Hearts of Iron III

Released

Release Date: August 7, 2009

Another installment in the popular historical strategy games franchise by Paradox Interactive, taking players back in time into the period of the bloodiest conflict in history – World War Two. As the player, your task is to come into power in your country of choice – either one of the superpowers of the time, or a militarily weaker country – and lead it through the global conflict.

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Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

Hearts of Iron III for PC is another instalment in the popular historical strategy game series taking place during World War Two. As the player, you have to both take care of military operations and learn the complexities of economics, politics, and social affairs. The main attraction of the game is the enormous world map, divided into about 10,000 provinces.

Plot

The story spans from 1936 to 1948. This makes it possible for you to prepare your country of choice for the devastating global conflict, which broke out in 1939. It's worth noting that the creators of Hearts of Iron III, Swedish studio Paradox, are taking historical accuracy very seriously, thus all the real-life events from that period can happen during your playthrough. Everything, however, depends on your playstyle and the territories you own.

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Mechanics

Like in the previous instalments of the series, there are no particular choices imposed on the player in Hearts of Iron III. It's your call to either lead a superpower or a country with lesser military and economical reserves. It also works as a way of adjusting the difficulty level and the challenges awaiting you.

Because of the high complexity of the other titles in the franchise and the idea of constant development of the series, the creators opted for a complete revamping of the interface, which makes it more accessible to less experienced strategy game players while also retaining its intricacy. The level of interference of the decision process of your country's development depends only on your choices. If you're interested in all the details, you can personally oversee even the smallest of elements—whether by recruiting battalions or by supervising every step of scientific research. Less committed people may simply issue general commands and focus on what holds their interest the most.

Technical aspects

Hearts of Iron for PC is the first game in the series featuring fully 3D graphics and customizable resolution options.

Platforms:

PC Windows

Developer: Paradox Development Studio

Publisher: Paradox Interactive

Similar Games:

Hearts of Iron IV

Supreme Ruler Ultimate

Arsenal of Democracy: A Hearts of Iron Game

Game Series

6GAMES

Hearts of Iron Game Series

A series of RTSs of the grand strategy type, behind which is the Paradox Development Studio team. We are talking about the developers who have in their portfolio, among others, such brands as Crusader Kings, Victoria and Europa Universalis.

Hearts of Iron Game Series

Features

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Top s for Hearts of Iron III Video Game:

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System Requirements

System Requirements for Hearts of Iron III Video Game:

PC / Windows

Recommanded System Requirements:
Pentium 4 3 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card 512 MB (GeForce 8800 or better), 4 GB HDD, Windows 2000/XP/Vista.

Expansions

List of Game Expansions for Video Game:

Hearts of Iron III: Their Finest Hour

Expansion

September 26, 2012

Strategy

Third expansion for Hearts of Iron III, a successful strategy game that takes us to battlefields of World War II. Hearts of Iron III: Their Finest Hour expands on spying system (offering new types of missions, including secret tasks fulfilled on the game’s main map – and introduces a special battle system that allows developing tactical plans and sharing them with friends. Major armies received new elite unites, including those specializing in invading from the sea. Hearts of Iron III: Their Finest Hour offers more strategic options, like ability of ing distant allies with resources. Commanders became more important, as they can now get special abilities, meaning that giving them appropriate tasks has become more significant for achieving victory. Additionally, new game mode has appeared that does not limit units’ production and technological development before the true gameplay starts. Finally, there are two new scenarios: one for Cold War, and the other for Spanish Civil War.

Hearts of Iron III: Their Finest Hour

Hearts of Iron III: For the Motherland

Expansion

June 29, 2011

Strategy

The second expansion for the extensive war strategy game, Hearts of Iron III, by Paradox Interactive. The add-on is focused on the Eastern Front of World War II, namely the struggle of the Soviet Union, Nazi , and other countries. The political aspect of the gameplay was subject to major changes, thanks to which players can now stage coups in other countries of fall victims to such. Hearts of Iron III: For the Motherland expands diplomacy, giving warring countries the so-called war goals. Guerilla warfare was enriched with such elements as infiltration of enemy territory or sabotage. Sea warfare in the North Atlantic, in which submarines take part, was also reworked. Hearts of Iron III: For the Motherland enhances the game’s engine and lets it utilize the power of dual-core processors. Moreover, the artificial intelligence was improved, the interface was simplified, and the gameplay speed was increased in order to enable players to finish an entire campaign during one evening.

Hearts of Iron III: For the Motherland

Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi - Dies Irae Götterdämmerung

Expansion

May 10, 2011

Strategy

A DLC for the third installment of the complicated World War II strategy game series by Paradox Interactive. Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi - Dies Irae Götterdämmerung requires the vanilla game as well as the Semper Fi expansion in order to work. The said add-on expands the Nazi with new military, economic, and political aspects. The developers introduce a number of new options and historical events, thanks to which the gameplay is much more dynamic and managing the Wehrmacht even more aggressive. In land combat, we can lead historical German units, while at seas and oceans, we have the famous wolf packs at our disposal. The underwater part of the World War II was enriched with an enhanced battle mechanics that takes into the specifications of U-Boots. The central point of our duties in internal politics is to manage the government in a way that gains us as much resources as possible in order to quickly build a strong army.

Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi - Dies Irae Götterdämmerung

Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi

Expansion

June 6, 2010

Strategy

The first expansion for Hearts of Iron III by Paradox Interactive. The add-on gives players more control over military and political aspects of their countries. Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi allows us to set our own victory conditions that are hidden from our opponents. Diplomacy was expanded in of relations with allies, letting us convince them to attack a given target, share our technological inventions, or ask them for reinforcements. Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi largely improves on artificial intelligence, making the computer-controlled countries defend their land even fiercer, better manage their naval forces, and conduct multiphase invasions. Another highlight of Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi is a set of several hundred historical events that give the game more realism. Apart from solo gameplay, Hearts of Iron III also offers a multiplayer mode.

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Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi

Add-Ons and DLCs

List of Game Add-Ons and DLCs for Video Game:

DLC Sounds of Conflict September 12, 2012
DLC US Infantry Spritepack July 31, 2012
DLC Mega German Spritepack August 23, 2011
DLC German II Spritepack July 27, 2010
DLC Soviet Infantry Spritepack February 18, 2010
DLC Soviet Music Pack December 8, 2009
DLC Soviet Pack December 8, 2009
DLC German Infantry Pack December 8, 2009
DLC Japanese Infantry Pack December 8, 2009
DLC German Sprite Pack August 7, 2009
DLC US Pack August 7, 2009

Ratings

Game Ratings for Hearts of Iron III Video Game.

77%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mostly Positive (4,847)

STEAM

Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

In-Depth Grand Strategy Experience: Many players appreciate the game's complexity and depth, making it a standout title for those interested in World War II strategy.
Well-Integrated Tech Tree: s highlight the detailed and well-structured technology development system as a significant strength.
Rich Gameplay Elements: The game includes a comprehensive range of features such as naval and air combat, diplomacy, espionage, and resource management, appealing to hardcore strategy fans.
Replayability: Players can choose any country and explore various scenarios, contributing to a high replay value.
Historical Accuracy: Some reviews note the game?s ability to simulate historical events effectively, providing an immersive experience for history enthusiasts.

The main cons of the game

Crashes and Stability Issues: A recurring complaint is the game's tendency to crash frequently, disrupting gameplay and causing frustration.
Steep Learning Curve: New players may find the game challenging to learn due to its complexity and micromanagement requirements.
Micromanagement Heavy: While some players enjoy the detail, others find the level of micromanagement overwhelming and time-consuming.
Slow Gameplay: The game is described as slow-paced, which may not suit all players, especially those looking for quicker, more action-oriented experiences.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to s

Polish and Optimization: Some s feel the game lacks polish compared to its predecessors and that it could benefit from further updates or enhancements.
Improved AI: While players can delegate tasks to AI, some reviews mention that the AI can make poor decisions, leading to frustration.
Better Tutorial: The existing tutorial is considered insufficient for mastering the game's complexities, leaving players to learn through trial and error.
Multiplayer Experience: There are mentions of a lack of multiplayer engagement, with some players expressing a desire for a more robust online experience.
Localization: Players have expressed a yearning for better localization options, particularly for non-English speakers, as language barriers can hinder enjoyment.

Summary

Overall, Hearts of Iron III is praised for its depth and strategic elements but criticized for its technical issues and steep learning curve.

Summary generated on: November 25, 2024

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Average score from votes.

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