Hearts of Iron Image

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

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  • Summary: Hearts of Iron is the first ever World War II PC game of true Grand Strategic scope. The game map spans the entire world and allows players to take the War to any new front of their choosing. Any nation in the world is playable, but the game focuses on the epic struggle between the great alliances of the new world orders Fascism, Communism and Democracy. Hearts of Iron is developed by the team behind the award-winning sales success Europa Universalis I and II and brings the same depth of gameplay and historical accuracy to a modern day gaming experience. Hearts of Iron aims to be no less than the definitive World War II strategic experience. [Strategy First] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 13
  2. Negative: 2 out of 13
  1. A compelling WWII grand-scale sim. When I say "grand," I'm talking about a King Kong Burrito Supreme with extra sauce and tripple toppings. [Feb 2003, p.74]
  2. 86
    Had there not been a load of stability problems and random crashes, this game could have easily been of A quality. This baby is really an incredible war strategy otherwise.
  3. 85
    It's highly addictive and once you get over the learning curve (which is steepest in the wacky resource management part of the game), you'll find it deep and interesting.
  4. The learning curve is a huge hump to get over.
  5. Big, complex, and definitely not for a casual player seeking a little light entertainment.
  6. A.I. nations will usually disintegrate, and you can conquer half the world without much trouble. [Feb 2003, p.94]
  7. An ambitious mess, a noble mess, certainly a well-intentioned mess, but ultimately a mess nontheless. [Mar 2003, p.78]

See all 13 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. BrandonR.
    May 1, 2003
    This game is the best!!! I made Russia own the world and you can make anything happen.
  2. A.K.
    Dec 15, 2002
    GOOD !!!!!!!!
  3. jjpc
    Apr 8, 2003
    Gr8 game.
  4. ShaneM.
    Mar 10, 2003
    Great way to change history or work it the way it was intended. Want Germany to develop the bomb? Done. A Russian navy? Done or the USA taking over the world? Done. Well done over all. Expand
  5. IvanJ.
    Apr 22, 2003
    It's a good try, but not perfect. Howewer it's my favourite game today!
  6. MartinS.
    Jan 15, 2003
    Fairly good when it comes to depth, but I found the resource management to be tedious. Playing a smaller country can ruin an otherwise happy day gaming. Above average for strategy, but average in all other aspects. Expand
  7. NicholasD.
    Mar 6, 2004
    Simply awful. Riddled with bugs after four patches and with a fundamental flaw - major nations are too hard to manage (while you're trying to move hundreds of units, the enemy is quietly taking half your country) while minor ones can never have much impact on the game. Dull, buggy and overrated. Expand

See all 10 User Reviews