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Hearts of Iron IV

Hearts of Iron IV

PC

HoI4

Released

Release Date: June 6, 2016

Strategy, World War II, Economic, RTS, Sandbox, War Strategy, Interwar Period, Grand Strategy, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Internet, LAN

The fourth major installment in a series of larg-scale strategy games, which originated in 2002 as a spin-off to the popular Europa Universalis series. Both franchises are consistently developed by Paradox Interactive. The game lets you take the lead of a country from the World War II period and beyond, specifically the years 1936-1948.

8.5

Gamepressure

8.3

OpenCritic

9.1

Steam

Rate It!
Ratings
[1:54] launch trailer - Take action Videos: 8
Screenshot Images: 32
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

Hearts of Iron IV is the next installment of the popular strategy game series in which the player conducts the politics of one of the countries from the war and interwar period – the timeline of the game is set between 1936 and 1948. It is up to the player to choose the appropriate strategy and foreign policy and to keep up with enemies in the arms race of the 20th century world. The game was made by the Swedish studio Paradox Development, known widely for its complex, historically themed strategy games. The company, with its main office in Stockholm, produced and released such titles as the Europa Universalis series, Crusader Kings – in many ways similar to the previously mentioned titles – and the Hearts of Iron series. The newest installment uses the same engine as Europa Universalis IV and provides a new, refreshed and clearer User Interface.

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Game Series

Hearts of Iron IV
Hearts of Iron IV
Hearts of Iron IV

7GAMES

Hearts of Iron Game Series

A series of RTSs of the grand strategy type, behind which is the Paradox Development Studio team. We are talking about the developers who have in their portfolio, among others, such brands as Crusader Kings, Victoria and Europa Universalis.

Hearts of Iron Game Series

Features

8.5
great

ReviewHearts of Iron IV

Hearts of Iron IV Review – The Art of War

After seven long years, Hearts of Iron makes a big comeback. Ladies and gentlemen, the season for sleepless nights full of orders, international schemes, and endless taste of defeat is now officially open!

Hearts of Iron IV Review – The Art of War
Hearts of Iron IV Review – The Art of War
Reviewed by:
medic
Reviewed on:
PC Windows PC Windows
Review date:
June 8, 2016
Hearts of Iron IV Game Guide
Guide

Last update: July 6, 2016

Hearts of Iron IV Game Guide

The Hearts of Iron IV guide contains information helpful in starting out in the game. It offers various hints, explanation of the management mechanics, info on playable factions and tips on the best strategies.

Hearts of Iron IV Game Guide
Originals

July 22, 2019

The Best PC Strategy Games of Recent Years – Editor's Choice Ranking List

We interviewed our editors about their favorite strategy games. After our research, we have prepared a list of greatest PC strategies which have been released in recent years. Check them out!

The Best PC Strategy Games of Recent Years – Editor's Choice Ranking List
The Best PC Strategy Games of Recent Years – Editor's Choice Ranking List
Originals

January 2, 2017

Top 20 games of 2016 you might have missed

So many games appear each year that we’re never able to check out all of them. Why not take a look at this article in which we’ve gathered the most interesting titles you might have missed ¬– both big and small?

Top 20 games of 2016 you might have missed
Top 20 games of 2016 you might have missed

News

Record-expensive DLC for the popular grand strategy game is now available. HoI4 players complain about the price and lazy content

Record-expensive DLC for the popular grand strategy game is now available. HoI4 players complain about the price and lazy content

Hearts of Iron: No Compromise, No Surrender is so far not another disaster, but players still have reason to complain about Paradox's new DLC.

video games

Jacob Blazewicz

November 21, 2025

Record-expensive DLC for the popular grand strategy game is now available. HoI4 players complain about the price and lazy content
HoI4: The Great War - huge mod for Hearts of Iron IV updated to 0.25

HoI4: The Great War - huge mod for Hearts of Iron IV updated to 0.25

The Great War mod for Hearts of Iron IV has received a major update. Among other things, it brings news related to Poland.

Files and Mods

Adrian Werner

November 16, 2025

HoI4: The Great War - huge mod for Hearts of Iron IV updated to 0.25
„Your greed is unbearable.” Paradox's latest move only fuels the anger of Hearts of Iron 4 fans

„Your greed is unbearable.” Paradox's latest move only fuels the anger of Hearts of Iron 4 fans

Hearts of Iron 4 will get another edition, but players are still reluctant about Paradox Development after the publisher's recent decision.

video games

Jacob Blazewicz

October 16, 2025

„Your greed is unbearable.” Paradox's latest move only fuels the anger of Hearts of Iron 4 fans
One player on Steam spends 8,000 hours in difficult strategy game, says first 1,000 are just the tutorial

One player on Steam spends 8,000 hours in difficult strategy game, says first 1,000 are just the tutorial

Paradox Interactive creates games that require more time to master than to complete, as seen in several major titles.

video games

Jacob Blazewicz

October 7, 2025

One player on Steam spends 8,000 hours in difficult strategy game, says first 1,000 are just the tutorial
HoI4 fans harsh reactions to the announcement of another DLC pack

HoI4 fans harsh reactions to the announcement of another DLC pack

We learned the contents of Expansion Pass 2 for Hearts of Iron IV. Players aren't thrilled, especially since the price for this set has gone way up.

video games

Adrian Werner

September 26, 2025

HoI4 fans harsh reactions to the announcement of another DLC pack
Players are calling for smarter AI in HoI4, but they’re not convinced a DLC would be a good solution

Players are calling for smarter AI in HoI4, but they’re not convinced a DLC would be a good solution

Hearts of Iron 4 needs more than new nations. Until the AI improves, new content alone won’t satisfy the community.

video games

Olga Racinowska

September 2, 2025

Players are calling for smarter AI in HoI4, but they’re not convinced a DLC would be a good solution
HoI4: Graveyard of Empires devs admit their mistakes. They explain what went wrong and promise changes

HoI4: Graveyard of Empires devs admit their mistakes. They explain what went wrong and promise changes

Paradox Development Studio promises not only short-term fixes for Hearts of Iron 4: Graveyard of Empires, but also changes in its approach to DLC scale.

video games

Jacob Blazewicz

March 11, 2025

HoI4: Graveyard of Empires devs admit their mistakes. They explain what went wrong and promise changes
Paradox games under fire. Review bombing from Chinese players hits Stellaris, Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis

Paradox games under fire. Review bombing from Chinese players hits Stellaris, Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis

Why did Hearts of Iron IV's alternate path get Stellaris and other Paradox games in trouble? Here’s everything you need to know about the latest backlash.

video games

Olga Racinowska

February 17, 2025

Paradox games under fire. Review bombing from Chinese players hits Stellaris, Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis
„Exotic” expansion to popular strategy brings great empires out of history graveyard. HoI4: Graveyard of Empires with release date

„Exotic” expansion to popular strategy brings great empires out of history graveyard. HoI4: Graveyard of Empires with release date

Graveyard of Empires, a new expansion to the Hearts of Iron 4 strategy, will take us into the heart of the struggle for supremacy, between the Euphrates River and the Bay of Bengal. Elephants will also be included.

video games

Danuta Repelowicz

February 11, 2025

„Exotic” expansion to popular strategy brings great empires out of history graveyard. HoI4: Graveyard of Empires with release date
USSR's Absurd Superweapon From Hearts of Iron 4: Gotterdammerung Confused Players, Even Though It Isn't Fiction

USSR's Absurd Superweapon From Hearts of Iron 4: Gotterdammerung Confused Players, Even Though It Isn't Fiction

World War 2 has known many absurd designer ideas. Even as detached from reality as the Soviet tank megacruiser from Hearts of Iron 4: Gotterdammerung.

video games

Jacob Blazewicz

November 22, 2024

USSR's Absurd Superweapon From Hearts of Iron 4: Gotterdammerung Confused Players, Even Though It Isn't Fiction

Downloads

Top downloads for Hearts of Iron IV Video Game:

All Downloads

System Requirements

System Requirements for Hearts of Iron IV Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-750 2.66 GHz / AMD FX-4300 3.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1280 MB GeForce GTX 470 / 1 GB Radeon HD 5850 or better, 2 GB HDD, Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3 GHz / AMD Ryzen 3 2200G 3.5 GHz, 6 GB RAM, graphic card 1280 MB GeForce GTX 570 / 3 GB Radeon HD 7970 or better, 2 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Expansions

List of Game Expansions for Video Game:

Hearts of Iron IV: No Compromise, No Surrender

Hearts of Iron IV: No Compromise, No Surrender

PC

Expansion

November 20, 2025

Strategy

The tenth big expansion for the grand strategy from Paradox Development Studio. Hearts of Iron IV: No Compromise, No Surrender focuses on Japan, China and the Philippines, introducing national goals for these countries.

3.5

Steam

Hearts of Iron IV: No Compromise, No Surrender
Hearts of Iron IV: Prototype Vehicles Unit Pack

Hearts of Iron IV: Prototype Vehicles Unit Pack

PC

Expansion

May 15, 2025

Strategy

A smaller unit expansion for the 2016 grand strategy game from Paradox Interactive. Hearts of Iron IV: Prototype Vehicles Unit Pack introduces various World War 2 machines and vehicles which never entered production and remained as designs and sketches. The add-on features land, sea and water units.

1.4

Steam

Hearts of Iron IV: Prototype Vehicles Unit Pack
Hearts of Iron IV: Graveyard of Empires

Hearts of Iron IV: Graveyard of Empires

PC

Expansion

March 4, 2025

Strategy

A DLC featuring new nations for the popular strategy from Paradox Development Studio. Hearts of Iron IV: Graveyard of Empires introduces national focus trees for Iran, India, Iraq and Afganistan. This comes along with their unique graphics, leader portraits and three-dimensional unit models.

1.5

Steam

Hearts of Iron IV: Graveyard of Empires
Hearts of Iron IV: Götterdämmerung

Hearts of Iron IV: Götterdämmerung

PC

Expansion

November 14, 2024

Strategy

The tenth large expansion for the World War 2 strategy from Paradox Interactive. Hearts of Iron IV: Gotterdammerung allows us to change the course of history by creating new political and military alliances involving Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Belgium.

7.2

Steam

9.2

Users

Hearts of Iron IV: Götterdämmerung
Hearts of Iron IV: Trial of Allegiance

Hearts of Iron IV: Trial of Allegiance

PC

Expansion

March 7, 2024

Strategy

The ninth major expansion to a 2016 WW2 strategy game. Hearts of Iron IV: Trial of Allegiance is set in South America, having us lead new nations (such as Brazil, Argentina and Chile) to greatness.

2.9

Steam

3.4

Users

Hearts of Iron IV: Trial of Allegiance
Hearts of Iron IV: Arms Against Tyranny

Hearts of Iron IV: Arms Against Tyranny

PC

Expansion

October 10, 2023

Strategy

The eighth major expansion to the strategy game Hearts of Iron IV. Hearts of Iron IV: Arms Against Tyranny focuses on three Northern European countries - Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden - trying to survive World War II.

5.6

Steam

7.4

Users

Hearts of Iron IV: Arms Against Tyranny
Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone

Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone

PC

Expansion

September 27, 2022

Strategy

The seventh major add-on to the strategy game Hearts of Iron IV. HoI4 By Blood Alone focuses on Italy, Switzerland and Ethiopia and introduces, among other things, a special aircraft creator in which we can create our own fighters or bombers.

3.5

Steam

4.5

Users

Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone
Hearts of Iron IV: No Step Back

Hearts of Iron IV: No Step Back

PC

Expansion

November 23, 2021

Strategy

The next expansion to the fourth main installment of the Hearts of Iron series. No Step Back focuses on the Eastern Front of World War II, increasing the ability to command countries such as Poland, the USSR and Estonia.

6.7

Steam

7.6

Users

Hearts of Iron IV: No Step Back
Hearts of Iron IV: La Resistance

Hearts of Iron IV: La Resistance

PC

Expansion

February 25, 2020

Strategy

Hearts of Iron IV: La Resistance is the fifth expansion to Paradox Interactive's second-wave global strategy. The patch introduces into the game the possibility of conducting spying actions by resistance movements.

4.1

Steam

7.7

Users

Hearts of Iron IV: La Resistance
Hearts of Iron IV: Man the Guns

Hearts of Iron IV: Man the Guns

PC

Expansion

February 28, 2019

Strategy

Hearts of Iron IV: Man the Guns is an expansion to a strategy game developed by Paradox. This is not a standalone DLC, as it requires the base game to work and it expands the naval aspects of the game by implementing new options for designing and upgrading ships. Moreover, the game introduces new sea routes.

4.5

Steam

9.0

Users

Hearts of Iron IV: Man the Guns
Hearts of Iron IV: Waking the Tiger

Hearts of Iron IV: Waking the Tiger

PC

Expansion

March 8, 2018

Strategy

The third expansion to strategy game Hearts of Iron IV. Developers introduced new content for China and modified national objective trees for Japan and the Third Reich, allowing e.g. to remove Hitler from power and the German Empire.

6.6

Steam

8.4

Users

Hearts of Iron IV: Waking the Tiger
Hearts of Iron IV: Death or Dishonor

Hearts of Iron IV: Death or Dishonor

PC

Expansion

June 14, 2017

Strategy

A second DLC for the real-time strategy game Hearts of Iron IV. Created by Paradox Development Studio, the Death or Dishonor add-on focuses on four European countries, namely: Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, which after the outbreak of the WWII were caught between the hammer and the anvil – the Third Reich and the USSR. In the expansion, the aforementioned countries receive all new and unique National Focus trees allowing the players to lead the country they choose taking one of the available paths. The four new countries also deliver new events and assets, such as leader portraits, 3D vehicle models, soldier dialogues, and pieces of soundtrack. Also arriving in Death or Dishonor are features like Equipment Conversion (making it possible for the players to upgrade their arsenal by using their older units, or utilizing captured enemy units), and the option to license military technology from other countries or license one’s tech to other governments. Also, the diplomatic features of the game have been developed by fascist countries getting new subject levels like Reichskommissariat, which hold the occupied nations in an iron grip.

5.1

Steam

7.8

Users

Hearts of Iron IV: Death or Dishonor
Hearts of Iron IV: Together for Victory

Hearts of Iron IV: Together for Victory

PC

Expansion

December 15, 2016

Strategy

The first large expansion for Hearts of Iron IV – the fourth installment of the popular grand strategy game series created by Paradox Interactive. The add-on, called Together for Victory, focuses on introducing new functions connected with British Commonwealth and the countries that were a part of it during World War II. This results in, among others, new national development trees for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and India, complemented by historical figures and companies, while the whole add-on was designed to either replay the real course of war, or allow a completely abnormal, abstract scenario to play out. Thanks to a new autonomy system, the players can set various levels of dependency of subjected nations, and expand upon some of the national ideas, resulting in useful bonuses and technologies. The Commonwealth nations can share technologies, as well as ask their allies to lease them various equipment.

6.1

OpenCritic

4.5

Steam

7.7

Users

Hearts of Iron IV: Together for Victory

Add-Ons and DLCs

List of Game Add-Ons and DLCs for Video Game:

Ratings

Game Ratings for Hearts of Iron IV Video Game.

8.5
great

ReviewHearts of Iron IV

Hearts of Iron IV Review – The Art of War

After seven long years, Hearts of Iron makes a big comeback. Ladies and gentlemen, the season for sleepless nights full of orders, international schemes, and endless taste of defeat is now officially open!

Hearts of Iron IV Review – The Art of War
Hearts of Iron IV Review – The Art of War
Reviewed by:
medic
Reviewed on:
PC Windows PC Windows
Review date:
June 8, 2016
8.3

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 91% of Critics. There are 21 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

DualShockers: 9 / 10 by Giuseppe Nelva

On the other hand, if you want a massive, extremely fulfilling and rewarding simulation of World War II, then this game is a giant cornucopia of conflicts, engaging politics, management gameplay and pure fun. And when you’re tired of World War II, you’ll have endless alternate history scenarios to explore. Just make sure to go to work or school in the morning, because if Hearts of Iron IV really clicks with you, it won’t let go easily.

Full Review

Hardcore Gamer: 4.5 / 5 by Sean Hannley

Hearts of Iron IV is an easy recommendation for grand strategy fans of all ages and encourages them to take the time to figure everything out.

Full Review

PC Invasion: 7 / 10 by Peter Parrish

It demands dedication (unless you’re a series vet) and neither AI nor UI are exactly flawless, but once you’re entrenched Hearts of Iron IV reveals itself as a capable and absorbing alt-history WW2 generator.

Full Review
91%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (349,757)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Depth and Complexity: Players appreciate the game's intricate mechanics and strategic depth, which allow for a wide range of historical and alternative scenarios.
  • Replayability: Many users note the game's high replay value, with hundreds of hours spent and still discovering new strategies or outcomes.
  • Engaging Gameplay: Once players learn the mechanics, they find the gameplay rewarding and addictive, often leading to long gaming sessions.
  • Community and Mods: The active modding community enhances the game experience, providing additional content and gameplay options that many players find enjoyable.
  • Historical Learning: The game serves as an educational tool, with many users gaining a better understanding of World War II events and strategies.

The main cons of the game

  • Steep Learning Curve: New players often find the game overwhelming and complicated, requiring significant time and effort to learn the mechanics.
  • DLC Pricing: Many users express frustration with the high cost of DLCs, feeling that essential game mechanics are locked behind paywalls and that the base game lacks content without these expansions.
  • Multiplayer Issues: Some reviews mention a toxic multiplayer environment, with problems like hackers and a lack of balance in gameplay.
  • AI Limitations: Users have criticized the AI for making poor strategic decisions, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Better Tutorials: Many players feel that the game lacks adequate tutorials to help new players understand the complex mechanics and strategies.
  • Improved Naval Mechanics: A recurring theme in the reviews is the difficulty in managing naval operations, which many players still struggle to grasp even after extensive playtime.
  • Dynamic Map Features: Some users desire a more detailed and dynamic map system that allows for greater tactical control at a more granular level.
  • Balancing and Polishing: Players have called for better balancing of game mechanics and general polishing to improve gameplay experience.

Summary

  • Overall, while "Hearts of Iron IV" is praised for its depth and engaging gameplay, it also faces criticism for its steep learning curve, high DLC costs, and some gameplay mechanics that could benefit from improvement.

Summary generated on: