Hearts of Iron II 2005

Released: January 4, 2005
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS) · Strategy
Platform: PC
Developer: Paradox Interactive
More info: Wikipedia IGDB

Where to buy

In a collection: Hearts of Iron 2 Complete

Steam
Physical: Search on Amazon

Affiliate links: GOG, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, ININ Games and Amazon

Is it still worth playing?

The years from 1936 to 1947 are covered by this 2005 grand strategy game for Windows, with expansions reaching further in both directions. The player can lead any one of over 175 nations through the time before, during and after the Second World War. The player builds land divisions, aircraft squadrons and fleets, combines them into corps and armies, and appoints commanders and ministers. Democracies can also choose their head of state, but only through elections. Technological research is also in the player's hands. All this happens on a global scale and the game can be paused at any point. Careful planning is the heart of running a nation at that scale, and the challenge is still rewarding to this day.