Hearts of Iron 2 Complete (2009)

Developer: Paradox Development Studio
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Genres: Strategy
Rating: 4.3 of 5, 663 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 28 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

More games like this

How it feels

A deep, methodical grand strategy experience where you manage a nation through detailed diplomacy and production across two world wars.

strategichistoricalsimulationmethodicalcomplexgrand scaleslow-pacedpunishing

What players say

Players praise Hearts of Iron 2 as the sweet spot between complexity and playability, simpler than its sequels yet deep enough to reward hundreds of hours. However, many report game-stalling bugs and events that push history off course, frustrating those who want a historical timeline.

Screenshots

More games like this

More by Paradox Interactive

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.