Hearts of Iron IV

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 12, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 2276 total reviews in window · weighted 225.1 up / 26.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

• 90
  Hu3br

  trust 75Jun 6, 2016

  “By far the most accessible game of an intricately complex franchise. Hearts of Iron IV streamlines unit management and instead focus on creating alternative outcomes to WWII. Be sure to have a lot of free time to learn this one.”

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• 80
  PLAY Zine

  trust 75Jul 6, 2016

  “Hearts of Iron IV proves why it’s the king of grand strategy games once more. With a plethora of improvements, this game is a must-have for every grand strategy and history buff.”

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• 85
  GRYOnline.pl

  trust 75Jun 7, 2016

  “Hearts of Iron IV has some not especially well-done economical solutions but at the same time has such a great combat system, wide scope and a very complex gameplay that it's a perfect game for seasoned strategy fans. All of this is also quite pretty and much more approachable for newbies (without sacrificing anything along the way).”

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• 70
  Kinglink Reviews

  trust 71Jun 19, 2018

  “Well, probably what the fans of the genre are looking for, it’s still a deep game, that’s a little hard to approach for outsiders. However, there’s a good game here, though the AI does have flaws.”

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• 50
  Cubed3

  trust 70Mar 20, 2018

  “The complexity and slow speed of how things evolve take the fun down notches lower than it otherwise would deserve. Endless clicking through menus, and a glacial speed, ruin what could have been a pretty slick overall experience.”

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• 70
  PC Invasion

  trust 69Jun 7, 2016

  “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.”

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• 91
  R

  RageQuit.GR

  trust 69Jun 22, 2016

  “Hearts of Iron IV is a no-nonsense strategy game. Its steep learning curve will challenge you from the start, but will reward you with one of the most satisfying experiences in the genre. Invest on it and prepare for a lot of sleepless nights.”

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• 80
  GameWatcher

  trust 69Jun 6, 2016

  “What makes Heart of Iron IV work is the fact that although it’s moulded around just ten years of history, it offers so much historical background and variable outcomes, and as such packs a mightier punch than might be at first expected. It’s complicated - overly so at times - and may not offer the same amount of replayability as other genre similars, but one thing is certain: there is rarely a dull moment.”

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• 90
  Eurogamer

  trust 66Jul 29, 2016

  “Hearts of Iron 4 is a wonderful grand strategy experience capable of giving the player many interesting levers while explaining them properly and efficiently; also it comes with top notch production values.”

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• 80
  GameSpot

  trust 66Jun 8, 2016

  “For the dedicated, Hearts of Iron IV could end up being the best grand strategy game in some time. It’s many disparate pieces harmonize, and your decisions, and the responses of foes and allies, are different each and every time. While human drama might get lost in the spreadsheets and figures, there’s nothing quite like seeing the culmination of a strategy you’ve invested in since 1936 pay its dividends in 1945.”

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• 90
  GameGrin

  trust 65Jun 6, 2016

  “Sandbox possibilities and endless ‘what-if’ questions bump up what is already an impressive level of replayability. Paradox Interactive have created a game that strategy gamers and history buffs should get on their shelves as soon as possible.”

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• 90
  GameSkinny

  trust 65Jun 15, 2016

  “Hearts of Iron IV is an absolutely ideal grand strategy game. I fully expected it would be, and I’m not disappointed. I certainly wouldn’t recommend it as anyone’s first wargame, but I also wouldn’t talk you away from it if it were. With its hallmark multiple choice ways to conquer the world, along with being easier to initially grasp compared to the previous versions, Hearts of Iron IV is both admirably imposing and a well worthy title in the Hearts of Iron series.”

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…and 32 more tracked reviews.

1. HOI IV | Open Beta SE™ Update 3.03

   Aug 28, 2026
2. HOI IV | Open Beta SE™ Update 2

   Aug 12, 2026significant · resets scoring window
3. HOI IV - Open Beta SE™ Update 1

   Jul 13, 2026significant · resets scoring window
4. HOI IV - Open Beta Summer Edition™

   Jul 6, 2026significant · resets scoring window
5. Thunder at our Gates | Patch 1.19.2

   Jun 30, 2026significant · resets scoring window
6. HOI IV | Open Beta Weekend (1.19.2)

   Jun 25, 2026significant · resets scoring window
7. Thunder at our Gates | Patch 1.19.1

   Jun 17, 2026significant · resets scoring window
8. Hotfix 1.19.0.1

   Jun 12, 2026significant · resets scoring window
9. Thunder at our Gates | Patch Notes (1.19.0)

   Jun 10, 2026significant · resets scoring window
10. Dev Diary | HOI IV-X Anniversary Update

    Jun 4, 2026significant · resets scoring window
11. HOI IV | Open Beta Update VI

    May 22, 2026significant · resets scoring window
12. Hearts of Iron IV | Patch 1.18.2

    May 20, 2026significant · resets scoring window
13. HOI IV - Open Beta Update V

    May 13, 2026significant · resets scoring window
14. Dev Diary - OPEN BETA UPDATE IV

    May 8, 2026significant · resets scoring window
15. Peace For Our Time | Patch 1.18.1

    Apr 29, 2026significant · resets scoring window
16. Peace for Our Time | Available NOW!

    Apr 22, 2026significant · resets scoring window
17. Peace for Our Time | Patch Notes

    Apr 21, 2026significant · resets scoring window
18. Peace for our Time Soundtrack

    Apr 21, 2026
19. HOI IV | Open Beta III

    Apr 17, 2026significant · resets scoring window
20. HOI IV | Open Beta Update (No Client Change)

    Apr 10, 2026
21. Studio Gold Update | April 2026

    Apr 3, 2026significant · resets scoring window
22. HOI IV - Open Beta Update II

    Apr 2, 2026significant · resets scoring window
23. HOI IV - Open Beta Update 01

    Mar 27, 2026significant · resets scoring window
24. Warships of the Pacific - Hotfix, 1.17.5.2

    Mar 26, 2026
25. HOI IV - Open Beta

    Mar 20, 2026significant · resets scoring window
26. Warships of the Pacific - Hotfix, 1.17.5.1

    Mar 19, 2026
27. Warships of the Pacific Available NOW!

    Mar 17, 2026significant · resets scoring window
28. Warships of the Pacific - Patch Notes, 1.17.5

    Mar 16, 2026significant · resets scoring window
29. Mod Update Warships of the Pacific

    Feb 26, 2026
30. (Very small) Hotfix - Patch 1.17.4.1

    Feb 25, 2026
31. No Compromise, No Surrender | Patch 1.17.4

    Feb 19, 2026significant · resets scoring window
32. No Compromise, No Surrender - 1.17.4 Open Beta Client Update

    Feb 11, 2026significant · resets scoring window
33. No Compromise, No Surrender - 1.17.4 Open Beta

    Feb 2, 2026significant · resets scoring window
34. Studio Gold | January Update - What we're working on

    Jan 15, 2026significant · resets scoring window
35. NCNS | Patch 1.17.3

    Dec 10, 2025significant · resets scoring window
36. NCNS | Patch 1.17.2

    Dec 4, 2025significant · resets scoring window
37. Studio Gold | December Update

    Dec 1, 2025
38. NCNS Patch 1.17.1.1

    Nov 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
39. NCNS | Patch 1.17.1

    Nov 26, 2025significant · resets scoring window
40. No Compromise, No Surrender | What We’re Working On

    Nov 25, 2025significant · resets scoring window

…and 3 earlier patch announcements.