Hearts of Iron IV is a large-scale strategy game that mainly revolves around World War II. The player can play as any nation in the world in the 1936 or 1939 start dates in singleplayer or multiplayer mode, although the game is not designed to go beyond 1948. A nation’s military forces are divided between naval forces, air forces and and ground forces. For ground forces, the player can train, customize and command divisions made up of various types of infantry, tanks and other units. These divisions require equipment and manpower to fight properly. The navy and air force also require men and equipment, including the warships and planes that are used in combat. Equipment is produced by military factories, while ships are built in shipyards. These military factories and shipyards, in turn, are built by civilian factories, which also construct a variety of other buildings, produce consumer goods for the civilian population, and oversee trade with other nations. Most nations are initially forced to allocate a significant number of their civilian factories to producing consumer goods, but as the nation becomes increasingly mobilized, more factories will be freed up for other purposes. Mobilization is represented as a “policy” that the player can adjust with the appropriate amount of political power, an abstract “resource” that is also used to appoint new ministers and change other aspects of the nation’s government. In addition to mobilization, there are other policies, including the nation’s stance on recruitment and trade.
The land in Hearts of Iron IV is divided into small regions known as provinces (also called tiles), which are grouped together to form states. Each state has a specific amount of construction spaces, factory spaces and 5 infrastructure spaces. The main seas and oceans (for warships) and the sky (for warplanes) are also divided into different regions. These provinces have a terrain type assigned to them, which determines how different types of units will perform in combat there. Divisions are placed in provinces and can attack enemy units in adjacent provinces. The performance of divisions in combat depends on several factors, such as the quality of their equipment, the climate, the type of terrain, the skill and characteristics of the general commanding the divisions, the aerial combat in the region and the morale of both sides. Technologies can be researched to improve equipment. Military doctrines can be improved using army experience, among other things, which often means that a more technologically advanced nation will have an advantage in combat. If a division (or a group of divisions) successfully overwhelms an enemy province, they can occupy it. Some provinces may have victory points, which can push a nation closer to capitulation if they are occupied. The occupation of key provinces within a state allows the occupying power access to enemy factories and natural resources in that state. Resistance to occupation within a state can make it difficult for the occupying power to control it. At the end of the game, nations can develop nuclear bombs if they have the appropriate technology, which can be used to devastate enemy provinces and states.
Key Features
Key Features of Hearts of Iron IV
- Variety of playable nations across the world.
- Customization of divisions and units for combat.
- Well-developed production and construction systems.
- Possibility of researching technologies and improving equipment.
- Comprehensive strategy involving diplomacy, politics and combat.