Hearts of Iron IV review
A WWII strategy game built around nation management, military planning, and alternate history.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Take command of a nation during World War II in Hearts of Iron IV, a grand strategy wargame from Paradox Development Studio. It is aimed at players who want to manage industry and diplomacy alongside military decisions, rather than focus only on battlefield control. Single-player and online multiplayer are both supported, with competitive and cooperative matches for up to 32 players.
The game’s strategic depth comes from connected management systems: players design army division templates, research production and weapons, assign factory output, form diplomatic alliances, and pursue political objectives. Decisions can also open alternate historical paths, giving the campaign room to diverge from its historical setting. That breadth suits players who enjoy planning across military, economic, and political systems; it may be a poor fit for someone seeking a narrower or more action-focused war game.
Hearts of Iron IV runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and supports cross-platform multiplayer and Steam Workshop mods. Those options give it flexibility for groups using different desktop operating systems and for players interested in community-created content. It is a paid game with a single listed plan, the base game, and no free plan. Choose it for long-range nation management, alternate-history decisions, and multiplayer strategy; look elsewhere if controller support or a free entry point is important.
Hearts of Iron IV pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Manage industry, diplomacy, research, and political objectives
- Shape alternate historical paths through decisions
- Cross-platform multiplayer for up to 32 players
- Where it doesn't
- No controller support
- Paid game with no free plan
- Its focus is limited to WWII-era grand strategy
Hearts of Iron IV fact sheet, pricing and score →
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