Is Hearts of Iron 4 a real time strategy game?

As a long-time grand strategy fan with over 200 hours in Hearts of Iron IV, I get asked often – is HOI4 an RTS game? The short answer is no, it does not belong in the same category as StarCraft, Command & Conquer, or Age of Empires.

HOI4 is instead a global-scale war simulation that‘s far more focused on strategic and political decision making than tactical battles. You take control of a nation during the tumultuous years before World War 2, guiding its research, production, diplomacy, politics, and high-level military strategy.

What Type of Game is Hearts of Iron IV?

Hearts of Iron IV falls into the genre of grand strategy wargames, developed by masters like Paradox Interactive. Unlike RTS games where you control individual units in combat, the action in HOI4 happens at the theater level.

You‘ll maneuver entire army groups, order offensive lines and naval invasions, conduct strategic bombing campaigns, coordinate fronts with allies, and balance countless interconnected systems. The closest analogy would be a fantastically complex board wargame, just digitized with lots of helpful automation.

Key Gameplay Elements

• Take control of any nation in 1936 or 1939, even minor ones
• Research technologies to upgrade weapons, industry, and more
• Conduct advanced diplomacy and political actions
• Develop detailed battle plans and high level military strategy
• Manage complex economic policies and production queues
• Players action the strategic layer, not direct tactical combat

This focus on strategic decisions over tactics is the standout distinction between HOI4 and the traditional RTS format.

How HOI4 Differs from RTS Games

Let‘s compare some key differences between HOI4 and classic RTS titles:

You can see how the scope of battles, control methods, pacing, and perspectives differ quite a lot between the genres. This feeds into wholly different gameplay.

What Makes HOI4 Unique

Beyond the fact that HOI4 is not an RTS, fans love it for the uniqueness it provides:

• Global scale simulation – Control an entire country at war across realistic geography
• Alternate history sandbox – Endless "what if" scenarios to explore
• Complex strategic planning – Coordinate alliances, production, tech, and intelligence
• Emergent narrative – Stories arise dynamically from your crucial decisions

Rather than quick tactical skirmishes, HOI4 delivers an immersive experience around conducting an entire war effort, where the decisions you make write alternative history.

Learning Curve & Skill Progression

HOI4 has quite a learning curve before proficiency. You need to juggle countless interconnected systems that even most hardcore strategy fans haven‘t dealt with before. Getting overwhelmed is extremely common for new players.

However, as the pieces start clicking together, you gain the ability to coordinate a strategic symphony, marshaling your nation‘s full capabilities to overcome significant challenges. It‘s incredibly rewarding to look back at the long journey of successes and failures.

Mastering battle strategy, efficient production micro, effective naval landings, optimal research paths, diplomacy finesse, and more complex skills will take hundreds of hours. But you‘ll love getting deeper into the details and gaining strategic talent.

Beginner Nation Recommendations

For your first games, I strongly advise playing one of the major powers, preferably not Germany. USA, British Empire, Italy, and Soviet Union make excellent starter nations. I‘d avoid France or minor countries until gaining more experience.

Here‘s a quick starters ranking:

1. USA – protected position to learn without pressure
2. Britain – balance air, navy, and army play
3. Italy – weaker early military to offset
4. USSR – throw bodies at invaders while building strength
5. Germany – high difficulty managing early aggressive war
6. Japan – very tricky early naval & army coordination

Take advantage of the robust in-game tutorial, helpful tooltips, and console command cheats available while learning the ropes.

Does It Surpass the Hype?

For fans of alternate history, deep simulation-style strategy, and commanding an entire war machine, Hearts of Iron IV delivers an experience like no other. It surpasses the hype by providing unprecedented control over your nation during WWII…and letting you guide events down radically different paths than reality.

Just don‘t expect an RTS game with quick thrills. Instead, prepare for a grand strategy epic with endless replayability that you can lose hundreds of hours exploring. Know what you‘re getting into, and you‘ll find a masterpiece.