Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information

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 2,015 reviews of which 1,806 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.


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.

March 2025
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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Dec. 2024
I only used this for playing Kaiserreich and it was worth it. Weighted more towards events and pop-up decisions than extreme micromanaging but only slightly more than other HoI games. Good times.
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Oct. 2024
Great game. A little hard to figure out going in for the first time, but over time you learn more and more on how to play this game and you quickly enjoy this game a lot more. 10/10 would recommend.
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June 2024
Do you like staring at maps and numbers for hours on end? Well.... I do, and this game certainly offers one of the better map-staring experiences out there
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May 2024
This game isn't just a strategy game; it's the genesis of a legendary franchise. As I navigated the complexities of World War II, I was drawn into its immersive historical narrative and deep gameplay mechanics. From managing supply lines to diplomatic negotiations, every decision felt significant. Despite its complexity, the game remains accessible, thanks to its intuitive interface. While not without its flaws, Darkest Hour sets the stage for the expansive Hearts of Iron series, making it a must-play for strategy enthusiasts. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3255574080 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3254645066
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Last Updates
Steam data 08 April 2025 04:02
SteamSpy data 10 April 2025 18:16
Steam price 14 April 2025 04:44
Steam reviews 11 April 2025 19:59

If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game, 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 Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game
  • SteamCharts - Analysis of Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game concurrent players on Steam
  • ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game compatibility
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game
8.6
1,806
209
Online players
91
Developer
Martin Ivanov
Publisher
Paradox Interactive
Release 08 Apr 2011
Platforms