Hearts of Iron 2 Complete on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Includes Hearts of Iron II plus the two expansions, Doomsday and Armageddon When Germany is defeated in 1945, the Allies and the new Soviet alliance fight for supremacy. World War III is drawing closer. Play as the ruler of one of 175 countries through World Wars II and III.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete is a strategy, grand strategy and world war ii game
developed by Paradox Development Studio
and published by Paradox Interactive.
Released on January 23rd 2009 is available in English only on Windows.
It has received 623 reviews of which 539 were positive and 84 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 14.99€ on Steam, but you can find it for less on Gamivo.
The Steam community has classified Hearts of Iron 2 Complete into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
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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 2000/XP
- Processor: Pentium IV 1200 MHz
- Memory: 256 MB RAM
- Graphics: 4 MB video card DirectX compatible
- DirectX Version: 9.0 or higher
- Hard Drive: 600 MB
- Sound: DirectX compatible sound card
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
If you like strategy game then this one rocks. Although, an older game you can immerse you self in all the complexity of WWII. From beginning to end this game is one of the best!
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The only issue with this game is that they stopped fixing the bugs and as the games progresses there are errors that creep in which add phantom units until the game stalls.
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Hearts of Iron III is more complicated than what I prefer and Hearts of Iron IV is way more complicated to the point of being unplayable. This version hits the right balance (at least for me).
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Hearts of Iron II: Complete is a grand strategy game that immerses players in the intricate political, economic, and military dynamics of the Second World War era. Developed by Paradox Interactive, this comprehensive edition includes the base game and its two major expansions, Doomsday and Armageddon, providing players with an expanded timeline, more nations to control, and a wide variety of scenarios ranging from historical to alternate history conflicts. This version stands as one of the classic representations of Paradox’s signature approach to deep, complex, and rewarding strategy gameplay that prioritizes realism and freedom over simplicity. At its core, Hearts of Iron II allows players to take control of any nation on Earth from 1936 to the early Cold War years, managing diplomacy, industry, research, and warfare in a real-time strategic environment. Unlike many strategy titles that streamline these systems, HOI2 embraces their complexity, making for an experience that can initially be overwhelming. You aren’t just raising armies—you’re managing trade agreements, setting up industrial production lines, allocating resources between consumer goods and military equipment, directing spy operations, negotiating alliances, and overseeing technological development across multiple fields. This deep level of micromanagement is both the game's greatest strength and its steepest learning curve. The warfare system is robust and emphasizes logistics and strategic planning as much as battlefield tactics. Ground combat, naval operations, and air superiority all play crucial roles, and success often depends not on raw numbers but on your ability to coordinate offensives, supply your forces, and exploit enemy weaknesses. For instance, a well-timed amphibious landing behind enemy lines can be just as decisive as a full-scale tank assault on the front. The front-line system encourages players to think in terms of geography and long-term positioning, and weather effects, terrain types, and unit organization all dramatically influence combat outcomes. It’s a game where winning a single province might take months of real-time preparation and careful execution. One of the most fascinating aspects of Hearts of Iron II is its political simulation. Players can pursue historical strategies or deviate into alternate timelines, such as turning the U.S. into a fascist state or pushing Germany into a communist revolution. The game provides a flexible event system and diplomatic mechanics that allow for immense variability. Political ministers, national events, and ideological leanings all influence your options and interactions with other nations. The AI is generally competent and unpredictable enough to keep things interesting, but veteran players may eventually crave the challenge of multiplayer or modded scenarios to truly test their strategic mettle. The included Doomsday and Armageddon expansions expand the gameplay further. Doomsday extends the timeline beyond 1945 into the early Cold War period, introducing intelligence mechanics, new technologies, and the possibility of nuclear warfare. Armageddon pushes into full alternate history territory, allowing for scenarios like massive world wars between fictional global alliances. These expansions add layers of replayability and deepen the game’s systems without losing the historical grounding that fans appreciate. For those interested in Cold War what-ifs or purely sandbox geopolitics, these additions significantly broaden the scope of the original game. Visually, the game is functional rather than flashy. Its map-based interface, detailed but utilitarian unit models, and simplified animations won’t impress players seeking graphical fidelity, but it serves the gameplay well. The user interface is dense, requiring time to master, but once internalized, it becomes an effective tool for navigating the game’s many systems. The audio is minimal, with ambient music and sound effects that offer a bit of atmosphere without overwhelming the strategic focus. In many ways, the game presents itself more like a war planner’s toolset than a traditional video game, which is precisely what its audience expects and appreciates. In conclusion, Hearts of Iron II: Complete is a seminal entry in the grand strategy genre. It remains one of the most detailed and rewarding World War II simulations available, offering players near-total control over the fate of nations in one of history’s most turbulent periods. While it is not a game for everyone—its steep learning curve and emphasis on micromanagement can be daunting—it rewards those who invest the time with an unparalleled level of strategic depth and historical immersion. For strategy enthusiasts, history buffs, or fans of Paradox’s more modern offerings, Hearts of Iron II remains a cornerstone of PC strategy gaming that still holds up in both challenge and scope. Rating: 8/10
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Frequently Asked Questions
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete is currently priced at 14.99€ on Steam.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 14.99€ on Steam.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete received 539 positive votes out of a total of 623 achieving a rating of 8.13.
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Hearts of Iron 2 Complete was developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete is not playable on MacOS.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete is not playable on Linux.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete offers both single-player and multi-player modes.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete offers both Co-op and PvP modes.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete does not currently offer any DLC.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete does not support Steam Remote Play.
Hearts of Iron 2 Complete 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 Hearts of Iron 2 Complete.
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Last Updates| Steam data | 23 January 2026 16:15 |
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| SteamSpy data | 26 January 2026 20:52 |
| Steam price | 28 January 2026 20:46 |
| Steam reviews | 27 January 2026 20:04 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Hearts of Iron 2 Complete, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Hearts of Iron 2 Complete
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Hearts of Iron 2 Complete concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Hearts of Iron 2 Complete compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
61
Developer
Paradox Development Studio
Publisher
Paradox Interactive
Release
23 Jan 2009
Platforms
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