However, because France lacks research boosts that other major powers receive in areas like industry and artillery, I soon found myself ceding territory in a war of attrition against the rapidly advancing German Wehrmacht. With little early support from other tentative regional powers against an aggressive Germany, I had to focus on rapid technological development (and a heavily fortified Maginot Line) and the superiority of early French tanks to survive. This was never more evident than in one of my playthroughs as the embattled French. In the very late game there are also nukes which are great for breaking heavily entrenched enemies.” “As you acquire technology like fast tanks, doctrines, and air support you are able to maneuver and encircle large groups of enemy troops or more effectively focus a lot of firepower in spots for breakthroughs through blitzkrieg and mobile warfare. “Technology in Hearts of Iron IV is set up in a way where at the start of the game you have more of a WWI dynamic - units are much stronger on defense than attack and are mostly slower.” The pace of war accelerates quickly, however, as the great powers commit themselves to total war. Hearts of Iron IV places a lot of emphasis on the industrial nature of the war, and how heavy industry evolved rapidly alongside new technology.

Nations went from basic equipment to tanks and nuclear weapons in a handful of years.” World War II saw incredible leaps in technology. “We put a lot of effort into making the industrial gameplay and build-up deep and interesting. “A lot of the technologies in HOI4 are things you will only start benefiting from once they are produced en masse-a Panzer IV is no good unless you have enough to make a difference on the frontline,” says design lead Dan Lind. It begins by incorporating more of the war’s prelude and modeling how technology transformed the battlefield.

But how did Paradox find a fresh approach to what is easily the most thoroughly documented war in human history? Renowned for its complex systems and the depth of its combat models, Hearts of Iron tasks players with conducting the war at the highest levels: balancing political and economic demands, creating a massive industrial war machine, and deploying the military might of a global super power with finesse and intelligence. Yet Paradox Interactive, the developer behind strategy franchises like Europa Universalis and Crusader Kings, bucked the trend with the critically acclaimed ( and briskly selling) fourth entry in its Hearts of Iron series.

Hearts of iron 4 ????