I am way too smooth-brained for this game. I tried, I really did.
In terms of Grand Strategy games, I was straight up hooked on Civilization VI. I also have a lot of intrigue when it comes to WWII history, which, in combination with the joy I got from Civ VI, drew me to to Hearts of Iron IV. But for me, this game felt more like homework than a video game. I felt like the tutorial was pretty weak and did a lackluster job of making it clear why certain actions need to be performed, and it often defers the user to the bloated Wiki page to provide additional explanation, which I found very overwhelming. Really, I think it is just lazy, bad tutorial design, and it's as if the game was only designed with the existing audience in mind, which is a shame.
I'm certain Hearts of Iron IV offers a rewarding experience for those who are patient enough to learn how to properly play, but I am simply just not the target audience. Hats off to the new players who can wrap their heads around the complexities of this game.
In terms of Grand Strategy games, I was straight up hooked on Civilization VI. I also have a lot of intrigue when it comes to WWII history, which, in combination with the joy I got from Civ VI, drew me to to Hearts of Iron IV. But for me, this game felt more like homework than a video game. I felt like the tutorial was pretty weak and did a lackluster job of making it clear why certain actions need to be performed, and it often defers the user to the bloated Wiki page to provide additional explanation, which I found very overwhelming. Really, I think it is just lazy, bad tutorial design, and it's as if the game was only designed with the existing audience in mind, which is a shame.
I'm certain Hearts of Iron IV offers a rewarding experience for those who are patient enough to learn how to properly play, but I am simply just not the target audience. Hats off to the new players who can wrap their heads around the complexities of this game.