus is that it remains a buggy experience, particularly in multiplayer modes and during late-game scenarios. Many players recommend using mods to enhance stability and gameplay, but the reliance on community fixes highlights the game's ongoing development challenges.

    • “Runs great on my M2 MacBook Air even without a fan.”
    • “I play this all the time with my friends and have had no glitches.”
    • “The game looks fantastic, it's an epic in every sense, and as far as I can tell, fairly bug free, and thank god it doesn't crash every hour like HOI3.”
    • “This game is unacceptably buggy and major mechanics do not work properly.”
    • “For a game that is this buggy, unbalanced, and dependent on mods to be playable, the price is absurd.”
    • “The game is buggy, enemy AI is so bad the developers had to give them bonuses and buffs that make everything quite unfair, and yet it is easy- or rather: impossible to not take advantage of said bad AI.”
  • monetization
    270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy for "Hearts of Iron IV" has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as a blatant cash grab due to the extensive reliance on DLCs that lock essential features behind paywalls. While some appreciate the additional content provided by these DLCs, the overall sentiment is that the base game lacks value without them, leading to frustration over the high costs associated with achieving a complete experience. Additionally, the presence of ads and a problematic launcher further exacerbate players' dissatisfaction with the game's monetization practices.

    • “I understand the monetization system, and I myself have no problem paying money to a company that has been developing this game for years and adding countless new features to it every year as a result.”
    • “Very easy to play and you aren't forced to make microtransactions to get decent gameplay.”
    • “One positive thing; no microtransactions or pay-to-progress in this game.”
    • “The only sour note is Paradox’s DLC policy, which feels like a relentless cash grab.”
    • “What could have been a masterpiece in the grand strategy genre has turned into a cash grab filled with bad design choices, glaring imbalances, and sheer laziness from the developers.”
    • “The terrible monetization puts the rotten cherry on top of the foul pie, where you need a significant number of DLCs (some costing more than the base game) to get what seems like now most of the good content.”
  • emotional
    254 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players expressing feelings of frustration, sadness, and even joy throughout their experiences. While some describe it as a deeply engaging and emotionally rewarding journey that can lead to tears, others highlight the stress and emotional damage it can cause, often at the expense of real-life interactions and activities like "touching grass." Overall, the game elicits strong emotional responses, ranging from heartwarming moments to intense frustration, making it a unique yet polarizing experience for players.

    • “It's one of those games that when something goes right you feel amazing and when something goes wrong you want to cry.”
    • “The plot is rich, unpredictable, and touching.”
    • “Playing Hearts of Iron IV with my son was an emotional experience that brought us closer together.”
  • atmosphere
    160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and historically accurate representation of the World War II era, enhanced by dynamic weather, day-night cycles, and a compelling soundtrack that captures the tension and drama of the time. Players appreciate the intricate systems and detailed visuals that create a captivating environment, making it easy to lose track of time while engaging with the game's complex geopolitical scenarios. Overall, the combination of sound design, visuals, and gameplay mechanics contributes to a rich and replayable atmosphere that keeps players engaged.

    • “The game’s atmosphere is immersive, with detailed historical events and decisions that give a sense of the era’s gravity and complexity.”
    • “The visual design, combined with a stirring musical score, creates an immersive atmosphere that draws you into the chaos of global conflict.”
    • “The soundtrack, composed by Andreas Waldetoft, complements the experience, evoking a powerful sense of nostalgia and atmosphere that further draws players into the World War II era.”
    • “But there is a huge void in terms of atmosphere, character interactions, and storyline.”
    • “But it does not have the atmosphere of a World War II game.”
    • “I really like some parts, especially the atmosphere it creates, but unfortunately the many weak spots totally spoil this.”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its depth and the complexity of the main characters, particularly highlighted by a surprising betrayal. However, some players feel that the main character could benefit from additional heroic traits and further development to enhance the storyline. The character designs and voice acting also receive positive mentions, contributing to the immersive experience.

    • “Nice game, love the story and character development of the main characters, and the betrayal at the end is crazy.”
    • “The story is filled with well-written characters and great character designs along with amazing voice acting.”
    • “The storyline would be better if the main character was more heroic and had more character development.”
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85%Critics’ scoreBased on 16 critic reviews
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270h Median play time
497h Average play time
52h Main story
1105h Completionist
60-750h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2,252 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Hearts of Iron IV is a real-time strategy game with warfare and historical themes.

Hearts of Iron IV is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and others.

The main story can be completed in around 52 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 1105 hours to finish. On average players spend around 497 hours playing Hearts of Iron IV.

Hearts of Iron IV was released on June 6, 2016.

Hearts of Iron IV was developed by Paradox Development Studio.

Hearts of Iron IV has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its optimization.

Hearts of Iron IV is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Hearts of Iron III, Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game, Victoria II, Age of History II, Age of History 3 and others.