Stupid question but.... why is this game so popular?

[insanebe]

First off i played this game at launch years ago and drifted away to other games (stellaris/CK3) because after playing as all the axis allied powers there wasn't much else to do, in my mind at least.

I recently checked SteamDB just to see what people were playing and was suprised to see Hearts of Iron 4 consitantly growing its player base.

So i have to ask what did i miss that makes this game so popular right now?



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[General Tao]

Hundreds of hours of semi-historical and ahistorical content set during possibly the most well-known time period, relatable to audiences 3-6 generations removed, supported by the devs with new updates nine years on, and you can still form the Byzantine Empire.

 

[GermanDave]

Abject failure of the games industry. Devs successfully played the long game. Undeterred commitment to grand startegy games as a concept and acceptance of a clientele that appreciates nerdier concepts like stats and technical details and historical/narrative information (Note how much RPGs have deviated from the traditional character sheet). Meanwhile other devs are doing everything to deter their original clientele (Look at what happened to Command & Conquer). Also, the game is easy to mod. Imagine this level of moddability with a game in EA's lineup. Imagine fucking FIFA being this moddable.

 

[Firefly11_11]

Even after years of playing you find that you still dont fully understand the game and that there is alot to learn. That makes the game quite interesting. Also, I think it could be alot more popular if mp was better developed. After all, playing against other people is the best way to put everything you've learned to test.

 

[Kosaki MacTavish]

Hundreds of hours of semi-historical and ahistorical content set during possibly the most well-known time period, relatable to audiences 3-6 generations removed, supported by the devs with new updates nine years on, and you can still form the Byzantine Empire.

This, and easily modded by the fanbase.

If the devs did not get it right or did not deliver contents for certain region (cough Southeast Asia cough), we can do it ourselves.

 

[wanoO]

I haven't played much Stellaris, but to me the gameplay loop of HoI offers much better replayability and a clear goal from the onset: win WW2. The time period definitely plays a big part, it's not for nothing that the biggest FPS franchises were built on games set during WW2. It's also no secret that PDX lacks any serious competition in the grand strategy niche they basically own at this point.
HoI is a more modern game compared to EU4, I find the UI, warfare mechanics and "rewards" (numbers) far more enjoyable. I'd say there are 2 aspects EU4 has HoI4 beat: diplomacy and trade but to me warfare matters more; of course they're both excellent games in their own right and they have been steadily improved over time. One trend that is true for all is that major expansions really drive engagement and an unsuccesful one can mean a big decline in the playerbase for months to over a year. HoI has done very well in that regard, CK3 not so much and EU4 only had minor changes to gameplay (makes sense given the upcoming release of EU5, though I haven't played the last few updates). CK3 becomes incredibly boring and repetitive even in the mid-game. As for Vicky 3, well rocky launch for sure but not enough to threaten the IP like Imperator Rome. I find it very different mechanically compared to the other titles and I can't say I enjoyed it last time I played, hope that will change.
HoI4 content creators also play a big part in the popularity of the game, Isorrow, Bokoen1, Bittersteel... to name a few. PDX does an excellent job of collaborating with them and most of the big HoI4 content creators have a wider audience compared to those that focus more on EU4.
We can definitely be grateful for the hard work and mod friendly approach at PDX as there are many other game publishers that are hostile to modding and entirely focused on the bottom line. The devs are also fairly reactive to feedback and bug reports, which isn't always a given even for AAA studios. There is also a clear drive by the team to broaden the player base to countries and regions that had no focus trees, I do think that also helps bringing new players to the game.

 

[General Tao]

This, and easily modded by the fanbase.

Oh gosh yes of course. The modding scene is incredible. You'll have to forgive me, I've never done anything but Vanilla HOI in ~2400 hours.

 

[Mr.Supreme]

i'll reiterate the real reason HOI4 is so popular

STEAM WORKSHOP

 

[Coach Bud Kilmer]

Mods and mod support, dearth of direct competition, DLC buffet, and some genuinely good game elements.

 

[Fatallight]

As for what you've missed since launch, I'd say a lot of decent updates. Now, more than ever, there's a wide variety of different ways you can design your divisions (and with dlc, tanks) and still be viable based on your country's needs, resources, and means. (Of course, meta still exists though). The supply system changes have made planning your offensives more interesting. Lots of alt-history paths in DLCs has made minor powers more interesting to play.

People who play a lot have some pretty legitimate beefs with things that are imbalanced or broken but the game's got a lot to offer. With the devs looping back around to rework old content, I think we're rapidly approaching peak HOI4.

 

[Androbey]

Even after years of playing you find that you still dont fully understand the game and that there is alot to learn. That makes the game quite interesting. Also, I think it could be alot more popular if mp was better developed. After all, playing against other people is the best way to put everything you've learned to test.

IMO, unfortunately Modability and Multiplayer development (security vs. hacking) are mutually exclusive goals.
If you have ease of modding, you always will have security issues. This is why PDX does not host MP games. They do not want the liability that ensues.
If you want Secure MP, then you need a dedicated IT team to maintain security and a locked down game that ONLY the developers can change.

 

[Firefly11_11]

IMO, unfortunately Modability and Multiplayer development (security vs. hacking) are mutually exclusive goals.
If you have ease of modding, you always will have security issues. This is why PDX does not host MP games. They do not want the liability that ensues.
If you want Secure MP, then you need a dedicated IT team to maintain security and a locked down game that ONLY the developers can change.

Isnt there alot of games where you can mod in mp? I.e. 1st person shooters where people can upload any type of mod to their server that you will automatically download when you join?

 

[herr anfsim]

My guess is that its a combination of all the things the game does right and the fact that there is little actual competition in this particular segment. Its almost 9 years since HOI4 released, and the series has been around for more than 20 years without there being any serious contenders, that I am aware of.

The fact that HOI4 has lasted this long, and the player base accepts what apears to be a very profitable business model, one might expect someone else to try and tap into this market. I sure hope so, because I think both PDX and the players would benefit from fresh ideas and some competition.

 

[KubiG37]

Its theme is WW2 - still the most popular historical era.
It's a sandbox game - you can do whatever you want.
But it's also complex enough and reasonably historical, so the history nerds like me aren't driven away by all the "Tannu Tuva style" map painting that goes on in EU IV.
Steam workshop - the amount of ways this game can be twisted and changed beyond recognition is insane, and that's really good, because it's fun.
Finally, I just think it's a good game, good looking, pleasant artistic style, not many bugs, large community, active devs, game is still in active game developement.

EA, Ubisoft, and/or whoever's behind Total War games just releases the game and immediately forgets it exists, leaving game breaking bugs in etc.

 

[Demonthese]

1) Of all the eras/genres of the PDX Grand Strategy catalogue WW2 is by far the most popular.
2) For all it's complexity HOI4 is probably the easiest to figure out and learn how to play, or at least tied for easiest.
3) Focus trees and the tight focus on a very specific time period mean that gameplay is highly directed unlike all other PDX grand strategy games.
4) While I personally almost never go alternative paths the alt-history is there, and again very directed, and focus trees are a very flexible system for mods.
5) More comprehensive overhaul mods than other games. Modders can do a frankly absurd amount with HOI4's systems.

Frankly, for all the flak they sometimes get and the difficulties they introduce focus trees are genius game design. Definitely a system that should be refined rather than replaced in HOI5. Very impressive to see the quality and ambition of focus trees improve as time has gone on. The discovery that 35 days as the default focus length is superior to 70 days is key among them. Playing with older trees, particularly after the new Germany tree, feels so much worse. I imagine in a potential HOI5 taking these lessons and building out the back end tech to add more robust functionality could see some truly impressive trees.

 

[Leyland 211]

Finally, I just think it's a good game, good looking, pleasant artistic style

In general I like the UI and how easy it is to use the tabs, but the map style I could never get behind. I believe HOI3's simpler 2D map style just works better for a WWII game and in general I felt it easier to control the details of battles in that game. The quite substantial amount of neon and bright colours when battle plans are involved in 4 certainly doesn't help.

 

[Leyland 211]

Frankly, for all the flak they sometimes get and the difficulties they introduce focus trees are genius game design. Definitely a system that should be refined rather than replaced in HOI5. Very impressive to see the quality and ambition of focus trees improve as time has gone on. The discovery that 35 days as the default focus length is superior to 70 days is key among them. Playing with older trees, particularly after the new Germany tree, feels so much worse. I imagine in a potential HOI5 taking these lessons and building out the back end tech to add more robust functionality could see some truly impressive trees.

Genius game design, really? The ability to bring back Nicholas II's fourth great-great uncle to rule the Soviet Union after four clicks and three months have elapsed?

I don't actually mind it overall, but I can't be alone in thinking that some monumental ideological and political shifts are a bit too easy to enact.

 

[Kosaki MacTavish]

Genius game design, really? The ability to bring back Nicholas II's fourth great-great uncle to rule the Soviet Union after four clicks and three months have elapsed?

I don't actually mind it overall, but I can't be alone in thinking that some monumental ideological and political shifts are a bit too easy to enact.

To be honest, yeah, too fast. Should've been a lot slower but with more meticulous planning.

 

[him_15]

Because there is no other similar WWII grand strategy game at all.

 

[Metz]

All other WW2 games are FPS or are some turn based board game derivative. On top of that, barely any WW2 games have the Axis and minor allies as main characters, especially when it comes to the non-warfare component (technology, political paths, industry, etc.).

Steel Division 2 is probably the other one that has persisted as well.