Games like Hearts of Iron IV

The Squirrel's verdictSame Paradox grand-strategy engine and steep learning curve, but the focus shifts from HOI4's nation-scale production and combat to individual character play: marriages, succession, intrigue, and personality-driven decisions replace division management. Good for players who want the systemic depth without refighting WWII, and don't mind roleplaying dynasties instead of commanding armies.

Not for you if you want HOI4's military production and unit-level combat rather than character-driven dynastic management, or object to extensive paid DLC layered onto the base game.

The Squirrel's verdictAge of History II covers all of history rather than a single conflict — ancient times to modern day — and lets you play as nearly any country on a full world map. The conquest and diplomacy model is simple enough to learn in an afternoon, though reviewers note many mechanics are exploitable and the AI behaves inconsistently. The map editor alone draws strong praise from regular players.

Not for you if you want deep production, logistics, or AI that holds up across long campaigns rather than broad, exploitable territorial conquest.

The Squirrel's verdictSame Paradox grand-strategy engine: pause-and-plan mechanics, deep historical simulation, steep learning curve. EU4 trades HOI4's 1936-45 military focus for a 1444-1821 sandbox of diplomacy, trade, and nation-building across centuries. Median playtime over 550 hours signals long-term investment. Fits players who want that same complexity applied to broader history than one world war.

Not for you if you want combat-first gameplay rather than centuries of diplomacy and economic management, or object to extensive paid DLC expanding core systems.

The Squirrel's verdictDummynation suits players who want map-based territory conquest and basic military planning without spending hours learning systems. It supports co-op, runs on PC, Mac, and Linux, and reviewers describe it as casual and fast. After a few matches the AI behavior becomes predictable, and several reviewers flag the price as high relative to the content depth. Median playtime sits around 32 hours.

Not for you if you want production chains, historical events, research trees, or diplomatic depth rather than straightforward territorial combat.

The Squirrel's verdictSame WWII grand-strategy skeleton: national focus-style production, diplomacy, and division-level warfare, but Darkest Hour runs on older HoI2-era systems with less hand-holding than HoI4's UI and event popups. Reviewers note deeper alternate-history branching but a steeper, less modern interface. Suits players who want more manual control and less AI hand-holding.

Not for you if you want HoI4's modern interface and guided event chains rather than an older, less streamlined UI.

The Squirrel's verdictMaking History II lets you rewrite alliances, build military strength across morale and weather variables, manage political stability, and steer history in whatever direction you choose. One reviewer calls the balance 'not as insane as Hearts of Iron,' and the systems are described as accessible enough to jump into without wiki prep. Logged playtime centers around 102 hours.

Not for you if you need a stable, polished build — reviews flag crashes, incorrect country ideologies, and a tutorial that fails to explain core systems.

The Squirrel's verdictPlayers who want WWII nation-management without a brutal onboarding will find Making History: The Calm & the Storm approachable: any country is playable, diplomacy and production are present but streamlined, and reviewers specifically call out the absence of HOI4-style popup floods. The tutorial is described as relatively good, and the controls and economy as easy to grasp. Median playtime runs around 30 hours.

Not for you if you need granular production, division design, or a working economy — reviewers cite the economic system as seriously broken.

The Squirrel's verdictThe WWI setting is the core draw here: two starting scenarios spanning 1912 into the early 1920s, covering the whole world map with production, diplomacy, naval warfare, and economic management layers. Reviewers praise the naval system and the level of geopolitical detail, though the UI is described as dated and Allied forces are noted as structurally favored in balance.

Not for you if you want WWII specifically, a modern interface, or unit balance that doesn't favor one historical side by design.