Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Developed by a team of experienced modders from the Paradox forum, Darkest Hour is a stand-alone Hearts of Iron game. The game features a mixture of short and in-depth campaigns set across the darkest chapters of the 20th century. Play from the outbreak of the Great War up until the onset of the Cold War.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is a strategy, grand strategy and world war ii game
developed by Martin Ivanov
and published by Paradox Interactive.
Released on April 08th 2011 is available only on Windows
in 7 languages: English, German, Spanish - Spain, French, Italian, Polish and Russian.
It has received 2,011 reviews of which 1,802 were positive and 209 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 9.99€ on Steam, but you can find it for less on Gamivo.
The Steam community has classified Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game through various videos and screenshots.
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows 98/ ME / 2000 / XP / Vista / 7
- Processor: Pentium III 800 MH
- Memory: 128 MB Ram
- Hard Disk Space: 2 GB hard disk space
- Video Card: 4 MB DirectX-compatible
- Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible
- DirectX®: DirectX 9.0 or higher
- Additional: Mouse with scroll wheel, keyboard and internet for multiplayer
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Still the best game of the HOI series, paradox should learn from HOI2 and Darkest Hour how to make compelling WW2 games
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Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is a deeply intricate and compelling grand strategy title that appeals to both history enthusiasts and avid strategy gamers. Building upon the foundations laid by the Hearts of Iron series, Darkest Hour delivers an expansive and detailed simulation of the tumultuous years surrounding World War II, offering players a chance to rewrite history or faithfully recreate it. The game’s scope is monumental, encompassing a broad range of nations, military units, political systems, and diplomatic intricacies, all woven into a complex web of interconnected mechanics that demand careful planning and strategic foresight. One of the most remarkable aspects of Darkest Hour is its depth of historical detail. The game meticulously models various aspects of the era, from military logistics and industrial capacity to diplomatic negotiations and internal political upheavals. This attention to detail allows players to immerse themselves fully in the geopolitical landscape of the 1930s and 1940s, making each decision feel weighty and consequential. The game also introduces a variety of scenarios, alternate history options, and mod support, which significantly extend its replayability. Whether aiming for a historically accurate campaign or experimenting with unlikely alliances and conflicts, players will find ample opportunities to craft their own version of history. Gameplay mechanics in Darkest Hour are highly sophisticated, combining real-time strategy elements with turn-based management of resources, technology, and diplomacy. Military management is particularly detailed, with a wide array of unit types, doctrines, and supply systems that require strategic coordination across fronts. The AI, while occasionally challenging, generally provides a formidable opponent, pushing players to adapt and refine their tactics continually. The political system adds another layer of complexity, as players must balance national morale, political stability, and leadership decisions to maintain their power base while pursuing military objectives. The game’s interface, although dense and initially intimidating, becomes more navigable with experience, offering comprehensive tools to manage the chaos of global warfare. Multiplayer capabilities further enhance the appeal of Darkest Hour, allowing players to engage in large-scale conflicts against friends or other online opponents. The multiplayer mode supports various scenarios and game modes, fostering a competitive environment that tests players’ strategic acumen and adaptability. The community around Darkest Hour is active and passionate, often producing custom mods and scenarios that add new dimensions to gameplay. Such community-driven content enriches the experience, ensuring that the game remains lively and evolving long after its initial release. The multiplayer experience, while demanding in terms of coordination and planning, is highly rewarding for those who enjoy testing their skills against human opponents. Visually, Darkest Hour’s interface is utilitarian but functional, prioritizing clarity and access to complex information over aesthetic flourish. This design choice makes sense given the game’s depth, as players need to access a vast array of data swiftly during play. The graphics are utilitarian but effective, with detailed maps and unit representations that serve their purpose well. Sound design complements the gameplay, with period-appropriate music and sound effects that evoke the tense atmosphere of wartime. Technical stability is generally good, though some players may encounter occasional bugs or performance hiccups, especially when using extensive mods or custom scenarios. Overall, the presentation is serviceable, prioritizing function over form but never detracting from the immersive experience. In conclusion, Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is a masterful and comprehensive grand strategy title that offers a deep, challenging, and richly detailed simulation of World War II. Its complexity may be daunting for newcomers, but for those willing to invest the time, it provides a rewarding experience that captures the chaos, strategy, and nuance of a pivotal period in history. The game’s extensive depth, mod support, and active community make it a lasting staple for serious strategy enthusiasts. While it may not have the visual polish of more modern titles, its gameplay mechanics and historical fidelity more than compensate, making Darkest Hour a standout in the grand strategy genre and a must-play for fans of historical military simulation. Rating: 9/10
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Makes the most of the dated Europa Engine and Hearts of Iron 2. Still a fun game but limited when compared to more recent entries.
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Keep in mind that this is not a historical simulator. Its an RTS game. Focus on that and you will have a ton of fun playing this game.
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Though based on HOI 2, this is the best of the HOI games. I own and have played them all and I've really been put off by the HOI IV endless expensive DLC scam. So this modded spin-off of HOI 2 really shines. It is really well designed and the manual is excellent, as are the tool-tips. Admittedly, I like using mods, esp the Kaissereich mod. It is essentially an operational and strategic masterpiece, with the AI doing a decent job. The event branches are better than the National Focus system of HOI 4 because they are less prescient and straight-jacketing. I found peace-time to be just as busy managing tech and economy as the war times. Units can be given many different types of orders and they make sense. For example, armies can support one another in attack or defense, and even play operational reserve roles. The Navy and Air Force also, are impact-full in a common-sense way and require planning. They have plenty of orders available. There are also scramble orders for both aircraft and navies. The game is operationally quite deep. The tech system and trees are actually interesting. I'd love to see more provinces and a better depiction of the battle losses, but it is still adequate. It needs a better supply, espionage and belligerance filter. There are other UI and informational things which I would like improved. But overall, it is fun, with just the right amount of micromanagement. Perhaps one day someone will convert this into a 'sand-box' wargame with randomly generated world map.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is currently priced at 9.99€ on Steam.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 9.99€ on Steam.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game received 1,802 positive votes out of a total of 2,011 achieving a rating of 8.56.
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Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game was developed by Martin Ivanov and published by Paradox Interactive.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is not playable on MacOS.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is not playable on Linux.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game offers both single-player and multi-player modes.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game offers both Co-op and PvP modes.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game does not currently offer any DLC.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game does not support Steam Remote Play.
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game.
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Last Updates| Steam data | 01 September 2025 07:13 |
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| SteamSpy data | 09 September 2025 11:06 |
| Steam price | 13 September 2025 12:45 |
| Steam reviews | 12 September 2025 12:07 |
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- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
73
Developer
Martin Ivanov
Publisher
Paradox Interactive
Release
08 Apr 2011
Platforms
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